overview
Phonics: The Building Blocks of Early Reading
(Grade K-5)
Dr. Susan Smith
Course Description:
In this course, teachers will learn to recognize examples of sound-symbol correspondences, rules, and patterns in English, as well as to understand the phonological features of a second language and how it can interfere with English pronunciation and phonics. They will also learn how to use a phonics survey and developmental spelling inventory to identify how to instruct selected students who need more instruction and practice.
Dr. Susan Smith
Dr. Susan Smith of San Diego, CA, has been in education since 1989. Her experience includes working as a special education teacher, elementary classroom teacher, mentor teacher, PAR consulting teacher, supervising teacher, lead teacher, middle/high school science and math teacher, and university professor. She has also worked at the county level as a coordinator of elementary language arts, and at the state level as an Instructional Program Advisor for California's Reading First Program. She is the author of several state-level trainings and documents, including AB 466 Advanced Training; AB 75 Administrative Training; Standards-Based Student Writing Samples K-8; Writing Under Pressure; A Blueprint for Effective Writing Instruction; and Assessing Student Achievement in Writing. Dr. Smith serves on the Instructional Program Advisory Panel, the AB-466 materials review panel, and the California Writing Project advisory board. She is currently a member of the Riverside County Achievement Team, working with low-performing schools to increase student achievement. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego in 2002.
