Learning Opportunities

In Person: Essential Background Knowledge for Teaching Foundational Reading Skills

Presented By

Christina Giddings , Stefanie Mcleod & Dr. Colleen Pollett

Series Sessions

Date	Time
Fri, March 17, 2023	8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Sat, March 18, 2023	8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Location

Medicine Hat Public School Division Office 601 1 Ave SW, Medicine Hat, AB

Grade Levels

K-3

This two-day learning opportunity is closed to participants from Prairie Rose, Medicine Hat School Division and specifically invited guests for either day.

The University of Florida Literacy Institute Essential Background Knowledge training will provide educators with the necessary knowledge to support the development of foundational literacy skills. The session will provide an overview of research on reader development and principles of effective reading instruction and intervention. We then take a closer look at the key foundational reading skills UFLI Foundations addresses: phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, decoding, encoding, and oral reading fluency.

Christina Giddings

Christina Giddings is the Implementation Specialist at the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in Special Education. In her current role, she supports teachers in their implementation of the UFLI Foundations curriculum. Prior to joining Team UFLI, Christina served as an elementary school teacher in the district where Foundations was piloted.

Stefanie Mcleod

Stefanie McLeod is the Implementation Coordinator at the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and an Endorsement in Educational Leadership. In her current role, she works closely with district leaders and school-based teams to support teachers implementing UFLI Foundations. Prior to joining Team UFLI, Stefanie served as an Instructional Coach in the Foundations pilot district.

Dr. Colleen Pollett

Dr. Pollett is a Professional Learning Specialist at the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). She is a contributing author of the UFLI Foundations manual and led the UFLI Foundations content development team. Her work focuses on teacher professional development in early literacy instruction. Prior to joining the UFLI team, Dr. Pollett was an elementary school teacher. She is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.