We are very excited to announce a training in Comprehensive Literacy being held in Denver, CO. Click HERE to register and take advantage of early bird pricing!
Camp ALEC Returns!
Applications are now available for new campers for Camp ALEC 2023! Applications can be found on the apply page!
NEW!
New this year! A Family Emergent Literacy Retreat! Parents and caregivers learn alongside their child with our experts Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver. While parents are learning, children get to experience activities alongside some of our seasoned literacy counselors-let the fun begin!
Indy Shorts Film Festival Finalists
Camp ALEC is a Finalist at the 2020 Indy Shorts Film Festival (July 21-26)! Now is your chance to stream the film online in Finalist Block 3, starting July 21. A Q&A with director Christopher Stoudt, Gina Cunningham, and Mateo Moreno will take place on Friday, July 24 at 9pm EST. Festival winners will be announced on July 25!
See the website for more details, and purchase tickets here: https://watch.eventive.org/indyshortsfilmfestival20/play/5ed6c704c26e400075ea2980
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities
DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF COVID-19 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WE WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE WITH DATES TO BE DETERMINED.
We’re excited to announce that Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver will be teaching a three-day, intensive course entitled Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs October 12-14, in Denver, Colorado at the Embassy Suites Denver – Stapleton.
This introductory course focuses on conventional literacy instruction for students with moderate to significant disabilities. Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver will guide participants in learning how to provide daily comprehensive literacy instruction that includes word study, self-directed reading, reading comprehension, and writing. Course participants will examine student work samples, videos of classroom instruction, methods of instruction, and theoretical frameworks supporting universal literacy.
The course is open to any and all interested educators and related services personnel concerned with supporting communication and literacy in these students. Of course, parents are also encouraged to attend.
If you’ve attended a similar event in the past, you know how transformative this course is. We hope that you can attend and hope that you will share news of this educational opportunity with coworkers, colleagues, friends and parents.
We hope to see you there!
Tina Moreno, M.A. CCC-SLP Gina Cunningham, M.A. Ed ATACP
Camp ALEC Traverse City, MI Film Festival
Want to learn more about what we do at Camp ALEC? You can get a sneak peak thanks to a short documentary that we hope will be screened at film festivals around the country. The film Camp ALEC will make its debut at the Traverse City Film Festival on August 3 (see link below). How did this happen? Let’s step back to July of 2018.
Ben, a former camper of ours, was out in Arizona where he ran into Christopher Stoudt and family. Ben felt his group was making a lot of noise, and Ben gave them his famous stink eye! Well, the next morning, as we understand it, Christopher went to apologize to Ben and his family and he was blown away with how Ben communicated. This was his first exposure to AAC. Ben and his family told him about Camp ALEC (thank you!) and two weeks before camp, we were contacted by a film crew and asked if they could spend a good portion of the week with us to see what the world of AAC was all about. They were absolutely blown away by our campers, counselors, and literacy counselors, as well as Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver. They spent the week filming and the rest of the year putting together a documentary about camp. That brings us to the present...
We learned that the documentary would be titled Camp ALEC and will be a co-production with The Kennedy/Marshall Company. Think Jurassic World, The Bourne Identity, Sully, Seabiscuit....more exciting is that this documentary will be entered at several film festivals (fingers crossed). First off being our home state of Michigan. If you live close to the Traverse City Area, we hope you will join those of us who can attend to see the screening and support the incredible talent of our campers!!!!! Screening is August 3, 2019. These kids really shine, and we are so proud of them. Please see the link below for details. Don't hesitate to ask us any questions! We hope to see you there!
Cut and paste link into browser
https://secure.traversecityfilmfest.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=459638~4d61cd53-466a-4a38-9b0c-5dd9c77930d9&epguid=8fc1333c-62a3-467a-b51c-ada73714212e&fbclid=IwAR2xUWSDZGDTfdpEkPe92gK9lEeoi2igaR4hmBLydvMoV__d3ESUVgSpGNo
Comprehensive Emergent Literacy Instruction
October 14-15, 2019
Sanibel, Florida
We are so excited to go LIVE with registration! Click here to register. Click here to download a brochure with workshop schedule.
Course Description
This two day presentation will offer an instructional framework and practical approaches to address the literacy learning needs of students with significant disabilities including complex communication needs. The focus will be on comprehensive approaches to emergent literacy with an emphasis on application and use rather than skill mastery. This presentation will include videos and work samples that help demonstrate that it is possible for students with complex needs to develop critical early literacy and communication abilities.
This course is open to any and all interested educators and related services personnel concerned with supporting communication and literacy in these students. Additionally, parents are encouraged to attend.
Emergent Literacy Conference
We are finalizing plans with Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver for a fall emergent literacy conference planned for October 14-15, 2019. Stay tuned! Details will soon follow once our plans are finalized!
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction coming to Cleveland, OH! March 11-13, 2019
Course Description
This 3-day introductory intensive course focuses on conventional literacy instruction for students with moderate to significant disabilities. Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver will guide participants in learning how to provide daily comprehensive literacy instruction that includes word study, self-directed reading, reading comprehension, and writing. Course participants will examine student work samples, videos of classroom instruction, methods of instruction, and theoretical frameworks supporting universal literacy. The course is open to any and all interested educators and related services personnel concerned with supporting communication and literacy in these students.
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs
March 11-13, 2019 8:30am – 4:00pm daily (Registration at 8:00am)
Registration Fees:
$300 per person before January 15, 2019
$375 after January 15, 2019
Includes: Course, continental breakfast and lunch daily
To register, visit: www.campalec.regfox.com
Conference and Lodging
Holiday Inn Cleveland South - Independence
6001 Rockside Rd.
Independence, OH 44131
Reserve your room by calling: 216-524-8050 ext. 298
Rate: $95.00 Single/Double
Code: Comprehensive Literacy Workshop
Room block deadline: February 8, 2019
Questions?
Contact Tina Moreno, MA, CCC-SLP
Phone: 216-287-0737 or
Email: voices4all.tina@gmail.com
Course Objectives
1. To introduce theoretical models and processes of literacy and their relationship to individuals with complex communication needs and other developmental disorders.
2. To help professionals recognize oral and written language development in students with complex communication needs and other developmental disorders.
3. To describe a range of intervention strategies that address the literacy needs of students with complex communication needs and other developmental disorders.
4. To familiarize participants with a range of technologies, and a variety of materials and resources, that support literacy learning and use by students with complex communication needs and other developmental disorders.
5. To share a range of resources and strategies for continuing self-education.
Day-by-Day Schedule
March 11, 2019
8:00am Registration
8:30 – 9:00 Introductions, Course Overview
9:00 – 10:30 Conditions of Successful Literacy Instruction
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:30 – 11:45 Core Vocabulary and Communication
11:45 – 12:15 Choosing an Appropriate Instructional Plan
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Whole-to-Part Model of Silent Reading Comprehension
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Teaching Reading Comprehension
March 12, 2019
8:30 – 10:30 Teaching Reading Comprehension (cont)
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:30 – 12:15 Teaching Writing
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Teaching Writing (cont)
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Word Identification & Spelling Instruction
March 13, 2019
8:30 – 10:30 Word Identification & Spelling Instruction (cont)
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:30 – 12:15 Self-Directed Reading Instruction
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 A Diagnostic Approach to Reading Assessment
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Making Instructional Decisions in Comprehensive Literacy Instruction
Presenters
Dr. Karen Erickson
Dr. Erickson is the David E. and Dolores (Dee) Yoder Distinguished Professor of Literacy and Disability Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where she serves as the Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies and is a Professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences. She earned a Ph.D. in Special Education and Literacy in 1995 from UNC. A former special education teacher, she has focused much of her scholarly work on children with significant disabilities, particularly those who are unable to use speech as a primary means of communication. In recent years, her collaborative scholarship has led to the development of Tar Heel Reader (https://tarheelreader.org/), an open-source, universally accessible online library of books for beginning readers; the Dynamic Learning Maps Professional Development resources for teachers of students with significant intellectual disabilities (http://dlmpd.com/); and Project CORE (http://www.project-core.com/), a comprehensive implementation program, supports, tools, and training resources for the delivery of universal core vocabulary and augmentative communication.
Dr. David Koppenhaver
Dr. Koppenhaver is a Professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education (RESE) at Appalachian State University (ASU). He earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in 1991 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). A former middle grades language arts teacher, he holds NC teaching certification in reading, middle grades language arts, and elementary education. His research focuses on literacy in children with significant disabilities including autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, complex communication needs, and multiple disabilities. In 1998 he co-founded the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC and in 2002 was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Queensland in Australia. His current research projects include studies of visual attention to print in young children with Rett syndrome, interactive shared reading in children with significant disabilities and complex communication needs, writing in adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders, and reading abilities of adolescents with Williams Syndrome.
LANGUAGE + LITERACY = EMPOWERMENT www.campalec.com
Literacy Counselor Applications 2019
Camp 2019 information coming soon. Applications for Literacy Counselors for Camp ALEC 2019 are now available. Go to the apply page to download the application Please note, this is a Level 2 course, you must have completed a Level 1 Literacy course through Karen and David to be eligible to apply.
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs
March 6-8, 2018
8:30 - 4:00
This 3-day introductory intensive course focuses on conventional literacy instruction for students with moderate to significant disabilities. Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver will guide participants in learning how to provide daily comprehensive literacy instruction that includes word study, self-directed reading, reading comprehension and writing.
ourse participants will examine student work samples, videos of classroom instruction, methods of instruction, and theoretical frameworks supporting universal literacy.
This course is open to any and all interested educators and related services personnel concerned with supporting communication and literacy in these students.
Click on the link below or copy and paste into a new browser for more information and registration.
info.altshift.education/ComprehensiveLiteracyInstructionCourse
Camp ALEC 2017 Applications
Camp will again be held at Indian Trails Camp in Grand Rapids, MI. This is a beautiful barrier-free camp. Indian Trails hosts campers of all abilities, and can provide 1:1 care if needed. They are staffed with a full-time nurse and offer many recreational activities for the campers. You can visit the website for Indian Trails Camp here. To download our camp application see below.
Camp applications for 2017 are now available! Camp dates are August 13-19, 2017. We recommend you download adobe acrobat reader to fill the form out with. You can do this from your computer or your iPad. Even from your smart phone if your eyes can tolerate it!
Please note, this is a Level 2 course, you must have completed a Level 1 Literacy course through Karen and David to be eligible to apply.
