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Lexicon Quests: Unraveling the Art of Reading and Spelling Mastery

Explore our Structured Literacy & Dyslexia Tutoring Program, featuring multisensory activities and phonics to boost reading, spelling, and comprehension, building confidence and joy for those facing reading challenges.
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What's included

80 live meetings
73 hrs 20 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

Class Description:
Dive into the enchanting world of literacy with our semester-long journey, designed to ignite a passion for reading and writing in young learners. Our structured literacy class is meticulously crafted to unfold over 40 weeks, offering a comprehensive curriculum that builds foundational skills, advances to complex concepts, and fosters a deep love for the literary world. Each week, students embark on a new adventure, exploring topics from phonemic awareness and phonics to advanced comprehension strategies and creative writing.
Class Experience:
Our class is structured to provide a dynamic and engaging learning experience, ensuring that students not only grasp essential literacy skills but also apply them confidently. The curriculum is divided into weekly themes, covering:
•	Weeks 1-8: Introduction to phonemic awareness, phonics, and early reading skills. Students will learn about sounds, letters, and simple word formations through interactive activities and games.
•	Weeks 9-16: Building upon foundational skills, we delve into more complex phonics patterns, syllable types, and early spelling strategies. Engaging exercises and practical applications will reinforce learning.
•	Weeks 17-23: Focusing on fluency and vocabulary development, these weeks integrate reading practice with expressive language use, employing a variety of texts to expand students' linguistic horizons.
•	Weeks 24-32: We explore advanced decoding strategies, multisyllabic words, and begin to uncover the mysteries of silent letters and soft sounds, enhancing both reading and spelling abilities.
•	Weeks 33-40: The curriculum introduces comprehension strategies, narrative structures, and creative writing exercises, encouraging students to express their ideas vividly and accurately.
Our teaching style is interactive and learner-centered, prioritizing student engagement and active participation. Lessons are delivered through a blend of direct instruction, hands-on activities, group discussions, and individual practice. We employ a variety of methods to cater to different learning styles, including multimedia presentations, storytelling, phonics games, and writing workshops.
Students will have ample opportunities to interact with both the instructor and their peers. Classroom discussions, collaborative projects, and peer review sessions are integral components of our class, ensuring a supportive and stimulating learning environment.
By the end of this course, students will have developed a solid literacy foundation, enhanced their reading and writing skills, and fostered a lifelong love for learning.

Class Evaluation
Homework Policy:
While formal homework assignments will not be a component of this class, students are encouraged to engage in independent reading and writing activities outside of class time. These activities are designed to reinforce the skills learned in class and foster a love for reading and writing. Suggestions for at-home activities will be provided, and students are invited to share their work during class for feedback and discussion.
Assessment Policy:
This class will not include formal assessments, tests, or quizzes. Instead, progress will be monitored through in-class activities, discussions, and individual feedback sessions. The focus will be on continuous improvement and the development of a strong foundation in literacy skills. Students will be encouraged to self-assess their understanding through reflection and to participate actively in seeking feedback from the instructor.
Grading Policy:
In keeping with our emphasis on learning and improvement, no letter grades will be assigned. Upon successful completion of the class, all students will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate will celebrate their dedication and hard work throughout the semester. The primary goal of this class is to cultivate a positive learning experience that motivates students to continue exploring the joys of reading and writing beyond the classroom.
The overarching aim of our evaluation policy is to create a supportive and stress-free environment that encourages exploration, curiosity, and a genuine love for literacy. We believe that by focusing on individual progress and the joy of learning, students will be best positioned to achieve their full potential.

Learning Goals

In our structured literacy class, students will embark on a comprehensive learning journey designed to build their reading and writing skills from the ground up. Our meticulously crafted curriculum aims to achieve specific learning goals, ensuring students not only grasp fundamental literacy concepts but also apply them confidently in their daily lives. Here's what students will learn:
1.	Phonemic Awareness: Students will learn to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in words. This includes skills such as sound isolation, blending, segmenting, and phoneme manipulation (adding, deleting, or substituting sounds).
2.	Phonics and Decoding: Learners will gain a strong foundation in phonics, understanding the relationship between letters and sounds. They will master decoding skills, enabling them to fluently read unfamiliar words by breaking them down into manageable parts.
3.	Fluency: Students will develop reading fluency, working on pace, accuracy, and proper expression. Fluency practice will include repeated reading and modeled fluent reading, with an emphasis on understanding punctuation's role in reading expressively.
4.	Vocabulary Development: The class will expand students' vocabulary through direct teaching of new words, exploration of synonyms and antonyms, and context clues within texts. Creative and varied use of vocabulary in writing and speaking will be encouraged.
5.	Reading Comprehension: Students will learn to employ various strategies to understand, interpret, analyze, and reflect on texts. Strategies include summarizing, questioning, predicting, inferring, and identifying main ideas and supporting details.
6.	Writing Skills: Learners will develop their writing abilities, starting from simple sentences to more complex texts. They will explore narrative, expository, and creative writing, learning about the writing process, including brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing.
7.	Spelling and Grammar: Focused instruction on spelling rules, patterns (including consonant blends, digraphs, and trigraphs), silent letters, and tricky spellings will improve students' spelling accuracy. Basic grammar concepts will also be covered to enhance writing quality.
8.	Literary Appreciation: Through exposure to a wide range of genres and texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama, students will develop an appreciation for literature and its various forms, themes, and styles.
9.	Critical Thinking and Analysis: Students will be encouraged to think critically about texts, analyzing characters, plot, themes, and author's purpose. They will learn to form and express their opinions, supporting their ideas with evidence from the text.
10.	Collaboration and Communication: Through group projects, discussions, and peer reviews, students will enhance their collaborative skills, learning to communicate effectively and respectfully with others.
By achieving these goals, students will be well-equipped with the literacy skills necessary for academic success and lifelong learning. They will leave the class as more confident readers and writers, ready to explore the vast world of literature and express their thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively.
learning goal

Syllabus

80 Lessons
over 40 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Phonemic Awareness and Initial Assessment
 This week kicks off our literacy journey with an initial assessment to understand each learner's starting point, followed by an introduction to the sounds that make up language.

Initial Assessment: 
My Lesson is about assessing each learner's current understanding of phonemic awareness and literacy skills to tailor future lessons. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Exploring Phonemic Awareness
 My Lesson is about introducing the foundational concept of phonemic awareness through engaging activities and sound play. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Advancing Phonemic Awareness: Sound Discrimination and Isolation
 Building on our understanding of phonemic awareness, we delve deeper into identifying and manipulating sounds within words.
My Lesson is about honing the ability to identify and isolate individual sounds, a key skill in early reading development. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Mastering Rhyming and Blending
 Engaging in rhyming games and blending sounds to form words. 
55 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Learning Needs
Recognizing the diverse challenges that learners with ADHD, Dyslexia, and ASD face, we've incorporated a variety of supports, strategies and teaching methodologies to create an empowering, inclusive, and supportive learning environment.
Parental Guidance
This class is carefully designed to be engaging and accessible for young learners, with a strong emphasis on creating a supportive and positive learning environment. All class content is selected to be age-appropriate, focusing on building literacy skills in a way that is both educational and enjoyable. There are no elements of the curriculum that include upsetting, scary content, or material that requires extra safety precautions. The class does not incorporate violent or politically sensitive topics, ensuring a comfortable learning atmosphere for all students. In our exploration of literature, we may discuss themes of challenge and triumph, friendship, and courage, which are all treated with sensitivity and aimed at fostering empathy and understanding. Any discussions or reading materials that touch on conflicts or challenges will be approached in a way that is appropriate for young learners, emphasizing positive outcomes and moral lessons.
Pre-Requisites
No prerequisites. Ideal for learners with basic letter recognition, some phonemic awareness, motivation and listening skills. Designed to support learners at various stages, including those with dyslexia or other learning differences.
Supply List
For our structured literacy class, the aim is to make learning as accessible and enjoyable as possible, requiring minimal supplies that are commonly found at home or can be easily acquired. Below is a list of materials learners will need to complete the class. When necessary, approximate prices are noted for less common items, based on general market values. Please note, any curriculum-specific materials, such as worksheets or handouts, will be provided by us.

Learner Supply List:

Notebooks or Writing Paper: For taking notes, writing assignments, and practicing spelling and handwriting.

Pencils and Erasers: Soft lead pencils (HB or 2B) are recommended for ease of writing and erasing.

Colored Pencils or Markers: These will be used for certain activities that involve coloring or organizing information visually.

Access to a Printer: Some materials and worksheets will be available for download and print from the classroom page. If printing is not possible, learners can view these documents on a computer or tablet.

A Quiet Space for Reading and Writing: A comfortable and quiet workspace helps focus and enhances the learning experience.

A Small Whiteboard and Dry-Erase Markers: Useful for practicing spelling and phonics activities. Approximate cost: $10-$15 for a small board and marker set.

Magnetic Alphabet & Numbers, Foam Letters for Kids

Access to a Library or E-Book Resource: We will recommend books for additional reading practice. Most books will be selected with accessibility in mind, aiming for titles that are likely available at public libraries or as affordable e-books.

Index Cards: For creating flashcards that help with vocabulary building and phonics practice. Approximate cost: $2-$4 for a pack.

Sticky Notes: Useful for annotating reading materials without writing directly on them. Approximate cost: $1-$3 per pad.

A Folder or Binder: To organize printed handouts, worksheets, and completed assignments.

A set of sandpaper letters (optional)

Provided by Instructor:

All curriculum materials, including downloadable worksheets, handouts, and decodable passages.
A curated list of recommended online resources and educational tools that are free to access.
Our goal is to ensure that preparing for this class is as straightforward and cost-effective as possible. Should you have any concerns about obtaining these materials or need suggestions for alternatives, please don't hesitate to contact me.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Websites: Online dictionaries and thesauruses to aid vocabulary development and understanding of word meanings, synonyms, and antonyms. Other Sources: Handouts and worksheets created specifically for this class, focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics patterns, spelling rules, and comprehension strategies. These are designed to reinforce lessons and provide targeted practice. Videos and multimedia presentations that align with our weekly themes, offering visual and auditory reinforcement of literacy concepts. All these materials are shared with students and parents through our Substack page: https://pathwaypages.substack.com/, ensuring easy access to homework assignments, class handouts, and additional learning resources. In adherence to our class content policy, we ensure all materials are appropriately rated, free from upsetting or scary content, and do not require students to navigate politically sensitive topics. Any third-party tools used do not necessitate the creation of accounts, safeguarding our students' online safety and privacy. Our approach to selecting these sources is rooted in a commitment to providing a well-rounded, evidence-based literacy education that respects the diverse needs and interests of our learners, setting them on the path to becoming confident and enthusiastic readers and writers.
Joined January, 2024
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Our instructor is an IDA-CERI certified structured literacy and dyslexia specialist and a state-certified ELA teacher with many years of experience. Her background includes specialized training in structured literacy approaches, extensive classroom experience, educational assessment and a commitment to ongoing professional development in the field of literacy education. She is passionate about helping every student develop a love for reading and writing and brings this enthusiasm to each lesson.

Her approach is rooted in evidence-based practices that support students with diverse learning needs, including those with dyslexia. She aims to create an inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environment where all students feel valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

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Live Group Class
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$38

weekly
2x per week, 40 weeks
55 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-9 learners per class

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