Just Words^® Workshops

Just Words® Virtual Launch Workshops (instructor-led) provide the practice and guidance needed to effectively begin teaching the Just Words curriculum. This highly interactive remote workshop was developed with extensive participant input during the spring/early summer of 2020. It was designed to maintain participation and motivation for optimal learning, with strategically placed breaks and an extended lunch. Additionally, the workshop design allows for teacher input and active engagement via activities and discussions throughout each session.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants are able to:

• Identify the skills taught in Just Words: phonics and word study (phonemic awareness, six basic syllable types in English, spelling rules, common Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes), vocabulary study, and high frequency words;
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential, and cumulative instruction that engages multiple learning modalities using multisensory instruction, repetition, and immediate, specific feedback;
• Identify and understand the use of all materials in the Just Words Teacher’s Kit, and have a sense of how to find and use the many extended resources available on the Intervention Learning Community for Just Words (membership included with participation in this workshop);
• Use the Instructor Manual to prepare a daily learning plan and practice lesson activity procedures;
• Visualize the flow and pace of a full Just Words lesson completed with fidelity; and
• Identify which students may be appropriate for a Just Words class and understand how to assess students’ progress in the class by using Progress Checks at the beginning of each Unit and Unit Tests at the end.

Prerequisite: None

Duration: One full day (4 instructional hours)

The Just Words^® Launch Workshop provides the practice and guidance needed to effectively begin teaching the Just Words curriculum. This full-day workshop is highly interactive and designed to allow for teacher input and active engagement via activities and discussions throughout. The workshop covers an overview of the program, a dive into the materials and resources needed to teach Just Words, and a look at how to use the instructor Manual, including practice planning a lesson. It wraps up with a chance to see Just Words in action, debrief and look at what “next steps” will help participants kick off their Just Words instruction.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants are able to:

• Identify the skills taught in Just Words: phonics and word study (phonemic awareness, six basic syllable types in English, spelling rules, common Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes), vocabulary study, and high frequency words;
• Understand the principles of instruction: explicit, sequential, and cumulative instruction that engages multiple learning modalities using multisensory instruction, repetition, and immediate, specific feedback;
• Identify and understand the use of all materials in the Just Words Teacher’s Kit, and have a sense of how to find and use the many extended resources available on the Intervention Learning Community for Just Words (membership included with participation in this workshop);
• Use the Instructor Manual to prepare a daily learning plan and practice lesson activity procedures;
• Visualize the flow and pace of a full Just Words lesson completed with fidelity; and
• Identify which students may be appropriate for a Just Words class, and understand how to assess students’ progress in the class by using Progress Checks at the beginning of each Unit and Unit Tests at the end.

Prerequisite:None

Duration:One full day (5 instructional hours)

Just Words Screening and Placement Workshop (In-person)

Copy: Student identification and proper student placement is critical to the success of a Just Words class. The program is designed for students and adults who have mild to moderate gaps in their decoding and spelling proficiency but do not require intensive intervention. It is recommended that the Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency-2 (TOSWRF-2) and the Word Identification and Spelling Test (WIST) are appropriate measures for screening and placing students in a Just Words class. This half-day workshop prepares educators to use these measures and provides background information and hands-on practice administering the tests.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants are able to:

• Upon completion of the course, participants are able to:
• Understand the importance of proper student placement in a Just Words class;
• Name the steps to identify and place students in a Just Words class;
• Identify the purpose of the Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency-2 (TOSWRF-2) and how it can be used to help screen for Just Words placement;
• Identify the purpose of the Word Identification and Spelling Test (WIST) and how it can be used to appropriately place students in a Just Words class;
• Understand how to administer and score the TOSWRF-2 and WIST; and
• Properly identify and group students in a Just Words class using the TOSWRF-2 and WIST.

Prerequisite: None

Duration: Half day (3 instructional hours)