‘Phonics First’ Training For Sedalia 200 Educators

This week, groups of Sedalia School District 200 elementary teachers are receiving training in Phonics First reading education at Smith-Cotton High School. Their instructor is Stephanie Smith with Brainspring Educator Academy.

Phonics First is a multisensory, structured, phonics-based approach to teaching beginning, at-risk, struggling, learning disabled, dyslexic, and EL readers. Phonics First uses scientifically researched learning strategies to teach students systematic processes for decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling).

PIC1: Sedalia 200 teachers review the technique of finger tapping syllables to assist with spelling during a Phonics First training session Tuesday morning at Smith-Cotton High School.

PIC2: Stephanie Smith of Brainspring Educator Academy leads phonics training for Sedalia 200 elementary teachers.

PIC3: Washington Elementary teachers Phelessia Hughes, front, and Karina Lopez "pound" a word's syllables as they write it out during a Phonics First exercise.