Phonics, Vocabulary, Spelling, and Word Study in Grades K-8
Examine the essential role that phonics and word study play in developing readers and writers.
In this 8-week online graduate course for teachers, learn the importance of systematic instruction in vocabulary, spelling, and word analysis skills.
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Course: EEDUC 6039.80
- Fees are subject to change
Expand your understanding of the alphabetic system and how words work through this comprehensive exploration of phonics, spelling, and word study. This course focuses on assessing students’ reading and writing to identify their phonics and spelling knowledge, while developing a deep understanding of the essential components of a word study curriculum. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will learn how to deliver explicit, systematic instruction in word study principles and create meaningful opportunities for students to apply their learning in reading and writing contexts.
Using a continuum of word study development, you will learn to plan and differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners, including English language learners and students who face challenges with reading and writing. As an online course, it offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace, engage with a supportive virtual community, and access high-quality instructional resources whenever and wherever you need them.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Assess students’ knowledge of letters, words, and how they work
- Develop and use a continuum for word study instruction
- Administer and analyze a range of individual and group assessments
- Plan and implement effective phonics and word study lessons
- Integrate phonics and vocabulary study across the literacy curriculum
- Investigate and reflect upon diverse approaches to spelling instruction
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Prior to joining the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership 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.
This option must be taken for 3 graduate credits. Take the course individually or as a required course in our 18-credit Online Graduate Certificate in Developing Literacy Expertise Through Responsive Classroom Teaching.
Required Texts
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- Either version of The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum:
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2022). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, grades prek-8, second edition. Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2016). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, grades prek-8, expanded edition. Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2017). The comprehensive phonics, spelling, and word study guide. Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2018). Word matters: Teaching phonics and spelling in the reading/writing classroom. Heinemann.
- Rasinski, T., Padak, N., Newton, R., & Newton, E. (2013). Greek and Latin roots: Keys to building vocabulary. Shell Education.
To participate in this course for graduate credit, you’ll need to be teaching in a classroom in grades K-3 or have access to a student you can work with over time.
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
Shared Leadership for School Improvement
In this 8-week online course for coaches and teacher leaders, you’ll learn how to promote a culture of shared leadership that can energize school teams.
Effective Reading Instruction: Community & Practice, K-8
This 8-week, online course will teach the rationales and organizational components of classroom reading instruction. You will examine effective instructional practices and strategies to strengthen reading development for a wide range of readers, including multilingual learners.
Building Deep Thinkers Through Reading: Engaging Students in Robust Comprehension
Let’s teach readers to think deeply. Join us to explore robust comprehension as an active, layered, and dynamic process to synthesize ideas, make inferences, and critique texts – not just recall facts.