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SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 44
March 1, 1996 |
| TO: | Division Superintendents |
| FROM: | William C. Bosher, Jr.
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
| SUBJECT: | Emerging Literacy Workshops |
The Department of Education is pleased to announce three (3) regional workshops for supervisors, principals, teachers, and paraprofessionals who work with public school preschool and kindergarten programs. The workshops will focus on the conditions for literacy and ways in which early childhood teachers can ensure these conditions are appropriately presented in their classrooms. Extensive research has repeatedly identified the following conditions as essential for early literacy development: phonemic awareness, knowledge of letter-sound associations (phonics), and a rich print context/environment. Workshop presenters will share strategies to incorporate the sounds of language, rhyming words, vocabulary development, and phonics within rich print and oral language contexts. Kindergarten teachers should note that these conditions are reflected in the English Standards of Learning for kindergarten. Workshop participants will select from several concurrent sessions, including Feature Presentations of successful practices by fellow educators and Showcase Presentations of instructional programs, new technology-based programs, and other materials to support early literacy. There is no registration fee; however, priority will be given to those serving preschool programs with kindergarten educators being accepted as space is available. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at no cost to participants and certificates for recertification will be distributed at the close of the workshop. The workshops are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays: Supts. Memo. No. 44 Page 2 March 1, 1996 March 30, 1996 Rockingham County Turner Ashby High School April 27, 1996 Norfolk Berkley/Campostella Early Childhood Center May 4, 1996 Wythe County Spiller Primary School Registration materials will be sent to persons in your school division who have primary responsibility for the preschool programs and to each elementary school. Registration forms should be completed and returned to Ms. Pat Lankford (see the address on the registration form) by the appropriate deadline. For additional information you may contact Jenna Clayton at 804/786-2102 or Kitty Rodgers at 804/225-2662. WCBJr/pl Enclosure: A hard copy of this memo and its attachment will be sent to the superintendent's office Attachment: Supts. Memo. No. 44 EMERGING LITERACY WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM Name School Name and Address School Phone No. FAX Home Phone No. I wish to attend: Registration Deadline March 30, 1996 Rockingham County March 19, 1996 April 27, 1996 Norfolk April 12, 1996 May 4, 1996 Wythe County April 19, 1996 Program with which I work: My position within this program is: Virginia Preschool Initiative Teacher Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional/Assistant Title 1 Principal Even Start Supervisor/Administrator School Division Head Start Other Occupational Child Care Family Literacy/Adult Education School Division Migrant Program Special accommodations needed: Kindergarten Vegetarian meal Auditory assistance Other An agenda and directions will be sent with your confirmation letter. Please notify us of cancellations and/or substitutions as soon as possible. A waiting list will be maintained to fill cancellations. For information on space available after the registration deadline, please call Pat Lankford at (804) 225-3488. MAIL OR FAX THIS FORM TO: Ms. Pat Lankford Office of Elementary/Middle School Instruction Virginia Department of Education PO Box 2120 Richmond, VA 23218-2120 FAX: (804) 786-1703