Learning Goals for the Virtual 3-Day Reading Camp

Day 1: Introduction and Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic Awareness

Sound Identification: Students will be able to identify individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.
Rhyming and Alliteration: Students will recognize and produce rhyming words and identify alliteration in words.
Segmenting and Blending: Students will learn to segment spoken words into individual phonemes and blend phonemes to form words.
Basic Phonics

Letter-Sound Correspondence: Students will learn the sounds associated with specific consonants and vowels.
Word Formation: Students will practice forming simple words using learned sounds and phonics patterns.
Decodable Reading Practice

Reading Fluency: Students will practice reading decodable texts to improve fluency and apply phonics skills in context.

Day 2: Building on Phonics and Fluency

Phonics Development

Advanced Phonics Patterns: Students will learn more complex phonics patterns such as digraphs (e.g., "sh," "ch") and blends (e.g., "bl," "st").
Multisensory Phonics Activities: Students will engage in multisensory activities to reinforce the new phonics patterns.
Fluency Practice

Choral Reading: Students will practice reading aloud together to improve reading rhythm and pace.

Echo Reading: Students will participate in echo reading activities to model fluent reading and improve their own fluency.

Paired Reading

Peer Interaction: Students will practice reading with a partner in breakout rooms, providing opportunities for peer learning and support.
Day 3: Advanced Phonics and Comprehension

Advanced Phonics

Complex Phonics Patterns: Students will learn about vowel teams (e.g., "ea," "oi") and r-controlled vowels (e.g., "ar," "or").

Application of Phonics: Students will apply these complex phonics patterns in reading and writing activities.

Guided Reading

Comprehension Strategies: Students will learn and practice basic comprehension strategies such as predicting, summarizing, and asking questions about the text.
Reading Comprehension: Students will read passages and answer questions to demonstrate understanding and apply comprehension strategies.
Writing and Spelling

Spelling Practice: Students will engage in spelling exercises that reinforce phonics patterns learned during the camp.
Writing Skills: Students will write short paragraphs or stories, applying their phonics and comprehension skills.

Overall Goals:

Improved Phonemic Awareness: Students will enhance their ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in words.
Enhanced Phonics Skills: Students will develop a strong foundation in phonics, enabling them to decode and spell words more effectively.
Increased Reading Fluency: Students will improve their reading speed, accuracy, and expression through guided and independent practice.
Better Reading Comprehension: Students will apply comprehension strategies to understand and engage with texts more deeply.
Boosted Confidence in Reading: Students will gain confidence in their reading abilities, contributing to a positive attitude towards reading.

These specific learning goals will help guide the instruction and activities during the camp, ensuring that students make meaningful progress in their reading skills.

Our instructors are highly qualified and experienced in the field of reading intervention, particularly with the Orton-Gillingham approach. Here’s a summary of their relevant training and expertise:

Marianna Vitale 

Education and Training:

Master’s Degree in Science of Psychology: Specialized in child and adolescent development.
Orton-Gillingham Training: Completed training through a recognized Orton-Gillingham training program, which includes extensive coursework and supervised practicum hours.

Reading Specialist: Reading Specialist, demonstrating expertise in diagnosing and addressing reading difficulties.

Professional Experience:

10+ Years of Teaching Experience: Worked as a reading intervention teacher for ESL (English as a second language) students, helping students with diverse learning needs improve their reading skills.

Special Education Background: Experience working with students with learning differences, including dyslexia, ensuring they receive personalized and effective instruction.

Workshop Facilitator and Trainer: Led professional development workshops 

Lived Experience:

One-on-One Tutoring: Provided individual tutoring for students struggling with reading, using Orton-Gillingham methods to achieve significant improvements.

Parent and Community Engagement: Actively involved in community literacy programs and parent workshops, offering guidance and support for at-home reading practices.

Our commitment to excellence in teaching and a deep understanding of the Orton-Gillingham approach ensures that your child will receive high-quality, effective reading instruction tailored to their unique needs.

0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: Available upon request
Feedback: Available upon request
Details: Optional:
Daily Practice Sheets: Each day, students will receive practice sheets focusing on the phonics patterns and reading skills covered during the session. These sheets will include exercises like sound matching, word building, and short reading passages.
Interactive Online Activities: Students will have access to engaging online games and activities that reinforce the day's lessons. These activities are designed to make practice fun and interactive.
Reading Assignments: Students will be assigned short decodable texts to read aloud with a parent or guardian, focusing on applying the phonics skills learned that day.

Frequency:

Homework will be assigned at the end of each daily session, providing consistent practice to reinforce learning.

All homework is optional. HOWEVER, consistent practice is essential for reinforcing the skills learned during the sessions and for making meaningful progress.

By incorporating daily practice, interactive activities, and regular feedback, the homework assignments aim to solidify students' learning and support their reading development throughout the camp.

Our Virtual 3-Day Reading Camp is specially designed to meet the unique learning needs of each student, ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for all including students with Dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, Autism, learning differences, etc.

Basic understanding of reading concepts. 

Books and Articles:

Decodable Texts: Selected from a range of decodable books that align with the Orton-Gillingham approach, focusing on phonics patterns and sight words appropriate for the learners' levels.

Examples include "Bob Books" series by Bobby Lynn Maslen and "Primary Phonics" series by Barbara W. Makar.
Orton-Gillingham Instructional Guides:

"The Orton-Gillingham Educator's Guide" by Diana Hanbury King.
"Recipe for Reading" by Frances Bloom and Nina Traub.
Websites and Online Tools:

Kahoot: Used for interactive quizzes and phonics games to reinforce daily lessons.

Website: Kahoot
No account required for students to participate; links will be provided.
Quizizz: Used for engaging practice activities and assessments.

Website: Quizizz
No account required for students to participate; links will be provided.

Starfall: A website with phonics games and reading activities aligned with the Orton-Gillingham approach.

Website: Starfall

Accessible for additional practice outside of class.

Approved Third-Party Tools:

Jamboard: An interactive digital whiteboard used for multisensory activities and collaborative exercises.

Website: Jamboard
No account required for students to participate; links will be provided.
All selected materials and resources comply with our class content policy, ensuring they are age-appropriate, educational, and supportive of the Orton-Gillingham instructional approach.