The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a free virtual opportunity that can enhance teacher practice related to structured literacy and the explicit teaching of phonics.

This text-based professional development will center around “A Fresh Look at Phonics: Common Causes of Failure and Seven Ingredients for Success,” by Wiley Blevins. This book was used during the summer months and is a study back by popular demand, said Dr. Laurie Curtis, KSDE’s early literacy/dyslexia program manager for Career, Standards and Assessment Services.

While there is no cost for these sessions, participants will need to provide their own copy of the book.

The professional learning will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom beginning Oct. 26. There are six sessions. However, there is no meeting the week of Thanksgiving. The sessions will be facilitated by field educators Samantha Cool and Mark Larkin.

Participants will have the chance to engage with others across the state about what exemplary phonics instruction entails.

1-3 hours of graduate credit from Ft. Hays State University is available.

To register, visit KSDE Text-based PD:  A Fresh Look at Phonics (Fall 2022).

For more information, contact Curtis at lcurtis@ksde.org.