EDUCATOR ACADEMY FAQ

• Why should it matter to me that Phonics First^® and Structures are nationally accredited Orton-Gillingham programs?

  Phonics First^® and Structures are nationally accredited Orton-Gillingham training programs for teachers. The Brainspring Orton-Gillingham curricula is doubly accredited by both the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC). When you participate in the professional development for general education classroom teachers, resource, intervention and special education teachers provided by Brainspring, you are assured to receive the highest-quality content - rigorously evaluated by an outside organization. Accreditation further ensures that Brainspring courses strictly adhere to Orton-Gillingham Principles of Instruction for Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) programs.

• What types of students benefit from Phonics First^® and Structures?

  Phonics First® and Structures Orton-Gillingham training for teachers offered through Brainspring is designed to teach educators how to meet the needs of a wide range of students, including beginning, at-risk, and struggling elementary readers, as well as, students in Kindergarten through 12th grade identified as dyslexic and/or learning disabled. Content can also be adapted to meet some needs of cognitively impaired students. Additionally, Brainspring curricula enhances the reading and spelling skills of at or above-grade readers in primary grades.

• Can Phonics First^® and Structures be used with an existing reading program?

  Yes. Methods learned through Brainspring Orton-Gillingham training can be integrated into an existing elementary reading program to enhance both whole-group and small-group instruction, especially for struggling students who need a more multisensory approach. Brainspring’s full curricula can also be used as a stand-alone phonics program for Kindergarten through third grade classrooms and as a complete small-group intervention/remediation for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade who lack decoding and encoding skills.

• How do Phonics First^® and Structures fit with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Tiered Instruction, and Response to Intervention (RTI)?

  CCSS requires students that become active, engaged and deep readers. The Brainspring Orton-Gillingham training for teachers provides educators the opportunity to learn curricula that moves students towards this outcome by alleviating the burden of labored text decoding. Discreet decoding and encoding skills are aligned to CCSS as the underpinnings of reading fluency and comprehension.

  The Brainspring curricula works at all levels of Tiered Instruction and the RTI model: Tier I – supports existing curriculum in the elementary classroom, Tier II - provides targeted intervention instruction in grades Kindergarten through 12th, and Tier III – delivers intense remediation for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

• How much time is required for lesson implementation?

  Tier I Phonics First® Classroom Core Phonics Instruction (Kindergarten - 5th grade)
  • Whole Group: 25-30 minutes daily
  • Small-Group*: 15-20 minutes additional, 3-5 days per week
  Tier II Phonics First®/Structures Intervention (Kindergarten - 12th grade)
  • Grades Kindergarten through 5th: Minimum 30 minutes, 3 days per week (90 minutes per week)
  • Grades 6th through 12th: Minimum 30 minutes, 3 days per week (90 minutes per week)
  Group Size*: Up to 6 students. Increase intensity by lowering group size and/or increasing time.
  Tier III Phonics First®/Structures LD/ Dyslexia Remediation (K-12)
  • Grades Kindergarten through 5th:
     o Minimum 30 minutes, 4 days per week (120 minutes per week) OR
     o Minimum 40 minutes, 3 days per week (120 minutes per week)
  • Grades 6th through 12th:
     o Minimum 40 minutes, 4 days per week (160 minutes per week) OR
     o Minimum 50 minutes, 3 days per week (150 minutes per week)
  Group Size:* Up to 4 students. Increase intensity by lowering group size and/or increasing time.
  * Groups are made up of students with closely-related skill needs.

• How can educators participate in Brainspring’s Professional Development and how much time is required?

  Brainspring’s professional development for special education teachers, resource, intervention and general education teachers is designed to fit the busy schedule of teachers while maintaining program integrity. Course requirements range from 18 to 30 hours of instruction per course and are accessed in three ways:
  1) Brainspring brings the courses to your district, customized to fit teacher needs and schedule.
  2) Open Enrollment course registration is available on our website with course locations across the country.
  3) E-Learning is available for certain content and is accessible 24/7.

• Does Brainspring Educator Academy provide coaching, on-going professional development, and certification options?

  Brainspring Academy Instructors are available to provide coaching sessions in your classroom, enhancing teaching expertise and ensuring fidelity within your personal environment. On-going professional development for general education classroom teachers, resource, intervention and special education teachers is available through workshops designed to refresh educators on course content and expand knowledge of MSL teaching. Certification is offered for those that wish to develop expertise in teaching students across all grade levels. For certification details, contact our Educator Academy.

• I have questions that aren’t answered on this page. Where can I find more information?

  Contact Brainspring The Brainspring team is here to help. Or call 844-680-7094 to speak with one of Brainspring’s Educational Partnership Consultants who can help you find the right course, or combination of courses, to meet your needs.