Literacy Workshops, Conference Sessions, Conference Talks
Many of the following topics can be designed as half day or whole day conference sessions and half or whole day school district in-service training. Some topics are also keynote talks. Please contact me for specifics. For best results, follow an inservice training with a series of job-embedded coaching days! See the
Residencies/Coaching page for more details.
Writers' Workshop 101 (Grades 1-7)
Comprehension Strategies Across Space and Time (Grades 1-7)
Every strategy and activity relates to the most powerful and necessary areas of metacognition, namely activating prior knowledge, summarizing, asking and answering questions, making connections, and visualizing. Introduces strategies and activities that work across grade levels and content areas, including science, social studies, and sometimes math:
Super Spellers: Seven Steps to Transforming Spelling Instruction (Grades 1-6)
Super Core: Turbocharging Your Basal Program with More Reading, Writing, and Word Work
RACE and Grist: Text-Dependent Analysis (Grades 3-8)
Independent Reading Routines: Ready, Set, Go (Grades 1-6)
Small Group Reading Instruction: From Foundations to Next Steps
Teaching Chops: Highly Effective Instructional Techniques for All Classrooms (Grades 2-6)
Residencies/Coaching page for more details.
Writers' Workshop 101 (Grades 1-7)
- Typically presented as a one-day workshop for K-2 and and one-day workshop for 3-6
- Introduction to process-based writing program across grade levels
- Three types of CCSS writing: opinion/argumentative, informative, and narrative
- Discusses choice for students, conferencing, sharing, differentiation, teaching grammar and "craft" through the act of writing, assessment, and more.
Comprehension Strategies Across Space and Time (Grades 1-7)
Every strategy and activity relates to the most powerful and necessary areas of metacognition, namely activating prior knowledge, summarizing, asking and answering questions, making connections, and visualizing. Introduces strategies and activities that work across grade levels and content areas, including science, social studies, and sometimes math:
- Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then, Finally
- Text Annotations / Talking to the Text
- Vocabulary card sorts and storytelling
- Stop Light question and answers/ Thick & Thin questions and answers
- See-Think-Wonder (a Harvard Project Zero activity and strategy)
- Sketching for visualizing
- Building and activating prior knowledge with slide shows, THIEVES, anticipation guides, and curiosity corners
Super Spellers: Seven Steps to Transforming Spelling Instruction (Grades 1-6)
- Spelling is for reading and writing, especially for younger students, ESL students, and students who find reading and writing more difficult.
- Information that a spelling program should be based on instruction (not assignment), differentiation (not one-size-fits-all), and strategies (not the memorization of lists)
- Quick, simple, and powerful activities that promote strategy use, teach children how to spell (not what to spell), and transform a less-than-effective spelling program into a program that builds reading and writing fluency.
Super Core: Turbocharging Your Basal Program with More Reading, Writing, and Word Work
- Typically presented as a one-day workshop for K-2 and and one-day workshop for 3-6
- Overview of Big Ideas of reading and writing
- Identifying what is essential; deciding what to de-emphasize
- Specifics for modifying and adapting core reading program components
- Connection to the standards
RACE and Grist: Text-Dependent Analysis (Grades 3-8)
- Addresses the demands of writing to specific prompts and writing to communicate text-dependent analysis as outlined in the Common Core standards
- Analytical writing strategy RACE (restate, answer, cite, explain), a strategy that students can use to effectively and efficiently answer text-dependent questions in reading, social studies, science, and beyond
- Demonstrates adaptations for different grade levels and different learners.
- Introduces teachers to the idea of "grist" in writing and reading, which provides support for writers who are specifically writing opinion, persuasive, and argumentative essays.
Independent Reading Routines: Ready, Set, Go (Grades 1-6)
- Independent reading is critical for reading growth and enjoyment.
- Develop independent reading routines first with whole group and small groups
- Developing a classroom library and creating basic browsing bins
- Determining independent reading levels; matching children with books
- Developing student reading routines via the “I Can” list
- Fluency building activities during independent reading
- Practical ways to insure accountability and generate assessment data.
Small Group Reading Instruction: From Foundations to Next Steps
- Typically taught as a one-day workshop for K-2 and and one-day workshop for 3-6
- Differentiating their instruction via small group reading instruction
- Determining a student’s instructional reading level; understanding the ins and outs of reading levels;
- Managing instructional level books;
- Determining and managing student grouping and small group rotation;
- Planning lessons (format and flow);
- Learning and speaking consistent literacy language (intentional talk); and,
- Formative and benchmark assessments.
Teaching Chops: Highly Effective Instructional Techniques for All Classrooms (Grades 2-6)
- Positive reinforcement
- Whole group physical response
- Engagement techniques
- Importance of modeling and guided practice
- Whole group and small group techniques