Reading Rendezvous: A Fun-Filled Science of Reading Institute

In this session, teachers will understand the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness and will unpack how explicit instruction in phonemic awareness builds skilled readers. Teachers will use the Phonological Skill Sequence to understand where students need additional support with phonemes prior to formal phonics instruction. By unpacking universal screening data, participants will identify next steps for data-informed, systematic, and explicit phonological awareness instruction. Participants will: - Define phonological awareness - Understand the phonological awareness skills sequence and its impact on the reading process -Analyze a phonological awareness lesson that meets students' needs

We kick off this virtual workshop with a straightforward exploration of the research behind how the brain decodes increasingly complex words, and the processes involved in storing words for effortless retrieval. In this three-hour, fact-filled session we will explore: - Common explanations of the Science of Reading - Orthographic mapping and how words are anchored for automatic, effortless retrieval - How this body of research has an impact on teacher decision-making and student learning - The impact of early instruction on long-term success Part 2a - Developing Readers The Science Behind How Students Master Phonics and Word Study (3 Hours) In this session teachers will come to understand that the primary goal of word study is to support students' development of a working knowledge of the orthography — knowledge that students can apply as they are reading and writing. Because it is closely tied to reading instruction, it also develops students' abilities in phonics, word recognition, encoding and vocabulary. Having a deep understanding of word study increases teacher capacity to provide structured reading instruction for all learners. Participants will: - Describe the role of word study in a general education classroom - Analyze the structure of English orthography - Identify patterns and rules that inform single and multisyllabic word reading

This training will demonstrate techniques for expanding students' vocabularies which will improve their ability to read with greater comprehension and to write more fluently. Participants will: - Help students make connections between words and construct meaningful knowledge - Enhance comprehension of texts containing specific vocabulary words - Develop knowledge and skills in multiple aspects of language and literacy

In this session, teachers will explore how reading comprehension provides students with the tools to access complex text. Reading comprehension is not automatic. Research has demonstrated that reading comprehension should include close reading and foundations skills such as text structures and features. The connections between explicit and systematic instruction in comprehension provide equitable access to all learners in literacy. Participants will: - Understand key research findings that support reading comprehension - Explore the purpose of text complexity - Explain how close reading provides access to complex text - Design close reading experiences that address grade- specific expectations