South Central Service Cooperative will be offering READ Act Required Structured Literacy Training Sessions for Paraprofessionals at South Central Service Cooperative in North Mankato, MN. This opportunity can be used for the full series of paraprofessional training (you would take all four sessions) or it can be utilized for makeup sessions. Select the session(s) and dates you need by clicking the registration link. 

The Minnesota READ Act mandates this training to ensure all staff supporting reading instruction have the knowledge and skills to help every student become a proficient reader. By completing this training, paraprofessionals will be equipped to provide high-quality literacy support, align with your school's instructional practices, and contribute to a more consistent and effective learning environment for all students.

This program, developed by the Regional Literacy Network, consists of four, two-hour sessions, described below. 

Session 1: Structured Literacy Theoretical Frameworks

This training will give you the essential knowledge to understand why reading has become a top priority in Minnesota schools. We'll explore the reading brain to see how students learn to read and why some struggle. You will develop an understanding of the theoretical models of reading, such as the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough's Reading Rope, and learn how these models inform effective, evidence-based instruction. Most importantly, you will understand the basic components of structured literacy and why this approach is so crucial for helping all students become proficient readers.

Session 2: Phonemic Awareness

This session will help you understand the critical link between a student's oral language development and their journey to becoming a proficient reader. We'll break down the components of phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words, and explore the vital role it plays in reading. You'll get to practice the correct articulation of phonemes and explore effective, research-backed instructional strategies to help students master these foundational skills.

Session 3: Phonics

This training will help you understand what it truly means for a student to "know" the alphabet beyond just reciting it. You'll learn the most common ways to spell English phonemes, giving you the tools to help students master phonics rules and patterns. We'll also cover Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping, a powerful instructional strategy that connects sounds to their written letters. Finally, you'll learn the most common syllable types and syllable division rules to effectively support students as they tackle multisyllabic words.

Session 4: Vocabulary and Comprehension: 

This session will help you understand that comprehension is the result of both word recognition and language comprehension. We'll explore the critical importance of vocabulary and its direct impact on a student's ability to understand what they read. You will learn what it means to truly "know" a word and how to select the right words for explicit instruction. Finally, you'll gain and practice effective strategies for teaching vocabulary to help students build a robust word knowledge that supports their reading journey.

‍