The Four Lenses Workshops
Transform your approach to literacy instruction through Dr. Cullen’s dynamic, research-based workshops. Each session follows the proven framework from her acclaimed book, providing you with practical strategies you can implement immediately in your classroom.
Decode the mysteries of English sounds and revolutionise your phonics instruction
Challenge the myth that English is a chaotic language. Discover how just 44 speech sounds create every word we speak, and master techniques to make this accessible to your students. Dr. Cullen reveals why traditional phonics approaches often fall short and provides a sophisticated yet practical framework that transforms how children perceive and manipulate sounds.
What you'll gain?
Clear understanding of how 44 phonemes work within a 26-letter alphabet
Practical techniques for teaching Phonological Sensitivity, Phoneme Awareness and Phonetics
Confidence in explaining seemingly irregular spellings through a Phonological Lens
Ready-to-use activities that develop students’ sound awareness
Strategies for integrating phonology with other linguistic components for deeper learning
Revolutionise your spelling instruction by discovering the predictable patterns that govern English orthography. Dr. Cullen shatters the myth that words are simply memorised by sight, revealing instead how our brains process written language through sophisticated pattern recognition. Stop teaching endless lists of exceptions and start empowering students with the ability to analyse and understand spelling logically.
What you'll gain?
A clear framework for making sense of English spelling patterns
Techniques for explicit teaching of orthographic concepts
Classroom-ready activities that develop pattern recognition skills
Strategies for teaching spelling in meaningful contexts rather than isolated lists
Confidence in explaining why words are spelled the way they are
Harness the power of meaningful word parts to supercharge vocabulary and spelling
Unlock the secret to vocabulary learning through morphological awareness. In this hands-on workshop, Dr. Cullen demonstrates how understanding word building blocks dramatically accelerates vocabulary acquisition and spelling accuracy. Discover why morphology often trumps phonology in English spelling and how this insight transforms literacy instruction across all year levels.
What you'll gain?
Expertise in breaking words into meaningful parts (prefixes, suffixes, base words)
Techniques for teaching morphological relations that shine a light on the logic of the English spelling system
Strategies for helping students infer the meaning of unfamiliar words
Methods for building vocabulary systematically across content areas
Activities that develop morphological problem-solving skills in your students
Bring spelling to life through the fascinating stories behind words
Transform vocabulary instruction by exploring the historical journey of words. Dr. Cullen reveals how etymology provides the perfect explanation for seemingly irregular spellings and creates powerful memory hooks for students. Discover practical ways to incorporate word histories into everyday literacy instruction, creating word detectives rather than word memorisers.
What you’ll gain:
Practical skills for using etymology resources in your classroom
Techniques for making word origins accessible and engaging for students
Strategies for connecting English to other languages through cognates
Methods for using eponyms to create memorable vocabulary lessons
Confidence in explaining challenging spellings through historical context
Join the community of innovative educators who have transformed their literacy instruction through Dr. Cullen’s Linguistic Lenses approach.
Advanced implementation for Years 3-9 educators
This specialised workshop builds upon the foundation of the Four Lenses to address the unique challenges of advanced word study in upper primary and secondary school contexts. Master sophisticated techniques for using Linguistic Lenses to unlock academic vocabulary across content areas, support struggling adolescent readers and extend highly able students.
What sets this workshop apart:
Strategic implementation for school leaders with 3-month support
Equip your leadership team with the comprehensive strategic framework needed to implement the Four Lenses approach school wide. Drawing on her experience as a Head of Junior School and whole- school curriculum leader, Dr. Cullen guides your team through implementing the Metalinguistic Observation Protocol and Metalinguistic Knowledge Assessment, data-driven decision-making strategies and teacher support systems that ensure consistent, structured implementation across classrooms.
This premium leadership package includes:
This investment creates lasting literacy reform that impacts every student while providing ongoing expert support throughout the critical implementation phase.
Transform your staff’s confidence and capacity with a customised full-day experience
Immerse your entire staff in the Four Lenses framework with this transformative full-day experience. Morning sessions build foundational understanding of English orthography, while afternoon breakouts provide year-group specific applications. Everything is customised to your school’s specific literacy data and curriculum needs.
This whole-school package includes:
Maximum impact is achieved when combined with the Leadership Toolbox package. Ask about special pricing when booking both options.
Deep implementation with 3 days of on-site coaching
Experience the power of embedded professional learning with three full days of on-site coaching. Watch Dr. Cullen model linguistic approaches in your actual classrooms, receive personalised feedback on your implementation and collaborate with colleagues in small groups. This immersive experience translates theory into practice, accelerating your mastery of the Four Lenses approach and its impact on student learning.
This comprehensive coaching experience includes:
Maximum impact is achieved when combined with the Parent Education Opportunity to empower your parent community.
Data-driven implementation support with follow-up coaching
Transform your word study instruction through Dr. Cullen’s evidence-based Metalinguistic Observation Protocol. This intensive one-day on-site session provides comprehensive assessment of current practices, followed by targeted coaching and implementation planning.
This specialised package includes:
This focused approach ensures implementation fidelity while providing the data needed to measure impact on teaching practices and student outcomes.
Empower Your School Community: Parent Literacy Workshops
Extend the impact of Dr. Cullen's expertise beyond the classroom by hosting a parent education event. These engaging 90-minute sessions help parents understand how they can support their child's literacy development using principles from the Linguistic Lenses framework.
Dr. Cullen demystifies English spelling for parents, provides practical strategies for home support and creates valuable alignment between school and home literacy approaches. Parents leave with renewed confidence in supporting their children's reading and writing journey.
Workshop includes:
Maximum impact is achieved when combined with the Parent Education Opportunity to empower your parent community.
Need something different? Dr. Cullen offers customised professional development opportunities designed specifically for your school’s unique context and needs. Contact us to discuss how we can create a tailored approach to implementing the Four Linguistic Lenses in your educational setting.
