
Professional Development
Courses & Workshops for Teachers
When Teachers Grow, Students Grow
Our courses and workshops empower teachers with the latest research and effective practices to improve learning outcomes for all students.
Through our Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence, we award grants to teachers seeking to deepen their knowledge through professional learning.
Browse Our Course, Workshops, and Webinars by:
Programs and Courses
Powerful, Practical Learning
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Structured Literacy Collaborative
Gain the knowledge and support you need to improve literacy outcomes in your classroom and meet the literacy needs of every student. The Stern Center’s Structured Literacy Collaborative empowers educators with evidence-based literacy practices, data-based decision-making, informative workshops, and transformative coaching.
Literacy Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023–2024 Literacy Workshops and Group Meetings:
Session 1 | Sept 21
(the first session will be available as recording for anyone who can’t join in September)
Session 2 | Nov 30
Session 3 | Jan 18
Session 4 | Mar 21
Session 5 | May 16
Literacy Coaching Sessions:
Oct 26, Dec 14, Feb 8, April 11, June 6
(Dates and times for small group coaching subject to change based on enrollment.)
Structured Literacy Collaborative II
Take your structured literacy know-how to the next level and help support every reader. The Stern Center’s Structured Literacy Collaborative II—a new Lead to read offering—goes beyond the fundamentals, giving you the in-depth knowledge and specialized support you need to improve literacy outcomes in your classroom. The Collaborative empowers educators with evidence-based literacy practices, data-based decision-making, informative workshops, and transformative coaching.
Literacy Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023–2024 Literacy Workshops and Group Meetings:
Session 1 | Sept 20
(the first session will be available as recording for anyone who can’t join in September)
Session 2 | Nov 29
Session 3 | Jan 17
Session 4 | Mar 27
Session 5 | May 22
Literacy Coaching Sessions:
Oct 18, Dec 6, Feb 21, April 17, June 12
(Dates and times for small group coaching subject to change based on enrollment.)
Wilson Reading System® Introductory Course
This course provides participants with an overview of the Wilson Reading System® (WRS) 4th Edition curriculum and serves as the prerequisite for WRS Level I Certification. Over three consecutive days (16.5 hours), this course examines how WRS addresses the teaching of phonemic awareness, word identification, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through an integrated study of phonology, morphology, and orthography with students in grade two and above with persistent phonological coding deficits.
Wilson Language Training Courses | Online, Synchronous, Workshop
October 3–5, 2023
Fundations®
Wilson Fundations®’ research-based approach and teacher-friendly materials give K–3 educators everything they need to launch a carefully structured reading and spelling curriculum using multisensory techniques. Our Fundations Launch Workshops will provide you with the practice and guidance to effectively begin teaching Fundations in your school.
Wilson Language Training Courses | Online, Synchronous, Workshop
One-Day Fundation® Workshops:
Level 1: Oct 17, 2023
Level 2: Oct 24, 2023
Level 3: Nov 7, 2023
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham: Classroom Educator Level
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is the underlying foundation of all multisensory, structured literacy instruction. This course provides an overview of the structure of the English language and how to teach it sequentially and systematically. It covers teaching the OG lesson in K–2 classrooms and meets the coursework requirements for Orton-Gillingham Academy Classroom Educator Level.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
This class is full. Our next Intro to OG Classroom Educator course will launch in the summer of 2024. Sign up here to receive notifications about upcoming courses. You can also check out our Intro to OG for Upper Grades course for classroom teachers.
Wilson Reading System® Level 1 Certification
Gain the knowledge and skills critical to providing intensive support for struggling readers and spellers and students with language-based learning disabilities. The Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Level I Certification program is designed to prepare teachers to effectively implement WRS Steps 1–6. It deepens teachers’ content knowledge and offers a supervised practicum that allows teachers to apply and practice skillful use of research-based strategies.
Wilson Language Training Courses | Asynchronous, Course, Online, Synchronous
Oct 17, 2023–Aug 31, 2024
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Reading Comprehension, and Assessment
When reading difficulties arise, as they do for many children, effective intervention hinges on accurate, well-designed assessment. In this five-part recorded webinar series, renowned literacy expert, Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., unravels the complexity of reading, writing, and reading comprehension, guides educators in assessing literacy, provides parents and educators with a better understanding of reading difficulties, and recommends targeted interventions to help children who struggle.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Webinar
Available On Demand
Orton-Gillingham: Robust Vocabulary
This workshop uses the Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach to teach vocabulary with multisensory, research-based strategies that make vocabulary come alive. Carefully selecting the word list in your OG lesson plan is an important vehicle for teaching and reviewing vocabulary and critical thinking skills.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023
Dec 6 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades
In this hands-on, interactive online course designed for classroom teachers in third grade and up, you will gain a basic understanding of the Orton-Gillingham Approach, the underlying foundation of all structured literacy instruction. You’ll dive into the structure of the English language and learn how to teach it sequentially using a multisensory approach.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2024
Jan 5 | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM ET
Jan 19 | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM ET
Feb 9 | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM ET
March 8 | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM ET
March 29 | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM ET
May 3 | 12:30–3:30 PM ET
Orton-Gillingham Update & Refresh
This webinar is designed to review and update your knowledge of the Orton-Gillingham Approach if you have previously taken an OG course, especially through the Stern Center. This three-hour webinar will refresh your knowledge of the OG approach and address several important updates, such as changes to the OG lesson plan.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online
Orton-Gillingham: Focus on Level II, Vowel Teams, & Beyond
Do you have questions about how to teach syllabication, vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, and spelling patterns, or questions as you progress to more advanced levels in your Scope and Sequence? This webinar, rich with multiple opportunities to practice and troubleshoot, is designed for Orton-Gillingham (OG) teachers with a basic understanding of the OG lesson plan and Scope and Sequence whose students are advancing in Level II of the OG Scope and Sequence.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2024
Jan 31 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET
Orton-Gillingham Advanced Morphology: Focus on Latin and Greek
This one-day workshop is geared toward OG teachers whose students are ready to learn advanced morphology, including Latin roots and Greek combining forms. Participants will leave with a detailed scope and sequence and word lists containing common Latin roots and affixes and Greek Combining Forms. Sample OG lesson plans and teaching activities will be shared in this interactive workshop.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2024
March 13 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET
Why Some Students Have Difficulty Learning
Learn practical strategies for building thriving and effective multi-tiered systems of support. Join nationally recognized assessment expert and Stern Center Director of Evaluation, Dr. Melissa Farrall, for a series of workshops on assessing student strengths and weaknesses, determining interventions, linking assessment data to instruction, and boosting the effectiveness of collaborating teams.
Literacy Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Workshop
Available On Demand
Teaching Orton-Gillingham Online
What’s the best way to deliver Orton-Gillingham (OG) lessons online? The Director of the Stern Center’s OG Institute, Peggy Price, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA, shows you how in this recorded one-hour webinar. Peggy also reviews free and discounted online products and resources you can share with your students.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Webinar
Available On Demand
MindPlay Comprehensive Reading Course
MindPlay’s Comprehensive Reading Course was developed by leading literacy experts to give teachers, special educators, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of effective reading and spelling instruction, a strong foundation in reading science.
Literacy Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Workshop
Available On Demand
Building Blocks for Literacy
Building Blocks for Literacy® is a robust professional learning program for early care and education professionals to help ensure that our youngest learners are prepared for literacy success when they enter kindergarten.
Literacy Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Workshop
Available On Demand
Literacy Champions Symposium Webinars
Learn how we can grow strong readers and writers with these pre-recorded webinars from our Literacy Champions symposium. Join Louisa Moats, Ed.D. and Nancy Mather, Ph.D. as they unpack decades of research. Be a literacy champion!
Literacy Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Workshop
Available On Demand
How to Raise Resilient, Happy, and Confident Kids
Abby Roy, School Psychologist, shares practical strategies to help parents (and teachers!) know what to say and do to help children manage frustration, think flexibly, and learn the self-regulation skills they need to be happy and healthy. Together, we can be the parents we wish to be for our children.
Social-Emotional Learning Courses | Asynchronous, Online, Workshop
Available On Demand
Orton-Gillingham: Diagnostic Assessment Workshop Series
Participants will learn how to administer a comprehensive diagnostic assessment that can be used as a universal assessment for students in grades K–2. This assessment battery can also be used with struggling readers to determine a starting place for OG instruction and ongoing progress monitoring.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses, Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023
Aug 18 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET
Nov 15 | 12:30–3:30 PM ET
2024
Jan 24 | 12:30–3:30 PM ET
Just Words®
Just Words ® is a highly explicit, multisensory decoding and spelling program for students in grades 4–12 and adults who have mild to moderate gaps in their decoding and spelling proficiency but do not require intensive intervention. The program is designed for students with below-average decoding and spelling scores and should be combined with other literature-rich programs.
Wilson Language Training Courses | Online, Synchronous, Workshop
New sessions coming soon. Contact us to receive updates.
Orton-Gillingham for Intervention: Associate Level Course & Practicum
In this course and practicum, you’ll dive into the structure of the English language and learn how to teach it sequentially and systemically to struggling readers, including students with dyslexia. This cumulative 72-hour course and 100-lesson practicum meet the Orton-Gillingham Academy’s Associate Level training requirements.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
If you are interested in OG Associate Level training, please add your name to our interest list and we will notify you in January 2024 when the application window for the next summer 2024 training is available. You can also check out our Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades course for classroom teachers.
Reading and Writing Assessments
This interactive course is designed for anyone wanting to learn more about reading and writing assessment. It will focus on issues related to the assessment of reading, spelling, and writing—including identifying early signs of trouble, diagnosing dyslexia and dysgraphia, and communicating test results to parents and other educators.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023
Sept 5 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Sept 12 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Sept 26 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Oct 3 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Oct 17 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Oct 24 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Nov 7 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Nov 14 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Nov 28 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Dec 5 | 4:00–7:00 PM ET
Linking Assessment to Instruction with a Structured Literacy Approach
In this course, you will learn how to use data obtained through informal and formal testing to enhance instruction using a structured literacy or Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach. You’ll explore different profiles of dyslexia together with comorbid conditions, such as specific language impairments and ADHD.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses, Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023:
July 31 | 9:15 AM–3:30 PM ET
Aug 1 | 9:15 AM–3:30 PM ET
Aug 2 | 9:15 AM–3:30 PM ET
Aug 3 | 9:15 AM–3:30 PM ET
Sept 28 | 1:00–3:30 PM ET
Oct 12 | 1:00–3:30 PM ET
Oct 26 | 1:00–3:30 PM ET
Nov 9 | 1:00–3:30 PM ET
Nov 30 |1:00–3:30 PM ET
Spelling Rules: From the Basics to the Big Three
Deepen your understanding of English orthography—the conventions and rules of our writing system, including spelling. Appropriate for teachers, parents, and even teenagers curious about the “rules” behind some English spellings, this lively two-hour virtual workshop will cover the seven spelling rules and how to teach them in the early elementary grades. It will also address basic principles of direct and explicit spelling instruction that maximize learning opportunities for elementary students.
Literacy Courses | Online, Synchronous, Workshop
Trauma-Informed Social Learning Course
This course focuses on defining, identifying, and understanding children’s developmental experiences—such as early adversity or autism—that negatively impact typical social development. Our goal is to help teachers and programs protect vulnerable learners and provide the knowledge and support needed for robust instruction in social-emotional learning.
Social-Emotional Learning Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
June 26–29, 2023 (Monday–Thursday)
Assessment Week
A convenient four-day series of live virtual seminars that will deepen your knowledge of assessment and help you gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of testing. Join nationally recognized assessment expert, Dr. Melissa Farrall, for a series of case-study investigations that will serve as a vehicle for learning about assessing student strengths and weaknesses, determining interventions, linking assessment data to instruction, and building effective strategies to support all students.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses | Online, Synchronous, Workshop
June 26–29, 2023 (Monday–Thursday)
The Assessment Institute
Increasing your expertise in reading and writing assessment will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of at-risk students and meet the unique needs of every learner more effectively. The Assessment Institute bridges the gap between the science of reading, reading instruction, and reading assessment, and provides training in assessing reading skills, writing reports, and developing recommendations for remediation and support.
Assessments & Evaluation Courses | Online
Starting September 6, 2022
Weekly on Tuesdays
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham: Classroom Educator Level
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is the underlying foundation of all multisensory, structured literacy instruction. This course provides an overview of the structure of the English language and how to teach it sequentially and systematically. It covers teaching the OG lesson in K–2 classrooms and meets the coursework requirements for Orton-Gillingham Academy Classroom Educator Level.
Orton-Gillingham Training Courses | Course, Online, Synchronous
2023
Friday, June 23
Monday, June 26
Tuesday, June 27
Thursday, June 29
Friday, June 30
Orton-Gillingham Institute
Ensure every child becomes a reader with this multisensory approach to literacy instruction.
The respected Orton-Gillingham Academy accredits the Stern Center as a leader in training teachers. Through studies of reading and dyslexia, researchers have illuminated the neuroscience behind Orton-Gillingham’s decades-long classroom successes. Watch our video on Orton-Gillingham.
Wilson Language Training
Learn how to implement Wilson® Reading Programs effectively in your classroom and school.
Used in schools nationwide, Wilson Reading Programs teach students how to read and write using an explicit, systematic, structured, and multisensory approach. We are a Wilson® Accredited Training Partner and proud provider of high-quality online training in Fundations®, Just Words®, and the Wilson Reading System®.
Social Emotional Learning Courses
Discover the latest research about trauma and the brain and develop practical approaches for social-emotional learning.
In our SEL courses, you’ll define, identify, and understand how early experiences impact social development. Develop classroom strategies that help your students strengthen self-regulation to foster their learning.
Assessment and Evaluation Courses
For students with learning challenges, effective intervention hinges on accurate, well-designed assessment.
Learn from expert educational evaluators about identifying and optimizing students’ learning profiles and linking assessment to instruction.
MindPlay’s Comprehensive Reading Course
Developed by leading literacy experts, this online course is designed for educators who want to know how foundational reading skills align with the science of reading.
Learn strategies to enhance all aspects of reading performance, including phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.
Building Blocks for Literacy
Building Blocks offers play-based exercises, activities, and strategies that promote language and early literacy skills.
Informed by the latest literacy research and packed with evidence-based practices, this online course teaches what research has shown about how our youngest learners develop reading readiness.
Our schoolwide literacy initiatives help teachers reach every reader:
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For questions about courses and workshops, email proflearning@sterncenter.org, call 802-878-2332, or fill out the form below.