More and more schools are supporting students in becoming successful readers by using early reading programs that place a strong emphasis on systematic phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.
We think that’s a great thing.
But even the best early reading programs still rely on teachers’ ability to implement these curricula with skill, proficiency, and knowledge.
For example:
- When teaching phonemic awareness, how do we ensure students discern and form letter sounds with accuracy?
- When teaching phonics, how do we ensure that all students get the greatest amount of high-quality practice?
- How do we ensure all students attend to and engage in reading activities so they all benefit?
In the Foundational Literacy workshop, the Teach Like a Champion Team will share our most up-to-date guidance on teaching techniques that support the implementation of strong reading programs in the early elementary grades.
This practice-intensive workshop is designed to maximize the benefits of a well-chosen curriculum and provides teachers and instructional leaders with materials and guidance to get the most out of every lesson.
In the three 90-minute sessions participants will analyze videos of effective teachers using replicable tools to maximize student learning. Focusing on best practices of planning, presentation, participation, and assessment, session attendees will have opportunities to plan for and practice explicit instruction in foundational literacy.
- Session 1 – Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
- Session 2 – Phonics Drills
- Session 3 – Decoding in Text/Fluency
YOU WILL GAIN:
- An understanding of a variety of instructional techniques based on scientific research that support students in becoming proficient early readers
- A framework for preparing foundational literacy lessons applicable to all curricula
- An understanding of leading effective Professional Development and practice for teachers
WE WILL ANALYZE AND PRACTICE:
- Cueing Systems: How to maximize the quality and amount of practice students get in phonemic awareness and phonics activities
- Prompting for Word Recognition: How to prompt beginning readers during reading to support high student Think Ratio and build automaticity in word recognition
- Prompting for Fluency: How to plan deliberate fluency practice, identify dysfluency, and support readers to develop accuracy, automaticity, and prosody
YOU WILL RECEIVE:
Schools that purchase the Implementation Toolkit License will receive a link to download copies of all workshop materials, as well as additional training materials, including:
- Full description of all techniques, methods, and practice activities covered in the training
- PowerPoint slides used in the workshop
- Access to all video clips and analysis talking points that demonstrate foundational literacy techniques in action
- Aligned coaching tools and other materials to maximize teacher development
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
We recommend this workshop for anyone who is new to the science of literacy or keen to learn techniques to strengthen their explicit, systemic early reading instruction. This workshop is especially appropriate for teachers, literacy specialists, and leaders in grades K-3.
Cost:
- Training Fee: $300.00 per person for 3 – 90 minute Zoom sessions
- Implementation toolkit license fee: $300 per school for materials (optional), with signed license agreement.
DATE AND TIME:
- Monday, September 14, 2026 at 12:00pm – 1:30pm (EST)
- Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:00pm – 1:30pm (EST)
- Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00pm – 1:30pm (EST)
This event will take place online via Zoom. Please be sure to log into your Zoom link five minutes prior to the start time. The Zoom link will be sent out one day in advance. Please plan to be engaged as you will be asked to participate actively. You are expected to attend all sessions.