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.
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
PreK and Kindergarten aged children are eager to learn about how print works, and love hearing and manipulating the sounds of language in playful ways using songs, poetry, and engaging books. Join us to for this interactive day of professional learning where you will examine what young learners need to understand about letters, sounds, and words and leave with practical and fun ways to engage them 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
- Systematic and practical ways to assess children’s learning
- Supporting Multilingual Learners in the classroom
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.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Wednesday, March 4, 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 March 10, 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.


