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Trooper's Book Club

Make learning to read something your child will be excited about! By registering them up for Trooper’s Book Club, you’re giving them the gift of joyful, engaging learning. This six-week program, held Saturdays from January 18 to February 22, 2025, will have your young reader mastering VCe words like 'make' and 'slide' in a fun, supportive environment. With small groups, personalized attention, and the chance to read one-on-one to Trooper, the lovable therapy and reading dog, your child will look forward to each session! 

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Join Trooper's Book Club!

Joining Trooper’s Book Club is simple! Start with a free New Student Meeting to see if this program is a good fit for your child. This quick session helps us ensure your young reader is ready to benefit from our focus on VCe words.

 

Once approved, you’ll secure their spot in this exclusive six-student program. Spaces fill up fast, so don’t wait—take the first step toward making reading fun and exciting for your child today!

Program Details

Ages 5-9
Recommended
Saturdays
1:00-2:00PM
VLN
Bristol, VT
CVCe Words
Instructional Focus
SAVE NEARLY $100 BY USING CODE
TROOPERREADS

Meet Trooper

Trooper, a lovable Shiloh Shepard, grew up on a farm with a lot of jobs including head greeter, star rodent catcher, and barn cat & chicken organizer, and many others. Many customers came to the farm just to visit with Trooper! His favorite time of the year is winter with lots of snow. Trooper has been a star reading buddy at Charlotte Central School and is so excited to help VLN students learn to read!

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New Student Meeting

The New Student Meeting is a relaxed, no-pressure session designed to understand your child’s strengths and learning goals. It’s the same process we use for our Individual Lessons, and it’s completely FREE! This quick meeting—available virtually or in-person—covers essential skills like phonological awareness, letter sounds, decoding, writing, and more.

 

If Trooper’s Book Club isn’t the right fit, no worries—the New Student Meeting opens the door to other programs, including Individual Lessons!

Book a New Student Meeting
  • Why does my child need to complete a New Student Meeting?
    The New Student Meeting ensures that Trooper’s Book Club is the right fit for your child’s learning needs. It allows us to gather information on their current skills and determine if focusing on VCe words is appropriate. If their goals don’t align with this program, the New Student Meeting helps us recommend other fun programs, like our Individual Lessons.
  • How many students are in Trooper’s Book Club?
    The club is limited to just six students. This ensures that each child receives personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to practice reading skills to Trooper!
  • Can parents and siblings join the sessions?
    Unfortunately, no. We encourage a supportive, distraction-free environment where children can engage fully in the activities. To ensure every child receives individualized attention tailored to their specific learning goals, siblings need to be assessed separately and may qualify for different programs.
  • How do you handle different learning styles or needs?
    Our program uses a multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-based approach, which is highly effective for various learning styles. Our techniques ensure that students with dyslexia, ADHD, and many others receive the support they need to succeed!
  • Are there any scholarships, financial aid options, or discounts for this program?
    While Trooper’s Book Club is already a significant savings compared to our Individual Lessons program, we’re excited to offer additional support. The Initial Student Evaluation (ISE) is completely free, and if you use the code “TROOPERREADS” at registration, you’ll receive 35% off—saving you around $100!
  • What is the instructional skill focus of Trooper’s Book Club?
    The program focuses on mastering VCe words, a key spelling pattern that turns short vowel sounds into long vowel sounds (e.g., 'mad' to 'made').
  • What are VCe words, and why are they important?
    VCe words are words where a vowel is followed by a consonant and then the letter 'e,' which makes the vowel sound long (e.g., 'hop' becomes 'hope'). Mastering these words helps young readers develop key decoding skills essential for reading fluency.
  • How can I stay informed about upcoming events and programs?
    You can stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter where we regularly share information about upcoming workshops, classes, and community events. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and announcements, or check our website for detailed program calendars and special events!
  • What is Vermont Literacy Network?
    Vermont Literacy Network is an early literacy organization on a mission to connect our community one word at a time! VLN offers comprehensive student, professional, and community programming that are deeply rooted in structured literacy practices and the science of reading. Services are available both virtually and in-person at our Bristol facility. Whether you’re a student, educator, or community member, the Network provides the tools and support needed to foster a literacy-rich Vermont!
  • Where are programs held?
    Our programs are offered both in-person and virtually. In-person programs are available throughout Vermont, with a primary focus on Bristol and surrounding communities. We also offer virtual programs, allowing participants from all over the world to to participate in our lessons, workshops, and professional development courses!
  • Are VLN’s professional programs aligned with current educational research?
    Absolutely! All of our programs are grounded in the most up-to-date, research-based, and evidence-based practices. We integrate proven methodologies from the science of reading and structured literacy, including multisensory instruction and data-driven intervention strategies. We stay informed on new developments in literacy research to ensure that our content reflects the latest understanding of how students learn to read and write.
  • What professional development programs does Vermont Literacy Network offer?
    Currently, we offer virtual workshops that focus on the science of reading, structured literacy, and practical strategies for educators. We also provide custom workshops for schools and organizations that request tailored training to meet their specific needs. In addition, we are excited to announce that we are working on developing asynchronous courses to give educators more flexibility in accessing our training.
  • What qualifications do the professional workshop facilitators at VLN have?
    Our workshop facilitators are highly trained professionals with extensive classroom and intervention experience. Many of them are certified in Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading System approaches.
  • What types of lessons and programs do you offer for children?
    We offer a range of personalized programs for children, including Individual Lessons, workshops, classes, and clubs. These programs focus on early literacy development, reading comprehension, and intervention strategies to help students overcome reading challenges. Each program is designed to engage children through multisensory, personalized experiences!
  • How are the Individual Lessons tailored to my child’s needs?
    Individual Lessons are completely personalized to your child’s unique strengths, challenges, and interests. We begin with a New Student Meeting to understand their current literacy skills and areas for growth. From there, we create a customized learning plan that targets their specific needs, using engaging, multisensory activities to make reading and writing fun and effective. Regular check-ins ensure that lessons adapt as your child progresses, keeping them confident and supported every step of the way.
  • How do you measure my child’s progress?
    We closely monitor your child’s progress through regular formative and summative assessments, or "show what you knows", to ensure they are growing in their targeted areas. After each session, literacy teachers gather notes and data which families can request at any time. Additionally, families and their child's literacy teacher attend monthly conferences to discuss progress, address concerns, and adjust the instructional plan if needed.
  • Can I observe my child’s lessons?
    Yes, we encourage parents to be involved and observe their child’s progress. Our Bristol facility has a cozy waiting area where you can comfortably watch the lessons. However, we do ask that you refrain from interacting with your child during the session so that the literacy teacher can focus on working their magic without interruption.
  • What is the New Student Meeting?
    The New Student Meeting, formerly known as the Initial Student Evaluation (ISE), is a relaxed, no-pressure session where we get to know your child and their unique literacy needs. This meeting helps us understand their strengths, challenges, and interests through simple, engaging activities. It’s the first step in creating a personalized learning plan that sets your child up for confidence and success in reading and writing.
  • What age groups do your programs serve?
    Currently, our student programs primarily serve children from preschool through 3rd grade. However, we are excited to expand our offerings in the new year to include programs for children from birth to age 3, and students in grades 4-8.
  • Are your programs suitable for children with learning differences?
    Yes! Our student programs are designed to be inclusive and supportive of children with a wide range of needs including those with sensory processing disorders, neurodivergencies (such as ASD and ADHD), and other needs. We are well-versed in accommodations and modifications as outlined in educational plans such as IEPs, and we are committed to upholding these supports during instruction. We are dedicated to creating an equitable and welcoming learning environment where every student can thrive. We are passionate in ensuring that all students receive the personalized instruction they need to succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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