Literacy Training

Build research based, classroom tested effective practices to support emergent readers and writers. Work is tailored with schools to meet their specific needs.  Possible topics include:

• Using Interactive Writing to develop foundational reading and writing skills
• Using Shared Reading to develop foundational reading skills
• Partner Reading and Independent Reading practices in K-1 classrooms (practical, classroom tested formats that develop stamina and independence while providing daily opportunities to differentiate instruction)
• Ongoing assessment tools to progress monitor & inform instruction (running records and their analysis, foundational skills assessments, cumulative writing records for craft and conventions, etc.)
• Bringing word walls to life to support young readers and writers

Build research based, classroom tested effective practices to accelerate readers and writers. Work is tailored with schools to meet their specific needs.  Possible topics include:

• Mini Lessons - focused, short & accelerate student readers
• Small group instruction to differentiate instruction - guided reading and strategy group instruction
• Building stamina and active engagement in independent reading
• Strategies to engage and energize readers and deepen their comprehension (readers notebooks, book jots, book clubs, close reading, book talks, etc.)
• Understanding fluency and supporting its development
• Ongoing assessment practices to progress monitor and inform instruction

Participants will explore the power of reader’s notebooks in the classroom to promote active learning for all students and improve student enjoyment of and engagement in reading. Examine practical, classroom-tested strategies to launch reader’s notebooks and to expand students’ ability to think, talk and write more deeply about the texts they read.

• Learn approaches for launching and sustaining reader’s notebooks;
• Examine classroom-tested techniques for using reader’s notebooks to support reading comprehension; deepen comprehension through sharpening close reading skills; increase vocabulary knowledge; develop students’ written responses to literature and informational texts; foster student self-assessment, goal setting and commitment to learning
• Develop a reader’s notebook that can be used as a model in their school or classroom

Participants will explore the power of writer’s notebooks in the classroom to promote active learning for all students and improve student enjoyment of and engagement in writing. Participants will examine practical, classroom-tested strategies to launch writer’s notebooks and to expand students’ ability to think, talk and write more effectively across genres.  Participants will:

• Learn approaches for launching and sustaining writer’s notebooks in the grade 3-8 classroom
• Examine classroom-tested techniques for using writer’s notebooks to generate and expand topic ideas; support content development and revision; teach writing craft across genres (persuasive, informational/ explanatory and narrative texts)
• Develop a sample writer’s notebook that can be used as a model in their school or classroom

Participants will explore how to use conferring with students to accelerate reading progress. Topics will include: Conference formats that are short, focused and engaging; Efficient conference note forms that track progress and support ongoing assessment to inform differentiated instruction; Analysis of conference videos to extend teachers’ conferencing repertoire.

Explore working with students to establish focused reading goals that engage student readers, increase student agency, and accelerate student progress as readers.  Examine ways to use learning progressions to establish specific reading goals tailored to individual students’ needs and teach strategies to help student readers reach these goals and extend their skills as readers.

When schools approach literacy learning with a patchwork of instructional practices, the results can be disengaged, underperforming students who view reading and writing as school time chores rather than powerful tools and meaningful experiences. Disappointed with student reading and writing outcomes, schools are turning to an evidence based reading/writing workshop model that provides consistency across classrooms, accelerates student progress, and unlocks student potential.  Through articles, videoclips and discussion, participants will examine what the research tells us about effective practices in literacy instruction, the key components of effective reading and writing workshops, and how a consistent workshop approach can build from year to year, resulting in increased student achievement and engagement.  We will examine how the elements of predictable structures, ample time for reading texts and writing texts, choice, response and community help students read more deeply, write more effectively and develop habits of mind they can apply with independence across the curriculum.

"Adolescents entering the adult world in the 21st century will read and write more than at any other time in human history. They will need advanced levels of literacy and language to perform their jobs, run their households, act as citizens, and conduct their personal lives." -- Richard Vaca, author of Content Area Reading: Literacy and Learning Across the Curriculum. The importance of Accountable Talk in all content areas needs to be an integral part of the "how" we teach that content.  Teaching students to become proficient in accountable talk will empower them to  be able to make sense of and engage in advanced reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Conversation helps immensely when processing new content and concepts.