presented by Kate Ahern, M.S.Ed.

A virtual two-day workshop for parents, caregivers, teachers, and professionals who instruct learners who use AAC.

Workshop Overview: Learn effective literacy instruction in this workshop on using science of reading instruction with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users. This session is designed for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about fostering literacy in learners of all ages.

In this workshop, participants will learn about fundamental principles and research-backed strategies to teach reading, spelling, and writing. Science of reading synthesizes decades of cognitive science, linguistics, and educational psychology research to provide evidence-based insights into how literacy develops and can be effectively taught.

We will learn about the five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, we will explore the Scarborough Reading Rope which includes background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, literacy knowledge, phonological awareness, decoding, and sight recognition. Together we will better understand how teaching with these foundational ideas in mind will enhance both communication skill development and literacy skills.

Throughout the session, we will look at how to design and adapt instruction, materials, and activities to allow AAC users participate in and be successful at learning to read, write, and spell.

Note: this is a two-day training. September 5th and 6th, 2024 10-2:30 EST.