Wilson Reading System® Introductory Course 

Participants will receive a hardcopy of the Wilson Reading Systems Introductory Course workshop packet. The Center for Professional Studies will be mailing these materials directly to each participant.

• Define dyslexia and understand its prevalence and impact on the acquisition of reading skills and cognitive processes. 
• Explain the process of identifying students with a language-based learning disability, such as dyslexia, or other characteristics that indicate the need for intensive, multisensory instruction with the Wilson Reading System. 
• Understand the Response to Intervention (RTI) model and how to implement it. 
• Demonstrate understanding of the Key Components of WRS Instruction: alphabetic knowledge, rapid naming skills/word retrieval, sound-symbol relationships, word identification, accuracy, automaticity, phonology, morphology, orthography, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. 
• Demonstrate understanding of the WRS Principles of Instruction: direct, explicit, structured, sequential, integrated, multisensory, synthetic, analytical, diagnostic, prescriptive, mastery/automaticity, cumulative, metacognitive, and emotionally sound. 
• Identify the lesson components and procedures for Lesson Block 1 (word study/foundational reading skills), Lesson Block 2 (spelling/foundational writing skills), and Lesson Block 3 (fluency/comprehension) of the WRS Lesson Plan. 
• Practice and prepare a ten-part WRS Lesson Plan. 

November Instructor - Susan Frank

After graduating from college with a degree in Elementary Education, Susan taught kindergarten, first and fourth grades. During those years, she earned a masters’ degree in Early Childhood Education and then moved into administration as assistant principal, principal, and ELA supervisor. Susan earned an Ed.D in Educational Leadership and became certified as a Fundations and Just Words in-district presenter and earned Wilson Reading System Level 1 certification. Susan began working for Wilson Language Training in 2012 where she completed Wilson Reading System Level 2 and trainer certifications. This allowed her to work both as a trainer in all three Wilsons programs and as a Senior Literacy Advisor to support administrators in new and continuing Wilson program implementations. Susan recently retired from full-time Wilson employment, but because of her love for literacy education, she is continuing to train in all Wilson programs.

March Instructor - Debra Hillemeir

Debra Hillemeir has been working in the field of education for over 25 years. She received her M.S. in Elementary Education and her 6th Year Certificate as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant from Central Connecticut State University. Debra began her career in education as a second-grade teacher. For 19 years she was a Reading Consultant and Literacy Specialist in a K-6 elementary school where she provided Tier II and Tier III intervention instruction, literacy coaching, and in-district professional development.  She has served as Treasurer of the Dyslexia Society of Connecticut and The Reading League Connecticut. She maintains her credentials as a Wilson Credentialed Trainer, a Wilson Dyslexia Therapist; and a CERI/IDA Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist.  Debra currently teaches as a Wilson Credentialed Trainer for Wilson Language Training’s Higher Education Academic Partners.

• Additional Training: Upon successful completion, participants are eligible to take the WRS Level 1 Certification Training. Participants should enroll in WRS Level 1 Certification Training within five years of completing the Wilson Reading System Introductory Course.
• Graduate credit: One (1) graduate credit is available upon successful completion of this course for an additional fee. See the registrar’s webpage for more details.