Word Study: Teaching Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling in Grades K-3
Examine the essential role that phonics and word study play in developing readers and writers.
In this 5-day training for teachers, learn about instruction in phonics, phonological awareness, vocabulary, spelling, and word study for children in grades K-3.
- Classroom Teachers, Interventionists, & Specialists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
- Additional fees for graduate credit
Expand your knowledge of the alphabetic principle and how words work. Assess students’ reading and writing for phonics and spelling knowledge in your K–3 classroom. Develop an understanding of the essential elements of a word study curriculum, including the role of providing explicit systematic lessons on word study principles along with opportunities for students to apply what they have learned to reading and writing. Use a continuum of word study to plan for instruction.
In this course, you’ll expand your knowledge of how words work and you’ll learn how to support English learners and students who have difficulty learning to read and write.
Course Outcomes
- Assess your understanding and knowledge of what children need to know about letters, words, and how they work
- Develop a continuum of what children need to know about letters, words, and how they work across grades K-3
- Learn how to plan for the word study/phonics curriculum for the children in your classrooms
- Learn how to administer and analyze a variety of individual and group assessments
- Plan for effective letter and word study centers
- Learn how to integrate phonics and vocabulary study across the literacy curriculum
- Develop a comprehensive system for spelling instruction
- Design effective lessons for explicit “out-of-text” teaching and plan for “in-text” teaching across instructional contexts
- Discuss considerations for teaching phonics and word study effectively when working remotely
You can take this course for noncredit and earn 35 professional development hours, or you may take it for 3 graduate credits.
Required Texts
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- Blevins, W. (2017). Phonics from A to Z, 3rd editions: A practical guide. NY: Scholastic.
- Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2017). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum, expanded edition: A tool for assessment, planning and teaching, grades prek-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
- Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2017). The comprehensive phonics, spelling, and word study guide. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
- Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C (2018). Word matters: Teaching phonics and spelling in the reading/writing classroom. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Prior to joining the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative as a Primary Trainer, Heather was a Kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade classroom teacher in Middletown, CT for 16 years. She was also a Primary Literacy Coordinator for five years where she provided literacy training and coaching to K-5 teachers. In addition, she was a member of the Connecticut Department of Education Common Core State Standards Curriculum Design Team for English Language Arts.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-credit
You must cancel in writing two weeks before the start of the course to get a refund, minus a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to cancel. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute at any time. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Graduate Credit
Review the university’s cancellation and refund policies for credit bearing courses.
Registration Deadline & Shipping Policies
The registration portal closes two business days before the first day of training to allow the minimum amount of time to ship training materials.
If you register within two weeks before the registration portal closes, you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping. You may still experience delays in receiving your materials.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.
Graduate Credit Option
With additional assignments and fees, this course can be taken for 3 graduate credits. Contact CRRLC@lesley.edu to register for credit.
- $1,990 ($650*/credit + $40 registration fee) *subject to change
- Course number: EEDUC 6039.30
With Your Colleagues Option
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district (as COVID-19 social distancing guidelines allow).
Fees & Policies
- Fees are determined by the number of participants and the duration of training.
- If applicable, travel expenses for each trainer (airfare, hotel, meals, and rental car) are an additional cost to be paid by the district.
- Professional development sessions that require extensive travel or overnight stays (if applicable) may incur an additional surcharge.
- If the number of participants exceeds the maximum, another trainer may be needed. This will increase training costs and travel expenses.
- Unless otherwise noted, fees do not include the cost of any required books or materials. The faculty trainer will consult with the district to select books based on the topics and the district’s needs.
- School districts in the same geographic area participating in the same training may combine their resources to meet participant minimums. Payment must be on one district’s purchase order.
For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers.
“This class was amazing! I have so many tools to take back and use in my classroom. One of the best courses I have ever taken!”
Kristeen Chambers, Teacher, Two Rivers Supervisory Union, Vermont
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