About This Course
In this module, participants will examine the language foundations of reading and learn about the oral and written language systems related to literacy. Participants will learn the progression of oral language development and make connections between the language components and literacy instruction. Building on participants’ knowledge and awareness of the language foundations of reading, the next area of focus explores how a language-rich environment in the classroom can help further develop students’ oral language and literacy learning. It includes descriptions and examples of the three elements of a language-rich environment and videos of lessons that demonstrate how teachers can provide interactive language opportunities.
In the phonological awareness development and instruction section, participants will learn about the three most common reading related phonological processes and their contributions to reading development and difficulties. Next, participants will learn about the importance of phonological awareness and explore the levels of phonological awareness as well as the developmental progression of phonological awareness skills. Participants will then learn about the importance of phonemic awareness and its relevance to reading. Once participants have learned about phonological awareness and processing and why it is important, they will learn how to teach phonological awareness and implications for typical and struggling readers. Participants will identify where students are on the phonological awareness continuum as a method of formative assessment and learn about effective phonological awareness instruction. Participants will analyze two lessons to identify effective features.
Participants will learn the importance of phonemic awareness instruction and how it is the most important skill for reading and spelling under the phonological awareness umbrella. Participants will learn about continuous and stop sounds and the importance of producing the most “blendable” sounds. Participants will complete phonemic awareness activities and view phonemic awareness videos as well as classify types of phonemic awareness skills. Finally, participants will review effective phonological awareness instruction and analyze two lessons to identify effective features of lessons on phonemic awareness.
School leaders will consider the topic of oral language and phonology centered around data-driven decision-making, classroom observations, and coaching feedback, and how these processes inform collective and collaborative inquiry about effective teaching and learning.
