COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 49

September 3, 2002

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Linguistics Distance Learning Course for Virginia Educators

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of a linguistics distance learning course for Virginia educators. This two-part course provides instruction that will focus on the science of linguistics and techniques used in teaching troublesome reading and spelling patterns, while conforming to current curriculum. The course is designed to provide instruction for teachers in kindergarten through eighth grade to help prevent reading difficulties.

The first course, What You Always Wanted to Know About Linguistics But May Have Missed, will be taught live from Virginia Western Community College, Greenfield Education and Training Center on Mondays from 6 p.m. 9 p.m. starting October 14, 2002. The course will be telecast to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 1636 East Parham Road for teachers in the Richmond vicinity and at Franklin County High School for teachers in that area. The second course, Nuts and Bolts of Student Remediation will begin in January 2003 at the same locations.

For enrollment information contact the admissions office of Virginia Western Community College at (540) 857-7231, or register online at http://www.vw.vccs.edu. The fall course number is ENG 195 C1.

For more information, please contact, Barbara F. Jones (mailto:bjones@mail.vak12ed.edu), specialist, reading and English, office of elementary instructional services, at (804) 786-1997.

PIW/BFJ/vdg