Structured Literacy Approach Year 0-3

Professional Learning and Development 2024

Freedom Literacy welcomes you to select a course from our offerings below.

We have been supporting schools in making the change to a structured literacy approach for the past 6 years. This means we understand the challenges and opportunities this shift in knowledge and practice presents. We want you to be confidently equipped to overcome the challenges and positioned to take advantage of the opportunities.

Each course consists of 3-days face to face, followed by 8 communities of practice sessions (1.5 hours each) which will be delivered online.

Dates for the 3 full-day workshops are listed below. Communities of practice dates will be sent out once offerings have been filled. These will be via Zoom and will be spread over two terms.

You will find our sessions full of valuable information, practical hands-on activities and key learning that you can immediately apply to practice in your classroom. Our knowledgeable facilitators will share their stories of mistakes made in implementation, helping you to avoid common pitfalls and accelerating your application of knowledge in your classroom. They will put tools and resources in your hands so you have what you need to get started trialling new learning straight away.

If you do not see an offering that suits you, please get in touch as we have left some weeks open in Cohort 2 to meet your needs.

After registration, you will be contacted via email with all of the details you will need to participate fully in this professional learning opportunity.

Please note: These dates and locations have minimum and maximum participant numbers to ensure an excellent PLD experience. If participant numbers are less than or exceed our capacity, courses may be offered online, or you may be offered an alternative location.

Expressions of interest

Would you like a course near you but there’s not one being offered?

We are able to be flexible with our course offerings, and we can even create a course for you if there is not one that suits in terms of the dates or places offered below.

Please note: We are also offering an online option for Cohort 2 for those who are rural or unable to attend a face-to-face course.

Our Facilitators

Janice Langford

Janice is a knowledgeable and experienced Literacy Facilitator who has worked across the sector – primary, intermediate and secondary schools. Initially focused on supporting secondary school literacy practices, she has been working closely with primary schools to support the implementation of a Structured Literacy Approach school-wide over the past five years. Her focus on building teacher knowledge and professional capability to underpin practical application means teachers understand the why, what and how of implementation. Her individual attention to teachers’ needs means everyone is brought along on the journey. She loves seeing ākonga thrive in classrooms where teachers are confidently implementing this approach.

Eunice M Fuchs

Eunice brings a wealth of intervention expertise to her role as a facilitator. She is a Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventionist in Whangarei. Eunice trained through the Institute for Multisensory Structured Language Education (IMSLE) in 2017 and attained Associate Membership with the Australia Dyslexia Association (AMADA) in 2019. More recently she attained recognition of knowledge and skills as a certified dyslexia interventionist through the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Centre for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). Eunice has experience teaching struggling readers with multiple co-morbidities. Eunice specialises in the application of Science of Reading and Science of Learning principles with the most challenging of learners. Eunice is a capable presenter and facilitator to adult professionals. She is an experienced tertiary-level educator in her discipline of origin and has facilitated structured literacy workshops for teachers of reading in Gisborne and Whangarei.

Sharni Honour

Recent hands-on implementation of a Structured Literacy Approach in the junior classroom means that Sharni’s facilitation work is informed by five years of on-the-ground practical experience with Structured Literacy and eight years of teaching experience. She understands the pressures of adapting theoretical knowledge to the classroom setting and has worked on creating systems that help teachers with planning and organisation. Through her roles as a Team Leader, Mentor Teacher, and Literacy Lead she has gained hands-on experience in embedding a Structured Literacy Approach across a school-wide setting. This has included curriculum alignment, the use of assessment to make OTJ’s, and supporting teachers in adapting their classroom practice. Sharni has witnessed the incredible impact this approach has had on student achievement and engagement in learning and is excited to help all teachers and ākonga experience the same success.

Our Courses - Cohort 2

Course 7: Taupo

Date: 14-16 October 2024
Location: Taupo
Venue: TBC

Ref: SLA0-3/TUO141024

Course 8: Dargaville

Date: 23-25 October
Location: Dargaville
Venue: TBC

Ref: SLA0-3/DGR231024

Course 9: Waipukurau

Date: 23-25 October
Location: Waipukurau
Venue: TBC

Ref: SLA0-3/WPK231024

Course 10: Wellington

Date: 5-7 November
Location: Wellington
Venue: TBC

Ref: SLA0-3/WLG0524

Course 11: Kerikeri

Date: 13-15 November 2024
Location: Kerikeri
Venue: TBC

Ref: SLA0-3/KKE131124

Course 12: ONLINE

Date: TBC
Location: Online

Ref: SLA0-3/ONLINE1024

“Janice models really well the idea that we are all learners and makes visible her thought process as she is interacting with us/modelling etc. When presenting material to staff she uses a range of strategies. From our recent year group team meetings with Janice, I can say that she uses the GROWTH model really well (I have also done this PLD, so know how it works) in her discussions, is great at clarifying and revoicing and also at moving the conversation forward to ensure that next steps are considered.”

“Her passion for the Science of Literacy and Structured Literacy approach is evident in her interactions with our staff.”

“I have been so impressed with Janice’s professionalism and her superb organisation of her PLD sessions. Her communication and liaison with our school leadership has been exceptional and provided us with clear direction for our strategic planning.”

“She has provided practical ways to implement evidence-based teaching into our teaching practice.”