Playful Pathways to Print: Learning About Language, Letters, Sounds and Words
Discover new ways to make learning about letters, sounds, and words joy-filled and meaningful for young children.
Explore how to turn young children’s love for playing with the sounds of language into meaningful literacy learning during this one-day workshop.
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
Young children are naturally curious about language and eager to discover how print works. They delight in playing with sounds through songs, poetry, rhymes, and engaging books—making the early years the perfect time to build a strong foundation for reading and writing.
Join us for this interactive day of professional learning as we discuss what young learners need to understand about letters, sounds, words, and print concepts. You’ll deepen your knowledge of early literacy development while experiencing practical, hands-on instructional strategies that you can implement in your classroom the very next day.
Topics Include:
- Building on children’s natural curiosity to learn about language, letters, sounds, and words
- Teaching structures and practical activities to support phonological awareness and phonics learning
- Assessing children’s learning in systematic and practical ways
- Using multisensory teaching strategies to reach all learners
- Supporting Multilingual Learners in the classroom
You will earn 5 clock hours for this training.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Heather Rodman has been a Literacy Trainer at Lesley University’s Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership for 12 years. As a former elementary classroom teacher and literacy coach, she brings 30 years of experience in literacy education, instructional coaching, and professional learning. Heather works with educators, literacy coaches, and school leaders to develop teacher expertise that leads to student success.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Tuesday, November 3, 2026 and you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Registration Deadline
The registration deadline is 5pm on November 9, 2026.
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.
In-Person at Lesley University or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu.
On-Site Professional Development
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. 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
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