Courses, Events, & Resources

On-Demand Summer Series for Educators 2021

WORKSHOP 1

Comprehension: The Reason for Reading

Presenters: Sharon Plate & Theresa Collins

According to the 2019 NAEP scores, only 35% of 4th grade students nationwide are reading at or above proficient. Due to COVID the data is just beginning to come out and the number of students who are going to need extra support in reading has increased dramatically. How can you help to change these grim facts? Join us this summer for these comprehensive workshops that will provide you with actionable ways to work with your students on literacy. You will be provided with strategies and tools to use in the classroom, virtually, and digitally so that no matter what next year brings, you will be prepared! 

This workshop will examine the barriers to comprehension faced by dyslexic learners, the core strategies for developing reading comprehension prescribed in the Report of the National Reading Panel, and specific multisensory approaches to teaching comprehension strategies.  Participants will engage in lesson planning activities designed to hone their ability to incorporate those strategies in a Structured Literacy lesson.

Participants will explore various educational and assistive technology tools that can increase access, allow for differentiation, and provide a means for demonstrating understanding in a variety of modalities.  These tools can help level the playing field for all learners.  

Please note:

• These recorded sessions cannot be copied or shared. 
• The sessions will be available to you for two weeks following purchase. 
• Please note that no certificate of completion will be provided. 

Cost: $50

Click here to purchase

On-Demand Summer Series for Educators 2021

WORKSHOP 2

Writing: Empowering the Students

Presenters: Sharon Plate & Theresa Collins

According to the 2019 NAEP scores, only 35% of 4th grade students nationwide are reading at or above proficient. Due to COVID the data is just beginning to come out and the number of students who are going to need extra support in reading has increased dramatically. How can you help to change these grim facts? Join us this summer for these comprehensive workshops that will provide you with actionable ways to work with your students on literacy. You will be provided with strategies and tools to use in the classroom, virtually, and digitally so that no matter what next year brings, you will be prepared! 

The research on writing instruction consistently supports the importance of direct and explicit instruction in planning, organizing, drafting, revising, and editing.  Structured literacy approaches, such as Orton-Gilingham focus on breaking the writing process into manageable parts and providing modeling as well as coaching throughout all strategies of the writing process.  Through the use of educational and assistive technologies, students can be provided the tools to gain support and independence in the process. From brainstorming with mind-mapping tools such as Inspiration to using Speech-to-text and word prediction to formulate sentences then employing grammar checking tools as part of the editing process, there are many options to engage technology to empower students in the writing process.  

Please note:

• These recorded sessions cannot be copied or shared. 
• The sessions will be available to you for two weeks following purchase. 
• Please note that no certificate of completion will be provided. 

Cost: $50

Click here to purchase

On-Demand Summer Series for Educators 2021

WORKSHOP 3

Introducing & Developing Executive Functions Through Games and Activities

WORKSHOP 4

Connecting Executive Function to Academic Success

Presenters: Sharon Plate & Jeff Ruggiero

In session one, participants will better understand the core executive function domains and how they can bring these essential constructs to their students’ awareness and incorporate them in their own teaching. Through demonstration and participation, teachers will gain insight into ways to use games and activities to help students develop and practice executive function skills. 

Session two will provide ways to incorporate language and practical strategies that reinforce the application of executive function skills in the classroom. Participants will also explore various technology tools that can support students’ executive functions and pave the way for academic success.

Please note:

• These recorded sessions cannot be copied or shared. 
• The sessions will be available to you for two weeks following purchase. 
• Please note that no certificate of completion will be provided. 

Cost: $50 for both recordings.

Click here to purchase

Dates:   Tuesdays, September 2021-May 2022 (12 class meetings)

Time:   4:00-7:00 PM EST

Cost:  $1,595

Location:  Virtual only

2021

• September 14
• October 5
• October 26
• November 16
• December 7

2022

• January 4
• January 25
• February 15
• March 15
• March 29
• April 26
• May 10
• May 31 (make-up date)

Description: The Certified Level coursework is designed to expand and deepen the trainee's Associate knowledge base.  This 36-hour course will further develop the trainee’s understanding of specific topics, such as morphology, vocabulary, comprehension, syntax, and expository writing in greater depth.  At the Certified Level, instructors practice independently and must possess the background and skills to be able to work with students who have more complicated profiles; therefore, expanding the trainee's background in other learning differences that often co-occur with dyslexia, continuing to develop the ability to administer and interpret assessments, and writing and refining student profiles and lesson plans will be emphasized.

The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators requires 100 hours of coursework at the Certified Level.  Twenty-five of those hours can comprise conference attendance hours, and twenty-five hours can include web content or webinars approved by the Principal and/or Supervising Fellow.

The Certified coursework offered by The Southport CoLAB is divided into Certified I and Certified II, which do not need to be pursued in sequential order.

***This course does NOT include the practicum, which is required for Academy membership at the Certified Level; the Practicum can be arranged for an additional fee.        

Note:  The order of topics is approximate. Some topics will fill more than one session; others will be developed throughout the course.  Videos will be included where appropriate. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate for 36 hours.

Register here

The Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) places great value on the mentorship model, which involves the application of information and teaching skills acquired through the formal coursework. The practicum includes: ongoing support by the Supervising Fellow; observations of the trainee teaching complete lessons in a variety of settings; written and verbal feedback after the observations; completion of required readings; development of a teaching portfolio; and support for the application to the OGA for certification. Participants will also be encouraged to participate in ongoing coursework and professional development through attending additional course offerings at the Southport CoLab. Teachers who are already working in school environments are welcome to complete their practicums within their home school environments; teachers working in private practice may complete their practicums in their own teaching sites.  Observations may be conducted onsite or remotely, depending on individual circumstances. The OGA has set specific guidelines for the practicums at each level of membership to ensure that the teacher is competent to instruct using the Orton-Gillingham Approach. More information about those requirements can be found on the OGA website:  https://www.ortonacademy.org.

Cost: $2,750

**All observations will be done virtually during the 2021-2022 school year. 

Unless other arrangements have been made with the Supervising Fellow, all new practicums will begin in September 2021.

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