The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy /blog/category/the-rose-institute-for-learning-and-literacy /blog/literacy-summer-series Literacy Summer Series /blog/literacy-summer-series Support Every Reader, Strengthen Your Practice with our Literacy Summer Series  In partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, we’re excited

Support Every Reader, Strengthen Your Practice with our Literacy Summer Series 

In partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, we’re excited to offer nine summer professional learning workshops designed to help educators deepen their knowledge and sharpen their skills in teaching reading. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, these sessions are grounded in the latest research and best practices—giving you the tools to support all learners more effectively.

✅ Aligned with the Science of Reading
✅ Practical, classroom-ready strategies
✅ CO-SER Aid-able for participating districts

Details and registration info can be found in the attached flyer.
Please feel free to share with colleagues who may be interested!

#TheRoseInstituteForLearningAndLiteracy #91ֱUniversity #ScienceOfReading #LiteracyMatters #TeacherPD #ReadingInstruction #StructuredLiteracy #ProfessionalLearning2025 Summer Workshop Series UNLOCKING THE POWER OF LITERACY! Are you ready to empower your students and elevate your teaching strategies? Join us this summer for a transformative series of professional development workshops designed to equip educators with the latest research-backed methods to accelerate literacy outcomes. Whether you’re looking to transition to structured literacy, strengthen your understanding of phonological awareness, or explore creative ways to build vocabulary, these workshops are tailored to meet your needs.Shifting from Guided Reading into Structured Literacy and Small Group Instruction PRESENTER: JUDY BOKSNER As schools are shifting away from guided reading groups, do you feel like you want to be prepared to follow science and research? If so, this may be the perfect workshop for you. In this workshop, participants will learn about how small group instruction based on evidence-aligned practices can help accelerate student outcomes. Participants will discuss student data and its implications for instruction. We will also explore various templates to use with small groups, as well as best practices to help children break the reading code. The goal of this workshop is to ensure participants are ready to go back into their school buildings with lots of tips and resources to maximize success, feeling confident about making the transition. Reading with Your Ears? – The Secret Powers of Phonological Awareness PRESENTER: AMY HALPERT What if you were told that you could improve your students' ability to read unfamiliar words without showing them a single printed letter? Phonological awareness, a purely auditory and oral skill, is one of the most powerful predictors of a successful transition from language to decoding printed words. This workshop will demystify this superpower, unpack its importance, and provide an array of engaging, interactive take-home tools for instruction. JOYcabulary: Bringing JOY to Vocabulary Learning PRESENTERS: AMANDA SCHOEPFLIN KOVAC & LINDA SZAKMARY By prioritizing students' academic and social emotional needs, participants will move forward with the latest research and joyful techniques for language acquisition and expanding knowledge. According to P. David Pearson, knowledge increases comprehension, which in turn increases word learning, leading to more knowledge, “a virtuous rather than vicious cycle.” By making three simple shifts- mindset, intention, extension- teachers provide students with authentic opportunities to learn and use words while refining prior knowledge and addressing social emotional needs. Learn how to build text sets with picture books, poems, articles, and digital media. Walk away with ways to extend and apply new knowledge of words with an array of engaging tasks. THIS TWO-PART SERIES WILL COVER: • An overview of mindset for word acquisition and the two components (teacher and student) • Planning with intention - a seven step planning process that maximizes opportunities for vocabulary acquisition • Extending the Learning - gamifying word practice to create a classroom of students motivated to apply and lift the level of both their expressive and receptive vocabularies. Translating the Science of Reading to Intermediate Classrooms (3-8) PRESENTER: DR. MOLLY NESS Wondering what the science of reading is all about and how to apply it to your classroom? This session helps upper elementary and secondary teachers understand the key theoretical underpinnings of the science of reading, and how slight shifts in instruction yield significant results. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEAVE WITH THE FOLLOWING: • A definition of the SOR • Overview the development of the reading brain • Clarity around Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the subskills in effective literacy instruction • Classroom applications to facilitate structured literacy with explicit vocabulary, word knowledge, and comprehension instruction Word Widgets: Let's Play with Phonics (Grades 3-8) PRESENTERS: KRISTINA COUNTRYMAN, AMANDA SCHOEPFLIN KOVAC, & JULIE MCCARTHY Let's talk about the Science of Reading in upper elementary/middle school. Participants will explore how to fill in the gaps using a common scope and sequence. Participants will walk away with phonics knowledge, strategies/tools to help the brain remember skills, and various one-of-a-kind multisensory games. Let's grow together and play with phonics as we strive towards comprehension and lifelong readers! Materials to create games are included in the workshop.

Comprehension and Composition of Informational Text PRESENTER: DR. MOLLY NESS This workshop, for K-5 educators, will explore how to support students in reading and writing about informational text. If you are interested in getting the most instructional bang for your buck from informational texts, join this workshop to dive into the richness of this genre. This workshop will showcase many composition strategies to teach during a non-fiction writing unit of study. AT THE END OF THIS WORKSHOP, PARTICIPANTS WILL: • Understand the benefits of and push for informational text • Explore the stumbling blocks – that might impede comprehension - of informational text • Acquire new comprehension strategies to support learners in making meaning of informational text • Plan writing activities that promote student engagement with, retention of, and understanding of informational text Getting to Know Your Students: Screeners, Secondary Diagnostics and Progress Monitoring PRESENTER: ISABEL SIMMONS Participants will explore the difference between universal screeners, secondary diagnostics, and progress monitoring. Participants will be able to differentiate between these three forms of assessment, determine how to best use these assessments to drive instruction, and be able to adapt instruction to best meet the needs of students in their classrooms. Fluency as a Bridge to Comprehension PRESENTER: SHARON KLINE The Science of Reading shows that fluency is crucial for connecting decoding and comprehension. Fluent reading influences and predicts comprehension. By focusing on accuracy, rate, and prosody, educators can positively impact students through direct instruction. However, fluency instruction is often limited to a brief one-minute timed session. This workshop will explore the key aspects of fluent reading, including expression, self-monitoring, inferring, prosody, and pacing. Focusing on research-based strategies, participants will explore evidence-based techniques for helping students read accurately, with expression, and at a natural pace. The session will draw on the research and expertise of Louisa Moats, Jennifer Serravallo, and Tim Rasinski. PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN: • A deep understanding of the various aspects of fluency and how they lead a reader to understanding text • How to meaningfully assess fluency so that it can inform instruction • How to explicitly teach the complex components of fluency in fun and engaging ways Multilingual Learners and the Science of Reading PRESENTER: MARTA RENDÓN The Science of Reading can be used to support multilingual learners (MLLs) by building on their existing knowledge and home language experiences. This workshop will give participants an overview of the five pillars of literacy from a multilingual learner’s perspective and is crafted to equip teachers with effective strategies for integrating the Science of Reading into multilingual classrooms. Discover how structured literacy approaches can enhance language acquisition and literacy skills among multilingual learners (MLLs) by utilizing cross-linguistic connections and culturally responsive teaching practices. Engage in hands-on activities designed to improve phonological awareness, vocabulary development, and reading fluency.

Presenter Bios Judy Boksner has over 25 years of New York City Education experience as an educator, coach, and reading specialist and works with teachers and children all throughout areas in Brooklyn and the Bronx. She has extensive training in evidence-based methodologies such as Orton Gillingham, Wilson’s Fundations, and The Hochman Method, also known as The Writing Revolution. Judy's work may be seen and followed on her show The Literacy View YouTube channel and podcast where Judy and her co-host Faith Borkowsky discuss and interview some of the leading voices in education about shifting to evidence and science aligned practices to accelerate student outcomes. Judy presents at conferences, including The World Literacy Summit, ResearchED, and Everyone Reading Conference. Kristina Countryman has nineteen years of experience working with students across grades K-6. While her primary role has been a literacy specialist, she has also served as a classroom and co-teacher. She believes in tailoring instruction to meet the needs of each student, and finds small group work the best way to foster connections and support individual goals. Exploring new ways to engage students is always a top priority. She is currently a reading specialist in the Onteora Central School District. She is a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner and trained in Orton Gillingham. Outside of school, Kristina enjoys time spent talking with her middle school daughter and doing puzzles with her elementary school son. Amy Halpert, MPS, FIT/OGA, C-SLDS, JD founded Sky Bound Learning to provide comprehensive reading assessment and intervention to struggling readers ages preschool through high school, and offers literacy consultative/ dyslexia advocacy services. She is Fellow-in-Training Practitioner through the Academy of Orton-Gillingham and a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist through the International Dyslexia Association. Amy is an Adjunct Professor in the Literacy and English Language Department at 91ֱ and a Connecticut Surrogate Parent, representing students with no identifiable parent or guardian in special education matters. Sharon Kline is a literacy specialist with four decades of experience teaching and coaching in primary, intermediate and special education settings. Currently, she does consultant work for several Capital Region schools where her focus is supporting teachers to improve student outcomes. Sharon has immersed herself in the research around reading and writing and has developed an effective approach to help teachers bridge the gap between the theoretical science of reading and their daily classroom practice. Further, she is a seasoned presenter and professional learning provider having delivered PD for many districts and spoken at conferences such as the New York State Reading Association Conference and the Literacy For All Conference. Sharon lives in upstate New York with her husband. When she is not busy with her business, SK Literacy Consulting & Coaching, she spends as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Amanda Schoepflin Kovac is the co-founder of JOYcabulary.com, a not-for-profit website that brings joy to vocabulary learning. She is deeply grateful to have received the New York State Reading Association Literature Mini-Grant in 2024. Amanda has twelve years of experience working as a classroom teacher. Formerly an Elementary Literacy Coach, she now serves as a Reading Specialist in the Onteora district. Her coaching and teaching philosophy is three dimensional; dream and set goals, dedicate time and enthusiasm towards those goals, and deliver to all. She passionately provides educators, families, and students memorable opportunities towards lifelong reading and writing. Amanda lives in Saugerties, NY with her three young children. Julie McCarthy has 27 years of teaching experience. She has worn many hats throughout the years from special education teacher, co teacher as a reading specialist, and a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner and trained in Orton Gillingham (soon to be certified). She now serves as a reading specialist in the Middle School in the Onteora district. She believes that working with all students you need to set clear goals and find exciting avenues to achieve those small attainable goals. She believes that literacy experiences should be student centered and engaging in order to keep them motivated. Julie lives in West Hurley, NY and has a junior in high school and two in middle school. They are motivated literacy learners and help her think about what ̈sparks ̈ them in their literacy journey as students. Dr. Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She earned a doctorate in reading education at the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University in New York City. The author of fi ve books, Molly served on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and is a New York state chapter founder of the Reading League. Dr. Ness has extensive experience in reading clinics, consulting with school districts, leading professional development, and advising school systems on research-based reading instruction. She provided literacy leadership for nationally recognized literacy non-profi ts, as well as major educational publishers. Marta Rendón, born in Honduras, has dedicated her life to bilingual education. After completing high school in Mississippi, she returned to Honduras, where she began her career as an English teacher, working with children and adults. It was during this time that Marta discovered her passion for teaching. Driven by this newfound love, Marta relocated to New York to pursue a degree in education. For the past 32 years, she has supported immigrant families in the South Bronx as a bilingual teacher. At P.S. 028 Mount Hope Centennial School, she works as an Academic Interventionist teaching literacy to students in their native and second language. Marta firmly believes in Horace Mann's conviction that "education is the great equalizer," a belief that has guided her throughout her career. Her dedication and passion continue to inspire her students and colleagues alike. Isabel Simmons has taught grades K-5 for the NYC Department of Education and worked as a Universal Literacy Coach and a Literacy Collaborative Reading Coach, coaching K-5 reading instruction. Isabel has worked as an Intensive Reading Interventionist while working with small groups of struggling readers across the city. She is currently an ELA Implementation Specialist for District 31 in Staten Island. Isabel is a LETRS trained educator and an Acadience Mentor. She has worked as a host for Let’s Learn! (Educational Television Show produced by WNET) for the last three seasons. Linda Szakmary has five decades of experience working as a classroom teacher, a district curriculum writer, a district facilitator of K-5 writing, and as a county K-8 literacy coach. She now works for Sullivan and Orange-Ulster BOCES as a content specialist. A poetry advocate and a lover of words and children’s literature, she has been a presenter at several state-wide conferences on vocabulary and writing. Currently, she is working with the staff developers at Mossflower to study intermediate vocabulary instruction within a reading workshop. Linda lives in Stone Ridge, NY where she enjoys gardening, yoga, reading, and rooting for the Yankees. You can often find her on a beach searching for sea glass.


]]> Graduate Studies School of Education The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:55:00 -0500 /blog/celebrating-the-success-of-our-annual-literacy-conference Celebrating the Success of our Annual Literacy Conference /blog/celebrating-the-success-of-our-annual-literacy-conference We at The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy are still buzzing with excitement after the incredible success of the first annual in-person
We at The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy are still buzzing with excitement after the incredible success of the first annual in-person Literacy Conference, Brain-Science Based Literacy Practices for All Learners, hosted in partnership with PNW BOCES in Reid Castle at 91ֱ! This sold-out event brought together teachers, administrators, and literacy leaders from across the region for a full day of inspiration, learning, and connection.From the moment the doors opened, the energy was electric. Attendees were welcomed into a space filled with a passion for literacy and united in a mission to elevate reading instruction and student outcomes.

Nationally Recognized Keynotes That Set the Tone

The day was book-ended by inspiring and informative keynote presentations; it was kicked off by Dr. Carolyn Strom and brought to a close with Dawn Nieman, each of whom shared compelling insights and research-based strategies. Their powerful messages grounded the day’s conversations and reminded us of the critical role educators play in shaping lifelong readers.

Workshops That Sparked Ideas and Action

With a diverse range of engaging workshops, participants had the opportunity to chose from topics such as structured literacy, multilingual learner support, vocabulary instruction, and fluency-building strategies. Facilitated by experts in their fields, each session offered tools and takeaways that educators could implement immediately.

A Vibrant Vendor Hall

The Vendor Hall was a hub of excitement throughout the day, showcasing literacy-related businesses and organizations dedicated to supporting educators and students alike. Highlights included interactive displays and giveaways from our sponsors EPS Learning, Lakeshore, Litlab.ai, and Mrs Wordsmith, who joined our vendors offering everything from decodable books and classroom materials to tech tools and teacher resources.

Community and Connection

Beyond the scheduled sessions, one of the most powerful aspects of the day was the opportunity to network and build community. Whether reconnecting with old colleagues or forging new professional relationships, the conference provided space for meaningful dialogue and collaboration among educators who share a commitment to literacy.
We are incredibly grateful to all who attended and contributed to making this conference such a resounding success. Your presence, engagement, and enthusiasm remind us of the impact we can make—together.  We’re already looking ahead to March 16, 2026. In the meantime, The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy is here to support all of your literacy training needs!


Dr. Carolyn Strom addresses a packed house of educators at The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy's Annual Literacy Conference.

]]> School of Education The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy Reid Castle Events Thu, 08 May 2025 13:31:00 -0500 /blog/the-rose-institute-for-learning-literacy-celebrates-national-schwa-day National Schwa Day is Today! What You Should Know. /blog/the-rose-institute-for-learning-literacy-celebrates-national-schwa-day Happy National Schwa Day from The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy What is the Schwa? It’s a reduced, lazy, neutral vowel sound that shows

Happy National Schwa Day from The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy

What is the Schwa?

It’s a reduced, lazy, neutral vowel sound that shows up in unstressed syllables. Think of the “uh” in about or the “ih” in pencil. Any vowel — a, e, i, o, u, even y — can make the schwa sound! The symbol for schwa is an upside-down ‘e’: /ə/.

Why Does Schwa Matter?

Schwa is the most common sound in English, making up about 12% of all spoken sounds. It appears in over 90% of multi-syllabic words and plays a huge role in the rhythm of our stress-timed language, helping to make our speech flow smoothly. For young readers, recognizing schwa helps with reading fluency, accurate pronunciation, and even spelling!

Tips for Teaching Schwa to Young Readers:

  • Introduce the phonics concept: Explain that schwa is the sound a vowel makes in an unstressed syllable. Show them the schwa symbol (ə), which looks like a lazy, upside-down 'e'.
  • Model stress: Use visual aids like felt squares to represent syllables and demonstrate how unstressed syllables (often schwa) are less emphasized. (Have students pretend words are their dog’s name and then call it back from far away if they struggle to identify unstressed syllables.)
  • Mark unstressed syllables: Teach students to mark stressed syllables with an apostrophe (') and unstressed syllables with a breve (˘) or even the schwa symbol (ə).
  • Start with 'Schwa A' – Common in words like about, Alaska, and panda
  • Highlight schwas – Point out schwa sounds in reading passages
  • Multisensory learning – Add movement, tactile tools, or magnetic letters
  • Practice dictation – Emphasize the spelling vowel in schwa syllables (say “a-bout,” not “uh-bout”)
  • Make it fun – Try games like Schwa Detective, Schwa Sound Relay, or Schwa Art Gallery
  • Repeat and review – Controlled text and consistent practice help build mastery

Teaching schwa is a process that builds over time — embrace the patterns and celebrate progress! 

To learn more about our Science of Reading workshop offerings, please visit our website or email Tracy.McCarthy@Mville.edu.



]]> School of Education The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:46:00 -0500 /blog/the-rose-institute-upcoming-events-and-program-offerings The Rose Institute Upcoming Events and Course Offerings /blog/the-rose-institute-upcoming-events-and-program-offerings The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy is Pleased to Announce its Spring Literacy Trainings and Workshops!  Join The Rose Institute for Learning

The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy is Pleased to Announce its Spring Literacy Trainings and Workshops! 

Join The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy's spring trainings and workshops to level up your certifications and career today. Select the session of your choice to access the registration form.

Special Events


Feb 6th – 5-7pm
Mar 4th - 4-5pm
Mar 17th - 9am-3pm
March 31, 6-7 pm

Science of Reading Workshops


Feb 5th 9am-12pm
Feb 28th 9am-12pm
Mar 3rd 9am-12pm
Mar 20th 9-11:30am
Mar 26th 9am-12pm
Apr 2nd 4-7pm
Apr 3rd 9am-12pm
Apr 8th 9am-12pm
Apr 23rd 9am-12pm
May 6th 9am-12pm
May 7th 9am-12pm
May 8th 9am-12pm
May 15th 9am-12pm
May 22nd 9am-12pm
May 29th 9am-12pm

Orton-Gillingham Trainings



Classroom Educator Trainingor  
Associate Level Training (Classroom Educator Training is a pre-requisite)

About the Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy at 91ֱ

The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy was founded at 91ֱ in 2013 when Sandra Priest Rose established an endowment to ensure that as many students as possible have teachers who are trained in the most effective research-backed literacy instructional methods.  The Rose Institute offers graduate coursework and advanced certificates through 91ֱ and professional development opportunities both in-district and through several partner BOCES. 

Welcome to 91ֱ’s School of Education

The School of Education undergraduate and graduate degree programs prepare PreK-12 teachers and administrators, higher education and community leaders, and educational industry entrepreneurs. Having served the tri-state area for over five decades, the 91ֱ School of Education guides new generations of educators to become leaders in their field through unrivaled community-based field experiences in over 25 area schools and educational agencies.

Our graduate and doctoral programs offer a blended learning experience with online, in-person, and hybrid courses which provide our students with the flexibility and resources they need to fulfill their educational goals.

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