Program Overview
Unlocking BIG Words in ACTION is a year-long professional development (PD) and coaching opportunity designed to support special education teachers and reading specialists/interventionists in strengthening literacy instruction for students with language-based disabilities, including dyslexia.
This professional development focuses on building both deep knowledge and practical classroom implementation aligned with the science of reading.
🌀 Purpose (The Why)
To address literacy gaps before students enter middle and high school without reading proficiency by equipping educators with:
- Strong foundational knowledge of the structure of English
- Practical instructional strategies
- Ongoing coaching support to ensure implementation with fidelity and understanding
🎯 Focus Areas
- Instruction in the 6 syllable types
- Understanding and teaching the concept of schwa as well as its prevalence in English
- Multisyllabic decoding strategies (with and without affixes)
- Morphology and word structure related to meaning
- Fluency development
- Data-driven instructional decision-making
- Lesson planning and lesson delivery
🥅 Program Goals
Participants will:
- Build knowledge of the science of reading and structured literacy
- Develop effective lesson planning and instructional routines (UBW framework)
- Apply strategies through authentic classroom practice
- Use data to monitor student growth and inform/adjust instruction
- Demonstrate implementation with fidelity
✅ Participant Expectations
Participants must:
- Attend at least 6 out of 7 scheduled PD days
- Submit 4 core lesson cycles, including:
- Core lesson being observed
- The lesson that came before
- The lesson planned next
- Participate in a minimum 4 of non-evaluative coaching cycles (2 per semester)
- Maintain a lesson plan binder or digital lesson portfolio
- Track instruction using a scope and sequence checklist
🖼️ Instructional Framework (Per Syllable Type)
Each instructional cycle includes:
- What the syllable type is
- Focused scope and sequence
- Lesson demonstration (I Do, We Do, You Do)
- Materials:
- Decodable texts
- Games and activities
- Fluency supports
- Progress monitoring
- Next steps
As we progress through the school year, participants will have opportunities to share successes and ideas with others.
😎 The Cohort
This is a comprehensive learning opportunity for a small, collaborative cohort of approximately 10 special education teachers and reading specialists/interventionists.
Participants must meet the following criteria to be considered for this year-long PD:
- Teach in Region 2 or 3
- Provide reading instruction to students with disabilities, including students with language-based disabilities (such as dyslexia), a minimum of 3x per week (or 5-6 days over a 2-week period if on a block schedule)
- Work with students in 3rd grade or above
- Pre K – 2nd grade teachers can reach out to either TTAC to be connected with trainings focused on younger students
- Are eager to deepen their knowledge and close learning gaps through fidelity of implementation
Key Priority
Implementation with fidelity and demonstrated teacher understanding is the central goal of this program.
Timeline for the 2026-27 Academic Year
Content is broken down across the academic year with coaching and implementation support in-between learning sessions.
This is the “ACTION” of Unlocking BIG Words in ACTION.
Phase #1
Learn
August 10-11 (M,T)
- In-Person PD
- 9-4pm
- ODU Norfolk*
Foundations, Closed Syllables, Data Collection, and School Year Set-Up
Focus:
- Program overview & expectations
- UBW instructional framework
- Closed syllables (basic)
- Blends and foundational skills
- Intro suffixes (-ing, -ed, -er)
- Data collection
- Setting up start of school year
Implement
September
- In-Person Coaching
- Specific times and dates planned with each participant
Coaching Cycle #1: Initial Classroom Visit
Focus:
- Support with lesson launch
- Data collection & analysis
- Routine building
Phase #2
Learn
October 14 (W)
- In-Person PD
- 9-4pm
- W&M/Peninsula Location*
Multisyllabic (Closed) + Schwa
Focus:
- Multisyllabic decoding (closed syllables)
- Introduction to schwa
- Instructional review/refinement
Learn
November 10 (T)
- In-Person PD
- 9-4pm
- ODU Norfolk*
Vowel-Consonant-e + Open Syllables
Focus:
- Vowel-Consonant-e (V_e) syllables
- Open syllables
- Participant opportunities share
- Embedded games
Implement
October/November
- In-Person Coaching
- Specific times and dates planned with each participant
Coaching Cycle #2: Classroom Visit
Focus:
- Support implementation of structured literacy approach
Phase #3
Learn
January 21 (TH)
- In-Person PD
- 9-4pm
- W&M/Peninsula Location*
Mid-Year Check In, Connect, Review, Vowel Teams & Diphthongs
Focus:
- Review
- Vowel teams
- Diphthongs
- Mid-year data analysis
- Share & problem solve together
Learn
February 23 (T)
- In-Person PD
- 9-4pm
- ODU Norfolk*
R-Controlled & Consonant le (CLE)
Focus:
- R-controlled vowels
- Consonant-le syllables
- Advanced decoding strategies
Implement
January/February
- In-Person Coaching
- Specific times and dates planned with each participant
Coaching Cycle #3: Classroom Visit
Focus:
- Support implementation of structured literacy approach
Phase #4
Learn
March 23 (T)
- Virtual PD
- 4 hours
- Specific times TBD with input from participants
Morphology
Focus:
- Prefixes, suffixes, and roots
- Morphological analysis
- Meaning + decoding integration
- Reflection
Implement
March/April
- In-Person Coaching
- Specific times and dates planned with each participant
Coaching Cycle #4: Classroom Visit
Focus:
- Support implementation of structured literacy approach
Celebrate
May
While we will absolutely celebrate student and teacher success along the way, we will also plan a cumulative opportunity to either celebrate internally and/or showcase new learning, and the amazing things happening in classrooms, during a state-wide or regional event.
Participants who meet expectations will recieve:
- PD hours for in-person and virtual trainings
- PD hours for participating in coaching conversations/cycles
- High-quality, high value education resources for their classrooms (this is in addition to the supplies & materials received during in-person PD)
*Due to the large expanse of our regions, locations are currently set to take turns on either side of the I-64 tunnel. Once participants are confirmed, locations might change to be closer to participants (i.e. if everyone is north of the tunnel, we will meet at W&M/Peninsula area).
Still With Us? Here’s What Else You Need to Know
How to Join the Fun
For the 2026-27 academic year, the steps for joining are as follows:
- ✅ May: Special Education Directors respond to initial interest email recommending schools they think might be interested or have asked for literacy support recently
- ✅ TTAC reaches out to recommended schools directly with more details
- ➡️ May through Mid-July: TTAC Partners + Interested Educator + Building Leader (Principal or Assistant Principal) will briefly meet to clarify the training, discuss roles & responsibilities, and confirm commitment
- August: UBW in ACTION Begins!
Due to the comprehensive nature of this opportunity, we can only accept up to 10 participants total.
Your TTAC Partners
Region 2 and 3 educators get not one but TWO TTACs! UBW in ACTION is brought to you by W&M and ODU.
Additional Opportunities
We understand if you are seeking a school-wide training or other types of learning supports. Lucky for you, you have access to TWO TTACs!
TTAC- William & Mary:
TTAC- Old Dominion University:
Please note, there is a general “Unlocking Big Words” provided across the state and at the Content Teach Academy (CTA) hosted at JMU each summer. This state-wide training is a stand-alone, 2-day training that reviews all content stated above. This training might be a good option for schools looking to support general awareness. Reach out to TTAC W&M for information on upcoming regional opportunities or check out JMU’s CTA website for summer opportunities.
Stay up to date…
Sign up to receive updates and a quarterly newsletter from T-TAC W&M