Phonics to Support Spelling, Decoding, and Fluency Institute

Dates: August 4-5, 2026 Times: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST  Location: Teachers College Price: $525

• Early Bird Discount: $450

• Regular Rate: $525, after May 15, 2026

• Group/Team Discount: $425 per person for groups of 5 or more. (If you qualify for a discount the price will appear at check out.)

This institute empowers K-5 teachers and instructional leaders to build engaging, research based practices that “stick.” We will explore the vital connection between decoding and encoding and provide strategies to bridge the gap between sounding out words and achieving fluent, expressive reading. Participants will design collaborative learning opportunities that move phonics skills from the lesson into students’ independent reading and writing and develop a toolkit of classroom habits, structures and materials designed to foster orthographic mapping and student engagement. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the Skills that Underlie Word Recognition: Study the research behind phonological awareness and orthographic mapping to understand how students build the automaticity required for both decoding and encoding. 

• Study Student Work: Assess student writing, word reading and fluency to identify targeted instructional needs and plan responsive instruction. 

• Implement High-Leverage Routines: Practice research based instructional routines for teaching single syllable and multisyllabic words, ensuring a bridge between isolated work work and authentic reading and writing activities. 

• Curate Instructional Materials: Leverage and match materials for reading and writing that supports the learning of phonics. Leverage decodable books, shared writing experiences and partnerships to build skills.

Certificate Information:  Upon completion: Participants who complete this conference will receive a Certificate of Participation. Licensed educators in NY state are also eligible for a Continuing Teacher Leader Education (CTLE) certificate for a total of up to 12 CTLE hours. 

Institute Scholarships:  We are pleased to offer scholarships for teachers and school leaders to attend Teachers College Advancing Literacy institute events. We invite interested teachers and literacy leaders to apply to learn with the Advancing Literacy team and fellow educators this summer. 

These scholarships are in memory of Kathleen Tolan, a devoted teacher and educational leader. Kathleen was a member of our community for years and mentored many of us as teachers and staff developers. These scholarships are opportunities for educators to continue this learning legacy. 

Please use this form to apply, to be considered for a scholarship. Applications should be submitted one month in advance of the institute. 

Logistics Overview: 

• Acceptance for the institute is contingent upon receipt of payment within 14 days of applying (for all tickets purchased). 

• For early bird pricing, payment should be received and accepted by May 15, 2026. 

• Click here to access a Quote for your purchase, if needed.

• Once payment is received, please log in to your Dashboard (on our website) and assign the seat(s). If you need to make any modifications to seat assignments, please notify us at advancingliteracy@tc.columbia.edu. 

• We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and a participant who has been accepted to the institute may be unable to attend. If you must withdraw, please let us know as early as possible. Once payment is made, it confirms your commitment to attend. If you must withdraw after paying, a $75 withdrawal fee will apply. Additionally, if you withdraw within one month of the start of the institute, we will be unable to issue a refund.