EBLI uses a Linguistic Phonics, speech-to-print approach, starting with spoken language and mapping it to written text to teach both reading and spelling. This aligns with how the brain naturally processes language. EBLI teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, and writing in an integrated manner, rather than teaching these components in isolation.

EBLI is agnostic and can be used with any curriculum that incorporates reading, writing, and spelling. EBLI is comprehensive, integrated foundational instruction in the 5 essential components of reading as well as handwriting, spelling, and writing. It can be used as foundational instruction for knowledge building or other ELA curriculum in Tier 1.  Once students have been taught foundational writing with EBLI, we recommend using Releasing Writers (formerly known as thinkSRSD) to expand writing.

For EBLI Intervention is all-inclusive for intervention instruction that can be enhanced by utilizing additional text from across the curriculum or novels read for pleasure.

After orientation, EBLI teacher training and student instruction are integrated. Orientation takes about 4-6 hours. Administrators often provide 2 PD days for educators to do orientation, printing, and preparation for assessment and delivering the first activities to their student. EBLI is front-loaded with new learning and video examples. For the first 2-4 weeks, depending on the training, educators can plan on 2–5 hours weekly to watch the trainings and learn the activities; this time commitment decreased to about 1 hour a week. At first, EBLI activities are taught to students via video while the teacher facilitates. This allows students to receive the introduction to EBLI activities from a veteran EBLI teacher and lessen the cognitive load on the teachers as they are learning. All lesson planning is done for teachers. Soon training and example videos fade and teachers do the teaching.  This decreases to under one hour as the method becomes familiar. Total training time over several months is 40-60 hours, completed while teaching at least one classroom, group, or student through all the activities/lessons.

The training instruction is designed for gradual release of responsibility for teachers, just as the student lessons are designed for gradual release of responsibility for students . Student-facing videos do the direct teaching at first—you facilitate, observe, and correct errors. Over time, you take over instruction as your confidence builds. The gradual release model means you’re never thrown in without support.

For student instruction:

• Whiteboards for each student (11×16 or 12×18) and a whiteboard for the teacher (at the front of the room in classrooms)
• Dry-erase markers (about 10-15 per student per year for classrooms, fewer for intervention)
• Erasers – mini-rerasers, felt squares, make up remover pads, or whatever you use for erasers

Technology needed for both the online teacher training and when activity instruction videos from the platform are used to teach students:

• High speed internet connection
• Speakers
• Ability to project video

The EBLI/ETSL (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction — Online Teacher Training & Student Lessons) model is structured as a year-based training subscription with optional renewal, combining teacher professional development and student-facing lessons in one system.

Initial EBLI/ETSL Training (Year 1) — Required: $3,000

The first year is a comprehensive onboarding + implementation year that includes:

1. Full online training system Access to 100+ interactive modules (videos, lessons, printables). Step-by-step teacher learning embedded alongside student lessons. Gradual release model (watch → co-teach → independently teach).

2. Student instruction built in Daily lessons (typically 30–60 minutes). Covers foundational instruction in all core literacy components: phonemic awareness and phonics (speech-to-print / linguistic phonics), fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, handwriting, and writing.

3. Coaching and support Monthly live Zoom coaching calls (Sept–May) that are recorded and always accessible. Ongoing email support. Access to a professional learning community (FB group).

4. Materials Steps and Helpful Hints training videos and documents. Scope & sequence. Printed Teacher’s Guide. Articles and reading passages. Prepared EBLIized multi-syllable words to read and spell from the text that will be read. Supplemental materials to reinforce skills, concepts, and activities taught. Option to earn ETSL certification.

5. Structure of rollout 1-day live virtual orientation. Ongoing weekly teacher prep (front-loaded, then decreases over time).

In short: Year 1 = training + implementation + coaching all bundled together.

Renewal Subscription (Year 2+) — Optional: $500/year

What you GET with renewal: access to training videos, student instruction videos, online platform including additional yearly resources, materials, and updates, coaching calls and support.

What you keep WITHOUT renewal: printed Teacher’s Guide, supplemental EBLI Members website.

In short: Renewal = continued access + support (not required to keep using EBLI).

Key Design Features (Important for Leadership Decisions) “Evergreen” training: materials don’t expire conceptually — teachers retain the approach. Curriculum-agnostic: can be layered onto existing programs. Embedded PD: teachers learn while teaching students. Transferable: training stays with the teacher, not the school.