What's New

New Literacy Articles
​I am happy to have two articles published this month. The first, co-authored by Carrie Zales, appears in Reading Today. Titled Beyond Teachers and Principals, the article ponders how districts might go about creating districtwide effective literacy programs. You can find it at bit.ly/BeyondPrincipals. Scroll ahead in the magazine to page 12. The second article appears on the middle school website, Middle Web. Titled Spelling Matters in Middle School, Too, it describes why spelling is for reading, even in middle school (grades 4-8) and what instruction and activities work well for middle school readers, writers, and spellers. Think syllables and morphemes, as well as instruction that combines elements of spelling, reading, and vocabulary. Here's the link: bit.ly/MidSchoolSpell
Summer Reading for Teachers
Since the fall of 2014, I have been steadily blogging on literacy topics from sight words to dyslexia. Because summer is a time when many teachers grow their literacy knowledge, I've listed seven of my most popular blogs, giving the months and years in which they were posted. Perhaps you will find a topic of special interest. If so, click on the Blog tab at the top of this homepage. Then click the month and year listed on the right hand side. Happy summer reading!
  • Seven Syllable Types for Reading, Writing, and Spelling
           -  March 2017
  • The Eternal Triangle, Reading Difficulties, and Dyslexia
            -June 2019
  • The Master Spelling List         
            - Jan. 2018
  • Using Syllable Types to Differentiate Your Spelling Lists
           - Feb. 2018
  • Effective Alphabet Instruction
           - March 2019
  • What Do I Do with 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Spellers
           - Sep. 2018
  • Spelling and Writing: Get Close, Circle, Correct
​​            - April. 2018

Upcoming Events
Coaching, presentations, trainings, author visits and more!

August

​​    St. Stephen's School            Harrisburg PA         8/19
          Kid Writing workshop

   Divine Mercy Academy         Johnstown, PA       8/21
          Kid Writing workshop; Writers' Workshop training

September

​​    St. Stephen's School            Harrisburg PA         9/18
          Kid Writing model lessons

   Divine Mercy Academy         Johnstown, PA       9/24-26
          Kid Writing model lessons; Writers' Workshop model lessons
          Parent-Child evening program

October
​​    St. Stephen's School            Harrisburg PA         10/9
          Kid Writing model lessons

   Divine Mercy Academy         Johnstown, PA       10/10
          Kid Writing model lessons; Writers' Workshop model lessons

​   PA Library Assoc. Annual Conf., Erie, PA            10/14
          Author panel and book signing

​​    St. Stephen's School            Harrisburg PA         10/23
          Kid Writing model lessons

   Divine Mercy Academy         Johnstown, PA       10/24
          Kid Writing model lessons; Writers' Workshop model lessons
          Parent-Child evening program
​
   Bureau of Education and Research                 10/28-31
                                    Raleigh NC, Richmond VA
​                                    New Orleans LA, Houston TX
          Dyslexia seminar: Tier I for students who have or may have dyslexia   

Mark Weakland is an author, teacher, national presenter and speaker, and literacy coach and consultant. Keeping his feet firmly in the classroom by regularly teaching in schools, Mark works with teachers, administrators, and parents to make literacy programs and instruction more engaging and successful.  He also loves to explore and make connections between the the arts, nature, science, and education.