"Although a wide variety of factors contribute to childrens literacy development, phonological awareness (i.e.

, the explicit knowledge of the sound structure of words) has consistently proven to be a critical factor in early literacy acquisition." Gail Gillon, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand in Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.

Parents inspiring their children to explore the world of books!

"Kindergarteners' performance on phonological awareness tasks, particularly phonemic awareness tasks, is the single best predictor of their first and second grade reading achievement" (Perfetti, et al., 1987; Torgenson et al., 1994; Wagner and Torgesen, 1987). from Handbook of Language and Literacy--Phonological Processing and Its Influence on Literacy Learning

COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS This program completely amazed me. I did not think my child would be able to learn from just one day a week. I was wrong! I love that its not only a teaching environment.-- its a learning environment for me and my son. I take what I learn here home to my son and continue teaching him.-Reading Explorers Mother, 2007.
Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders 5015 E. 29th St. North Wichita, KS 67220

(phone) 316-978-3289
csd@wichita.edu

Introduction The Wichita State University Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with speech, language, literacy and hearing needs. Reading Explorers, one of the programs available at the WSU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, is a fun, literacy-based, play-group for 4-6 year old children and their parents. Children and their parents will enjoy using stories, music, and multi-sensory activities to learn letters, their corresponding sounds, and how to blend these sounds together to read words. This research-based program is perfect for parents interested in providing their child with a strong foundation of reading skills for academic success. It fits perfectly for those families with busy lives. Just come and have fun with your child! Let us prepare all the materials you need to provide your child with a rich learning experience! Your child will have words they can read by your second session!! Parent Training We recognize that parents/caregivers are a childs first and best teachers, therefore, parents will receive instruction on a variety of topics including: Language Development Choosing good literature How to read aloud Asking questions-Levels 1-4 Literacy Development Print awareness Phonological awareness Creating reading materials for the early reader Reading strategies Developing home word walls Writing Skills Development Creating multi-sensory writing experiences Drawing to read Parents will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with other parents sharing their interests in literature and developing children with strong academic skills.

Enrollment Children ages 4 to 6 years of age and a caregiver are invited to enroll. The children: May have typical speech and language development May have specific speech/language/learning difficulties May be English as a second language learners May show precocious interest in reading May be struggling to learn academic concepts related to reading May attend private, public or home schools Staff Reading Explorers strives to be a center for excellence in teaching and serves as a training facility for WSU graduate and undergraduate students. Reading Explorers is staffed with two licensed Speech-Language Pathologists with extensive experience in early childhood education and literacy development and 4 graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Calendar Reading Explorers is offered for 26 weeks. Fall Semester Mid August-December Spring Semester Mid-January-May Classes Offered Thursday 1:00-2:30 Class Sizes Class sizes are limited to 14 children and their parents. Tuition Rates $400-24 sessions, as well as, pre and post testing sessions. Reading Explorers is supported by the Wichita Scottish Rite Foundation and a limited number of tuition scholarships are available for those families needing financial assistance.

Program Goals The primary goal of Reading Explorers is to provide a quality, developmentally appropriate, early childhood education program for young children and their parents. We believe that early childhood education should excite curiosity, stimulate creativity, encourage the development of problem-solving skills, and expand a childs skills to participate effectively in the world in which they live. Reading Explorers strives to: Improve a childs language, phonological awareness, and literacy skills. Best prepare young children for the literacy and academic demands of elementary school. Empower families to become model language and literacy users through parent training, education, and a lending library, so that parents may be their childs first and best teachers. Curriculum Reading Explorers offers a research based curriculum which focuses on learning letters, their corresponding sounds, and blending sounds into words through childrens stories, sensory experiences, phonological awareness activities, drawing, and music. Schedule 1:00-1:10-Opening Exercises 1:10-1:40 Parent/Child Trainings Parents attend a training seminar on specific topics related to language and literacy development. Children actively participate in a story designated to teach a specific letter and its corresponding sound. 1:40-2:30-Parents and children participate in three different learning labs targeting: Phonological awareness development Sensory exploration Drawing, writing or reading skills *Parents and children will receive an additional packet of activities for home instruction each week.