Join IDA Arizona, in partnership with Northern Arizona University’s  Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the College of Education, for a 2-hour online Structured Literacy Symposium.

Increasing Learner Engagement in Morphology Instruction to Improve Language and Literacy

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM MST
• Location: Live | Microsoft Teams Webinar
• Cost: Free (Registration Required)
• Optional 2-hour CE Certificate available

Session Overview

Presenters: Heather Caska & Dr. Tina Chaseley
Level: Beginner–Intermediate

Target Audience: Pre-service educators, classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, and related support professionals

This interactive session examines how morphology, word matrices, and morphophonemic awareness can enhance students’ word knowledge, support structured literacy, vocabulary development, and engage diverse learners across content areas. Participants will discover how to utilize a morphology notebook and word matrices to uncover meaningful word parts and patterns, while also understanding how sound shifts (e.g., plural or past-tense endings) are connected to spelling and pronunciation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand how morphological and morphophonemic instruction supports reading, writing, and content learning
• Learn to create and use morphology notebooks and word matrices for vocabulary and decoding
• Practice strategies that differentiate morphology instruction for diverse learners
• Explore quick checks for understanding using morphological and morphophonemic tasks
• Understand the role of interprofessional collaboration between teachers and speech-language pathologists

Professional Development

All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance following the event.

CE Certificate Upgrade (Optional)
Two (2) Continuing Education (CE) hours are available for educators working on certificate renewal. To receive a CE Certificate, participants must:

• Attend the live webinar
• Submit the CE Session Reflection Form
• Complete payment.

Cost: IDA Members — $0 | Non-Members — $5
CE Certificates will be emailed by February 24, 2026.

Not an IDA member? Learn more here. 

Meet the Presenters

Heather Caska, MS, CCC-SLP
Heather is a mom and wife who is passionate about supporting students with learning differences. She is a certified speech-language pathologist, Assistant Clinical Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Director of Clinical Education, with over 14 years of experience. Her work focuses on helping students with dyslexia and related challenges such as developmental language disorder (DLD) and ADHD. She previously served as President of the International Dyslexia Association of Arizona and is deeply committed to advocacy, education, and mentoring future clinicians.

Tina Chaseley, Ph.D.
Tina Chaseley, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Literacy and Reading in the College of Education. Before entering higher education, she spent three years as a K–6 Reading Specialist and ten years teaching second, third, and fourth grade. Tina brings a deep appreciation for classroom practice to her work preparing future educators. Outside of her professional roles, she is a mom and wife who enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, volunteering in her community, and spending time with her dogs.

This event aligns with the International Dyslexia Association’s Sharpened Vision: Structured Literacy in Every Classroom