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In order for students to learn, they need a sense of stability, few disruptions, and explicit instruction. Learn how to organize foundational word recognition skills in a systematic, direct, and engaging manner. This workshop will provide participants with information about explicit instruction, a possible word recognition routine, and various examples of how to teach each skill.

There is more to a read aloud than just enjoyment. It is an opportunity to strengthen language development, comprehension, and critical thinking skills by reading aloud at a slightly higher level than what children are able to do on their own. Focusing on language comprehension, a read aloud provides opportunities for students to increase vocabulary and listening comprehension. This workshop will guide participants through the power of a read aloud, strategies for improving language comprehension, ways to improve vocabulary, selecting books, and planning a thoughtful read aloud. 

Structured Literacy has been deemed the best approach to help struggling readers with Dyslexia by the International Dyslexia Association. A multisensory approach to teaching reading that is based on the science of reading and provides explicit, systematic, and engaging instruction.  Learn how to improve reading achievement for all students, especially those with dyslexia. Participants will learn how to implement each of the elements of Structured Literacy in this session. 

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Drown out the groans and complaints that often come with reading time with an instructional framework that empowers all students to become active and engaged readers! Incorporating a Readers’ Workshop in your classroom is the most powerful way to increase reading levels and it ensures that students receive the quality time reading and interacting with texts throughout the day that we know is so vital to their success. This session will equip teachers to go fearlessly back to their classrooms prepared to set up a framework that instructs, allows for processing time, and provides differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students.

This session is designed as an introduction to the idea of Readers’ Workshop but can be customized to meet your needs.

Looking to improve student reading levels? Try implementing the Guided Reading framework, a perfect way to target the needs of a small group of readers! This practical session examines the Guided Reading framework from beginning to end, focusing on book level analysis, lesson design and delivery, and continued assessment. Participants will learn how to successfully group students into small reading groups, characteristics of an average lesson before, during and after reading, and strategies for assessing each student’s reading fluency (without round robin reading!). This session will equip participants with the confidence and excitement they need to implement Guided Reading and help boost students’ reading levels.

Imagine a class of students – working in groups, actively analyzing and authentically engaging in discussion of texts! As adult readers, we enjoy reading and discussing books with friends. Children are no different, and even the most reluctant reader can come alive as they participate in a class book club! Learn how to collect books and allow student choice of reading materials, organize students and teach them to have academic conversations, and increase the students’ love of reading and their higher level thinking – all while teaching your standards!

This session is designed as an introduction to literature circles/book clubs, but can be customized to meet your needs.

Writing is one of the most fundamental skills required for success in school and the workplace. Students need to be comfortable in their ability to clearly express their ideas and intelligently communicate information to their readers. This session introduces the Writers’ Workshop framework as a way to encourage students to write authentically on a daily basis, while at the same time helping teachers address all the requirements of the state standards. Participants will leave encouraged and inspired to incorporate open writing assignments and writing conferences in their classroom as they work to improve the writing skills of their young authors.

While this session is designed as an introduction to the idea of Writers’ Workshop, it can be customized to meet your needs.

Peanut butter and jelly. Romeo and Juliet. Reading and writing. You can’t have one without the other. Though often taught separately, the reciprocal nature of reading and writing dictates a need for a direct connection between Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop. Mentor texts are the tool that makes that connection possible by allowing students to analyze reading and improve their writing simultaneously. Create truly balanced literacy by integrating the two workshops through mentor texts. This session, designed for grades 2-8, will include practical ideas for integrating Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop, a wealth of book suggestions, and a sample schedule for thoughtfully organizing your balanced literacy block.