Overview
When Writing is Hard: Written Language Disorders and Dysgraphia
Offered Again in Summer 2025: When Writing is Hard
Want to join us next year? This course returns in the summer of 2025. Stay tuned for registration details!
Writing can be challenging, and our understanding of the writing process impacts how we teach, assess, and respond to our students. Participants will leave this course with an understanding of how writing develops, the root causes of most writing problems, tools for progress monitoring, and areas of support that children require to express their thoughts on paper.
Who is this course for?
This course is for all educators, including, but not limited to classroom teachers, special educators, school psychologists, and reading specialists.
Course description
How we conceptualize writing has important consequences for how we address the needs of children in the classroom. Writing, like reading, is a tool for learning, and children who have difficulty with writing lose an all-too-important vehicle for thinking deeply about the things they learn. This course will focus on what we know about the writing process and the underlying skills that make communication in print possible.
We will review the history of the terms, dysgraphia and learning disability in written expression, their status in the law, early signs of risk, and the skill areas that support writing development. We will practice with different tools for screening and progress monitoring. We will examine case studies and discuss the types of instruction and the strategies that support all children to become writers.
Participants will leave this workshop with an understanding of how writing develops, the root causes of most writing problems, tools for progress monitoring, and areas of support that children require to express their thoughts on paper.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
- Attend all class sessions live and in full.
- Actively participate in discussions and activities.
- Complete all assigned readings and assignments.
- Purchase the required course materials.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Handwriting Research: Impact on the Brain and Literacy Development. (2012). Columbus, OH: Zaner-Bloser, Inc.
This text can be ordered here.
Farrall, M. (2012). Reading Assessment; Linking Language, Literacy and Cognition. Wiley Press; Hoboken, NJ. ISBN-13: 978-0-470-87393-9.
This text can be ordered or rented from Amazon.
Sedita, J. (2023). The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction. Paul H. Brookes Publishing; Baltimore, MD. ISBN-13 978-1681255897.
This text can be ordered from Amazon.
Other suggested materials will be listed on the syllabus.
Material costs cannot be included in purchase orders. Teachers must purchase materials separately on their own.
This course counts toward OGA CEU requirements.
NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS:
35 for non-grad credit
Dates
Summer 2025 dates TBD
Time
Summer 2025 times TBD
Location and Format
Cost
TBD
Grade Level
Audience
Graduate Credit
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., SAIF
Affiliated Distinguished Scholar
What Teachers Have to Say
Meet the Instructor(s)
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., SAIF
Affiliated Distinguished Scholar
Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., Program Manager for Evaluation, is the author of Reading Assessment: Linking Language, Literacy, and Cognition, and the co-author of All About Tests & Assessments published by Wrightslaw. Dr. Farrall is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences at University of Vermont College of Medicine. She presents nationally on topics related […]
Supporting Teachers
Grants for Professional Learning
The Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence awards grants to individual educators and school cohorts seeking better outcomes for students through our programs. Learn more about Cynthia K. Hoehl, whose vision as an educator inspired a powerful legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terms and conditions are there for professional learning registrations?
Please read the terms and conditions for our courses and workshops and contact us if you have any questions.
How do I register?
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is on our website, please visit the course or workshop’s page and follow the link to access our online registration form. Complete the form by doing the following:
- Indicate whether you will pay with a credit card or a Purchase Order (PO).
- Fill out the participant information and workshop information sections.
- Read the Terms and Conditions and check the box to confirm your agreement.
- Click “Next”
- If you are paying with a PO:
- Please verify that your PO is complete.
- Upload the signed PO when prompted through the registration process. If you have questions please email: proflearning@sterncenter.org.
- Click “Next.”
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by sending you an email with “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If you are paying with a credit card:
- Click “Continue.”
- On the Payment Method screen Click “Pay with Credit Card” to continue to Authorize.net.
- Enter your credit card information and click “Pay now” to complete your credit card transaction.
- Your information will be sent to us to review. In 1–2 business days, we will confirm your registration by sending you an email with “Registration Confirmation” in the subject line.
- If the course or workshop you’re interested in is not listed on our website, please contact us to learn more.
I’m considering taking a course for graduate credit. How long do I have to decide?
Graduate Credit Policy
Vermont State University (VtSU): If you are registering for a course that offers graduate credit from VTSU, you may add graduate credit up to and including the first day of class.
Graduate Credit Withdrawal Policy: For classes running consecutive days, participants who withdraw must decide by the end of the first day whether to request a graduate credit refund. To request a refund, email the Professional Learning Intake Coordinator at proflearning@sterncenter.org or by phone at 802-276-8684.
My school said they would register me. Do I need to do anything else?
Please confirm with your school that they have completed all the necessary steps to register you. Please do not plan to attend the class without verifying that you are registered, as we may be unable to accommodate you due to limited seating. If you are officially registered, you will receive a Registration Confirmation email. If you do not receive a Registration Confirmation email, please check with your school.
What is a purchase order or PO?
- A purchase order (PO) is a document from your school or district stating that they will pay a certain amount for you to attend a course or workshop. A PO allows us to invoice your school or district for your attendance.
- A PO might look something like this.
- A PO is not a number. Please supply the complete document to register, not just the PO number.
How do I register with a purchase order?
You’ll need to complete a purchase order (PO) before you register. Make sure your PO fulfills the following:
- The PO is issued to “Stern Center for Language and Learning.”
- The unit price is for the total cost (if your school or district pays for only part of the total cost, please email us at proflearning@sterncenter.org.
- The PO is signed by an authorized party at your school or district.
- Upload your PO as part of the registration process.
Can you invoice my school or district so they can make a PO?
Unfortunately no. We cannot submit invoices without first receiving a PO.
My school/district/I sent you a PO. Why am I not registered?
Ensure you have also completed and submitted a registration form and your PO. Without both documents, we cannot register you.
Make sure you sent us a copy of the PO itself and not just a PO number or a letter of intent from your school or district. We cannot invoice either of these items without the PO document itself.
Please get in touch with us if you haven’t received confirmation of your registration 1–2 business days after you submitted a completed PO and the registration information form. We may have missed one of these documents and would appreciate your letting us know to look for them.
My school or district won’t cover the total cost of a course or workshop. How can I complete my registration?
If your school or district is paying for only part of the total cost, please get in touch with us by calling 802-276-8684 or emailing proflearning@sterncenter.org. To complete your registration, you must send the remaining balance by check or credit card payment.
How do I pay for graduate credit?
Please make all payments to the Stern Center for Language and Learning. We’ll handle the rest!
If you are worried about the course or workshop filling up, you can pay with a credit card or check while you wait for your PO to be completed. Please check with your school or district before doing this to make sure you can be reimbursed when the PO is completed.
If paying for the course out-of-pocket isn’t an option for you, please get in touch with us.
My school or district is still working on my PO. Can I still register?
We’re sorry, but we cannot accept registrations without proof or payment or proof of intent to pay (such as a completed PO).
Can I still take a course if I need to miss one or more days?
All participants must be prepared for and attend every class and be ready to participate as required by the instructor.
If that is not possible for you, please get in touch with us before registering. You may still be able to take the course in some instances, but such decisions are at the course instructor’s discretion. Please refer to our Attendance & Participation Policy.
Can I audit a course or workshop?
Auditing our public offerings is not available. All attendees must register, pay tuition, and follow the attendance and participation policy.
Do I need to register with Wilson® after I enroll in the course or workshop with the Stern Center?
If you wish to receive a certificate of attendance, access additional resources, and register for graduate credit (when available), you will need to pre-register with Wilson. These resources and materials are only available through Wilson.
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Do you have questions about course registration, credits, grants, or anything else? Find your answers here!
Get in Touch!
For questions about courses and workshops, email proflearning@sterncenter.org, call 802-878-2332, or fill out the form below.
