Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Curriculum and Instruction
College
College of Education and Professional Development
Type of Degree
Ed.D.
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Dr. McKenzie Brittain
Second Advisor
Dr. Edna Meisel
Third Advisor
Dr. Emily Waugh
Abstract
The Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional development course has been participated in by educators across the United States. The LETRS training focuses on research-based methods and the science of reading. The five components of the science of reading guide the LETRS course. These components include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives and experiences of teachers from West Virginia schools who participated in the LETRS professional development course as a cohort. This study examined the questions: What are the perceptions of K-5 educators in implementing the knowledge and skills gained from the LETRS professional development course in their classrooms, and what do they perceive as the successes and challenges to their use of the LETRS approach? The study revealed that educators had a positive overall perception of the LETRS professional development training. The data show that the LETRS strategies strongly align with the county and state curricula, making them an effective integration into classroom instruction. The LETRS manipulatives, multisensory strategies, and supports provided were all highlighted as successes. However, educators also noted several challenges, such as large class sizes and some feeling they did not learn anything new. Future research recommendations include a longitudinal study of the learning outcomes for students taught by teachers who participated in the LETRS training, extending beyond teachers’ perceptions to include test results.
Subject(s)
Education.
West Virginia.
Career development.
Teachers.
Reading.
Phonemics -- Reading.
Reading -- Phonetic method.
Vocabulary -- Reading.
Reading comprehension.
Recommended Citation
Burgess, Colette, "Teachers' perceptions of the use of the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional development training" (2026). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 2027.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/2027
