Slingerland Summer School

Supporting Students: Training Teachers

Slingerland Summer School has two important goals: to support students’ literacy growth and train educators in the Slingerland Approach.

Over the course of a month, students work with Instructors, who in turn work closely with teachers as they learn the Approach. Teachers then go on to implement the Approach with their students year-round.

Who is in the Classroom?

Instructor: A Certified Slingerland Instructor of Teachers (CSIT) teaches the students during whole-class lessons and coaches teachers and students in one-on-one and small-group tutoring sessions.

Teachers: An educator training in the Slingerland Approach.

Student: A child learning literacy skills through the Slingerland Approach.

Summer School Students

Students in class are typically rising 3rd-5th graders who may need additional targeted practice with literacy skills to be ready for the next school year.

Instructors and tutors will group students by age and ability for one-on-one and small-group tutoring.

Student Support Team

Students in Slingerland Summer Schools have the benefit of Instructors and Teachers working together every day to make sure your child progresses in their literacy skills.

Instructors focus on introducing new topics, skills, and procedures to your student in a whole-class lesson.

Teachers review and provide targeted practice on those same topics and skills while implementing the procedures in one-on-one or small-group tutoring sessions.

Your student's learning is constantly assessed so the Instructor and Teacher can shape the next day's lesson to meet your students' needs.

Teachers are always under the Instructor’s close supervision to ensure that every child receives thoughtful, attentive support.

The Student's Day

Slingerland summer school is structured, encouraging, and focused on helping students succeed. All lessons follow a predictable, supportive routine designed to foster mastery and confidence, so students build on their success.

The following schedule represents a typically summer school schedule.

9:00 a.m. Arrival

9:00-9:15 a.m. Assembly (Oral Language/Question of the Day)

9:15-10:30 a.m. Whole-Class Lesson

10:30-10:45 a.m. Recess/Activity 1

10:45-11:45 a.m. Tutoring (one-on-one or small group)

11:45-12:00 p.m. Activity 2

*Training sites may have lunch and afternoon camp options

Students Learn Literacy and More

Your child will work on skills that support reading, writing, and spelling in a clear, structured way, including:

Developing confidence as a learner
- Building confidence through explicit structure, guided practice and routines, and successful implementation of skills
Oral Language Development
- Connecting spoken and written language
Reading skills
- Learning how to read (decode) words accurately and understand what they read (comprehend)
Spelling and handwriting
- Learning how sounds connect to letters and how to write words clearly
Understanding sounds in words (phonemic awareness)
- Hearing, saying, and working with the sounds that make up words
Vocabulary and word meaning
- Learning new words and understanding how they are used
Sentence building and grammar
- Learning how words fit together to make clear sentences
Writing skills
- Writing words, sentences, and short passages with guidance
Connecting spoken and written language
- Strengthening the link between speaking, reading, and writing

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