5 Core Review & Refresh: Movable Alphabet

5 Core Review & Refresh: Movable Alphabet

Small letters can lead to big learning! Join us for a fresh look at the Movable Alphabet Technique and the important role it plays in developing strong reading and spelling skills. We’ll revisit the purpose and power behind this hands-on technique and explore practical ways to use it intentionally across different stages of literacy development. From strengthening phonemic awareness and sound-symbol connections to discovering word patterns, syllable types, spelling generalizations, and morphology, you’ll leave with refreshed ideas for making the Movable Alphabet a brief but powerful part of your Educational Therapy sessions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Explain the purpose and rationale of the Movable Alphabet Technique in supporting reading and spelling development.
• Use intentional questioning and mediation to help students discover, verbalize, and apply patterns in written language.
• Apply the Movable Alphabet to strengthen phonemic awareness, sound-symbol connections, and recognition of orthographic patterns.
• Use the Movable Alphabet across stages of literacy development to reinforce word families, syllable types, spelling generalizations, and morphology.
• Integrate brief, intentional Movable Alphabet activities into Educational Therapy sessions to promote discovery learning, practice, and automaticity.

About Your Speaker

Dr. Kathy Keafer, Ed.D., PCET

Dr. Keafer holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from Regent University and a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania in Special Education. She served as the Administrator for Johnstown Christian School until 2017 and the Director of their Discovery Center for 17 years. Currently, Dr. Keafer works as an adjunct professor for Liberty University and holds licensure in Pennsylvania in Speech Pathology and Special Education. Kathy served as NILD’s Director of Research & Curriculum from 2002 to 2008 and most recently was involved with the Level II Course rewrites in 2020-21.