Upcoming K-2 Literacy Series

K-2 Early Literacy "Talking It Out" Series

with Majorie Y. Lipson, Sara Blake, and Deborah Boucher

Phonemic Awareness, Phonics and Word Analysis

Early Reading and English Language: The Information Teachers Need to Make Good Decisions

A new 4-part series which will update and expand teachers’ knowledge and expertise in areas that are critical for early reading success. Each participant will have the opportunity to do a “home renovation” on their own reading program.

In each segment, participants will reflect on their own programs and practices using framing questions and challenges. The series is designed to form a working group of educators who can consider problems of practice during the “Talking it Out” segments, after viewing a video in advance of the session date.

Attend all 4 or pick and choose as stand-alone sessions

2:00 - 3:30 for all "Talking it Out events"

Part I

Introduction to Language and the Reading Process

October 6th

Learning to read requires an understanding of the phonology (sound system) and orthography (written system) of the language. Since English is an alphabetic language we will spend quite a lot of time examining the relationship between phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters and letter strings).

Participants will consider how descriptions of the reading process (skilled reading) are helpful to understanding reading instruction, but also how learning to read requires distinctive understandings about reading, learning, and teaching. Developmental considerations can be very helpful in making decisions about content, strategies, materials, and pacing.

Parts II and III

Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Sight Words: The Nature of the Reading Process and the Content of Early Reading Instruction

October 27th and November 10th

How do children acquire and learn the knowledge and skill needed for early reading (phonemic awareness and phonics)? We provide/review the developmental nature of these abilities, including specific content knowledge/skills. We also describe the reciprocal relationships between and among sounds, words, syntactic structures, and vocabulary.

Part IV

Improving, Refining, and Reframing Instruction

January 12th

In this portion, we focus specifically on the information educators need to plan curriculum, assess students, and provide instruction in grades K-2/3. We will review lesson structure, standards of practice and anchor instructional strategies.

Marjorie Y. Lipson, Ph.D.

We are excited to have Dr. Lipson as our key presenter for this series. She is Professor Emerita at the University of Vermont. She is the author or co-author of 7 books and dozens of published articles. Her research related to successful schools and school change has been supported by more than $3 million from foundations and grants. She irecently co-authored the ILA Brief, Children Experiencing Reading Difficulties: What We Know and What We Can Do.

Sara Blake M.Ed, CAGS

Sara Blake, has a M.Ed, CAGS in Literary and Endorsement as a Reading Language Arts Specialist. She was a Reading Specialist in Addison Northwest County for 19 years: Title 1 Teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher, Literacy Coach and Title 1 Coordinator. Currently she is the Literacy Coordinator in Colchester School District for the past 8 years. She has two grown children and lives in Charlotte with her husband and their rescue dog.

Deborah Boucher

Deb Boucher, has a M.Ed and holds both Reading Language Arts Specialist and Pre-K-12 Principal endorsements. She has worked in the MVSD (formerly FNWSU) for her entire career. For the first 23 years, her roles included: Grade 1 classroom teacher, Grade 5&6 Literacy and Social Studies teacher, and K-6 Title I Reading & Reading Recovery teacher. This year, Deb is beginning her eighth year as the Literacy Content Specialist/Instructional Coach at Swanton School and 19th year as a District Literacy Leader. Deb lives in Highgate Center with her husband on their dairy farm and enjoys spending time in Mooretown with their daughter, son-in-law, and (soon-to-be) grandchild.

Sneak Peek of an additional upcoming K-2 Workshop...Heidi Mesmer!

The Five (Research-Based!) Parts of a Phonics Lesson with Heidi Mesmer December 8th!

The pandemic of 2020/2021, emergency virtual instruction and the complexities of distanced, masked phonics instruction have produced the need for instruction that optimizes learning and “cuts the fluff.” Based on her recent book, Alphabetics for Emerging Learners: Building Strong Reading Foundations in Pre-K, Mesmer will teach participants the Five (Research Based!) Parts of a Phonics Lesson. The session will focus on specific techniques to accelerate decoding and letter instruction. Note: No pre-video for this session

Partnerships for Literacy and Learning | Website

Marjorie Y. Lipson, Ph.D.

﻿Sara Blake M.Ed, CAGS

Deborah Boucher

Sneak Peek of an additional upcoming K-2 Workshop...Heidi Mesmer!

Sara Blake M.Ed, CAGS