This workshop can stand alone or be combined with others in the series on Structured Literacy Instruction (SLI) for students with Dyslexia. A syllable is a unit of oral or written language with one vowel sound. Instruction includes teaching of the six basic syllable types in the English language: closed, vowel-consonant-e, open, consonant-le, r-controlled, and vowel pair. Knowledge of syllable types is an important organizing idea. By knowing the syllable type, the reader can better determine the sound of the vowel in the syllable. Syllable division rules heighten the reader’s awareness of where a long, unfamiliar word may be divided for great accuracy in reading the word.

In this full-day workshop, participants will learn the 6 syllable types, the 4 ways to divide words into syllables, in order of commonality, and historical and linguistic explanations for how syllables are spelled.  They will gain an understanding of different approaches for teaching syllabification in a way that is systematic, cumulative, explicit, and diagnostic.  Participants will have hands-on opportunities to learn and practice activities that measure and strengthen students’ skills.