Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS)
LETRS Modules 1-2 (of 12)
Second Edition:
Teaching Phonics, Word Study, and the Alphabetic Principle
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 & Wednesday, August 25, 2010
8:30am to 4:00pm (6 CEU hours/day)
Fee: $300/day
(includes module manual and refreshments -
lunch on your own in Manayunk's many restaurants)
The LETRS courses will be held at the Academy In Manayunk located at 119 Rector St., Phila. PA 19127. Click here for driving directions to the school. Free parking available across the street.
Modules 1, 2:Module 1 - The Challenge of Learning to Read
When teachers are knowledgeable about what the brain does when reading, they are better able to appreciate and implement components crucial to reading instruction. With this goal in mind, LETRS Module 1 provides the foundational information so necessary for all those who interface with students’ reading skills. Key concepts include the discovery of how difficult reading really is, including reviews of MRIs to illustrate what physically happens in the brains of good and poor readers. Additionally, the stages of word reading will be reviewed, pairing this knowledge with student writing samples to illustrate how this information translates into the classroom setting. Discussions involving essential components of reading instruction beyond the “core five components” will be included, along with interactive illustrations of what might be happening for our poor reading students. Foundational information for all grade levels!
Module 2 - The Speech Sounds of English: Phonetics, Phonology, and Phoneme Awareness
While the term “phonemic awareness” is continually mentioned in reading instruction, exactly what this means often differs within reading programs and classroom instruction. LETRS Module 2 delves in detail into the workings of phonology and its importance in reading instruction for young readers and poor older readers. A progression of skills to teach and assess is clearly outlined, complete with interactive examples at all skill levels. The 44 specific speech sounds of the English language are detailed, along with “allophonic variants”, or what happens to students when sounds are not represented as they should be. Issues of dialect and English language learners (ELL) are addressed as they impact reading instruction. Principles of effective phonology instruction are demonstrated. Student spelling samples from all grade levels are reviewed to help participants make connections between students’ phoneme awareness and their reading and spelling skills. For grades K-3, and all professionals involved with older poor readers.
Frequently Asked Questions About LETRS
What is LETRS?
LETRS was developed by Dr. Louisa Moats and is published by Sopris West. The goal of the LETRS professional development program is to help teachers from grades K-12 understand the language structures they are teaching, how students learn to read and write, and the best reasons why some children fail to learn. LETRS helps teachers gain in-depth, useful instructional information that complements their everyday teaching practices. It is not a "reading program", nor is it a replacement for core reading programs; rather, it is designed to bring deeper insight and knowledge to reading instruction, provide answers that instructional materials cannot, and allow teachers to reach, through explicit, scientifically-based methods, students who might otherwise fail.
How is LETRS organized?
Various components of reading instruction are addressed in 12 stand-alone modules. Each module requires approximately one day of professional development. As part of the fee, a LETRS module book is provided for you to have and use during the training session. Participant books include copies of presentation slides, handouts, activities, and related text.
Who is it for?
LETRS training is beneficial for reading coaches/specialists, speech/language professionals, special educators, general education teachers, administrators, and any professionals who are involved with the teaching of reading and related subjects.
About the TrainerNancy Hennessy, Ed. M.
Nancy Hennessy served as the president of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) from 2003-2005 and is an educational consultant for both regular and special education. She serves on the National Joint Committee for Learning Disabilities, and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
Ms. Hennessy is the author of “Mentoring in a Professional Community: Voices from the Field” in The Reflective Mentor: Case Studies in Creating Learning Partnerships, Alyce Hunter & Henry Kiernan (Eds.)
(Christopher Gordon Publishers, 2005).
PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION
Register for LETRS by clicking on the "Register" button and filling out the form. Payment can be made online by secure credit card transaction. Due to limited space, your place can only be guaranteed once payment or P.O. Number is received. After filling out the registration form, you will have the option of paying by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only). If you prefer to pay by Purchase Order, please make payable to the "Academy In Manayunk" and mail to:
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For more information, please contact:
Debbie Robinson
drobinson@aimpa.org
215-483-2461
