Word Study: Teaching Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling in Grades K-8
Strengthen your teaching of foundational skills and word study with evidence-based practices designed to complement every curriculum and support students’ literacy growth across grades K–8.
In this five-day institute designed for teachers, deepen your understanding of the alphabetic linguistic system and learn how to teach for phonological awareness, phonics, word structure, vocabulary, spelling, and word analysis skills in grades K-8.
- Classroom Teachers K-8
- Literacy Coaches/Teacher Leaders
- Graduate Credit Participants, please see “Graduate Credit Option” tab for pricing information
Join us for this five-day institute designed to deepen your knowledge of essential understandings related to the alphabetic system — no matter what program or curriculum you currently use. You’ll explore the characteristics of the English language and examine how the essential understandings grow in complexity over time across grades K-8. You’ll learn how to assess for and plan responsive instruction that goes beyond isolated skill mastery—connecting phonics, vocabulary, and spelling instruction to meaningful literacy learning.
We’ll look at the role of explicit teaching and organized, inquiry-based learning, helping students to notice how words work and develop their curiosity about language. Through direct, systematic phonics instruction and word study analysis, students expand their ability to solve words when reading and writing increasingly complex texts.
Outcomes
- Analyze the relationship between phonics, spelling, and vocabulary, and how these competencies develop over time.
- Extend understanding of nine key areas of learning: phonological awareness, early literacy concepts, letter knowledge, letter–sound relationships, spelling patterns, high-frequency words, vocabulary, word structure, and word-solving strategies.
- Examine the significance of word consciousness and strategies for cultivating students’ awareness and curiosity about words.
- Develop expertise in delivering direct, systematic, evidence-based, and inquiry-driven instruction that deepens understanding of word learning processes.
- Differentiate word study instruction to address diverse learner profiles, including multilingual students and those requiring additional support.
You can take this course for non-credit and earn 35 professional development hours, or you may take it for 3 graduate credits. Please see the “Graduate Credit Options” tab for more information.
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.
Required Materials
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- 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. (2017). The comprehensive phonics, spelling, and word study guide. Heinemann.
- Koutrakos, P. (2019). Word study that sticks: Best practices K-6. Corwin.
- Rasinski, T., Padak, N., Newton, R.M., & Newton, E. (2008). Greek & Latin roots: Keys to building vocabulary. Shell Education.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-Credit Participants
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Monday, July 13, 2026. There is a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Graduate Credit Participants
Registration Deadline
The registration portal closes at 5pm ET on July 17, 2026.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, non–credited participants 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 clock hours.
In-Person 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.
Graduate Credit Option
With additional assignments, this institute can be taken for 3 graduate credit hours. During the registration process, you will have the option to register as a Graduate Credit attendee, and you will only be charged the graduate credit fee listed below.
When your registration is complete, contact centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu to finish the required secondary registration process for grad credits through Lesley University.
Course Number: EEDUC 6039
PRICING:
- $2,730 ($875*/credit + $35*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
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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