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Literacy
Workshops are offered through the DuPage Regional Office of Education at the Professional Development Center in Lombard. In addition, the courses may be offered on-site (at your school or district.) The length of workshops is typically 3 hours (half day), 5 hours (full day), or can be offered over multiple days. These, or individually designed workshops, can be adapted or created to meet your needs.
Contact tpotts@dupage.k12.il.us for further information and scheduling.
Literacy Coaching and/or Facilitating
Trained facilitators and coaches are available to work with teachers on-site to develop and implement literacy skills (reading, writing, vocabulary) across the curriculum.
READING ACADEMY WORKSHOPS
Teachers' Academy: Best Practices in Reading
(Grades 4-8)
This training offers professional development in scientifically-based principles of reading instruction for all teachers in grades 4-8. Specific modules include: Instructional Strategies, Information Text, Vocabulary, Differentiation, Writing in Response to Reading, Literacy Classroom Environment, Reading and the English Language Learner. The final session features a “Share Fair.” The Academy interfaces with the Administrators' Academy: Best Practices in Reading Grades 4-8. Best practices in reading instruction are presented in a practical and hands-on fashion. Materials and professional resource books are provided for both individuals and the schools they represent. The Academy is designed for the professional development of classroom teachers, including content specialists and teachers of special education. (6 day series or individual topics of one day 5 hours per topic)
GUIDED READING WORKSHOPS
Guided Reading/Differentiated Instruction in the Middle School
Students in the upper grades are expected to read and understand increasingly more difficult texts. Guided reading comprises the basic elements of introducing texts, silent reading, and constructive discussion to build comprehension and offers particular value for building the confidence and competence of struggling readers. This workshop will examine the benefits of using guided reading in the upper grades and focus on how to structure a guided reading lesson, on assessment-based methods for grouping students, and on meaningful literacy activities for the other students while the teacher is engaged in small group instruction. Participants will leave with materials that can be easily integrated into their existing programs. (3 hours)
Guided Reading:
Managing the Other Students
(Grades K-2) (Grades 3-8)
To enable the teacher to focus his/her attention on guided reading groups, the rest of the class must be productively engaged in independent, literacy-building activities. The goal of independent work is not “to keep the students busy.” It is to provide students with opportunities to practice their literacy skills and strategies while allowing the teacher time to lead small group instruction. This session will focus on meaningful literacy activities and choices for students and on developing a menu of reading and writing activities, choices, and/or other literacy tasks. Specific examples of such activities as well as setting up the classroom to accommodate this type of instruction will also be included in this session. (3 hours)
Guided Reading:
Assessment Tools to Drive Instruction
(Grades K-2) (Grades 3-8)
Teachers need assessment snapshots to inform their planning for small group instruction. This workshop will focus on user-friendly assessments designed to gather information during guided reading to expedite the grouping of students to meet their instructional needs. Examples of assessment tools such as teacher observations, student profiles, students' retellings, goal sheets, and students' self-assessments will also be examined. Participants will leave the session with materials that can be used with their own students. (3 hours)
READING WORKSHOPS
Creating and Managing a Top Notch Classroom Library
What's on Your Top Shelf?
(Grades 6-8) (Grades 9-12)
This workshop will address the need for a classroom library. What are the best ways to manage and organize a classroom library? What is the best way to choose books? What are the best ways to motivate students to use the books? There will be time to share your students' favorite titles and your best ideas. (3 hours)
Peeling Away the Onion
A Guide to Facilitating a Discussion about Literature
(Grades 6-8) (Grades 9-12)
This hands-on workshop will assist teachers to generate effective, meaningful conversations with their students about fiction, both short stories and novels. You will learn how literature functions, the elements which make up a selection, and how to train your students to generate ideas to discuss. Topics will include how to analyze the culture and language of a piece, trace character development, consider the conflicts and plotline, interpret symbols and themes to enhance student understanding and improve comprehension. You will have the opportunity to practice the concepts taught so you can immediately apply them to the selections you teach. (3 hours)
Filling Your Strategy Tool Box -Reading Success in the Content Areas
(Grades 6-8) (Grades 9-12)
Pre-reading, during reading and post reading strategies are tools for learning in the content areas. Vocabulary development, understanding text features and non-fiction are imperative as well. This workshop will provide middle school educators with the tools necessary for the integration of reading strategies into content areas. Ideas and activities for immediate implementation, and a chance to reflect and share with other participants will be included. (5 hours)
Building Academic Vocabulary
(Middle School/Junior High)
Knowledge of important terms is critical to understanding any subject. One of the most crucial services that teachers can provide is systematic instruction in important academic terms. This session will introduce participants to Robert Marzano's work in Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement and provide direct instruction on his six-step process for teaching new terms. (3 hours)
Using Lexiles to Enhance
Student Achievement:
"Lexiles, Lizards and Love"
Lexile levels are now listed on our students' ISAT reports. WHAT are they? WHY are they listed? HOW can we use them? We will explore the Lexile website and learn how to determine Lexile levels of reading materials. Practical suggestions for the use of Lexiles in matching students to text will be shared. Time in the new PDC computer lab will be used to explore practical application. (3 hours)
Balanced Literacy
(Grades K-5)
Teachers are given a hands-on opportunity to learn about the components of a balanced literacy program as well as how to effectively implement the components. Participants will be immersed in an authentic balanced literacy setting, giving them access to an abundance of materials and ideas. Learn about: Individual Assessments, Word Study, Read Alouds, Think Alouds, Shared Reading, Independent Reading, Guided Reading. Witness students modeling the various components, and the transitions from one component to another. Time will be allotted for discussion and sharing of ideas. (5 hours)
Balanced Literacy
Middle School
It's not enough to know that we are all teachers of reading. We all need to know HOW to be teachers of reading. It is a mighty feat to incorporate balanced literacy into a middle or junior high school. This workshop gives an overview of balanced literacy and how balanced literacy CAN be implemented in middle and junior high language arts and content area classrooms. Teachers will see and have “hands-on” opportunities for: Read Alouds, Shared Reading, Invitational Groups, Conferencing and Independent Reading. (5 hours)
Helping Struggling Comprehenders
There are a significant number of students who CAN decode words (and sound pretty good) who do not make meaning of text. The National Reading Panel divided comprehension into two main areas: vocabulary and comprehension strategies. In this series of workshops we will unpack the elements of comprehension and identify the kinds of comprehension problems students can have. We will devote two sessions to vocabulary work and two to comprehension strategies. A follow-up session will include reflection and discussion. The follow-up session will allow participants to share their concerns and celebrate their successes. (5 hours)
The Reading-Writing Connection
(Grades 6-8) (Grades 9-12)
This hands-on workshop will consist of two parts: how to examine literature effectively and how to write a meaningful essay based on a reading selection. Participants will learn how generate effective, meaningful conversations with their students about fiction, both short stories and novels as well as poetry. You will learn how literature functions, the elements which make up a selection, and how to train your students to generate ideas to discuss. Topics will include how to analyze the culture and language of a piece, make inferences, trace character development, consider the conflicts and plotline, interpret symbols and themes, to enhance understanding and improve comprehension. Then, you will also learn how your students can write effectively about literature they have discussed in a meaningful expository essay. You will learn how writing functions, how to develop a question, select relevant evidence and interpret its significance. You will have an opportunity to practice the concepts taught so you can immediately apply them to the selections you teach. (5 hrs: ˝ day literature and ˝ day writing)
Integrating Reading Test Preparation into All Content Areas
"Beyond Good Luck and Krispy Kremes"
Test-taking has become a life skill for our students. For the foreseeable future, their academic and professional success will be guided by their performance on standardized tests. As educators, we have a responsibility to prepare our students for these challenges, not through hopeful cheerleading and sweet treats, but by integrating purposeful test-taking strategies into our existing curriculums year round. This workshop will explore the ways in which we can incorporate reading test preparation into each content area while keeping the focus on established curriculum goals. (3 hours)
Comprehending Content
Across the Curriculum
Using techniques from Cris Tovani (I Read IT But I Don't Get It) participants will learn how to help struggling adolescent readers by modeling what good readers do. Text examples will be provided, but participants can feel free to bring in a textbook with which their students are struggling to work on this technique. Teams are encouraged to attend. (3 hours)
ISAT RELATED WORKSHOPS
ISAT Comprehension Strategies
The best preparation for testing is instruction that incorporates proven best practices on a daily basis. This session will focus on research-based instructional strategies identified as best practices that affect student achievement across the content areas. Participants will engage in activities designed to improve comprehension that can be used with students not only to make connections to text and to real life situations but also to deepen their understanding of texts. Materials included in the workshop can be immediately incorporated into classroom instruction. (3 hours)
ISAT Vocabulary
Knowing a word is more than knowing a definition, and different kinds of words require different learning strategies. This workshop will focus on empowering students with knowledge of core academic words related to content areas as well as to assessments. Instructional strategies that actively involve students while expanding their knowledge of academic vocabulary will be included, particularly those found in prompts encountered by students and those embedded in assessment questions. (3 hours)
ISAT Reading & Extended Response
for First Timers
This workshop is designed for teachers who have never given the reading ISAT. An overview of the test and its alignment to the Illinois Assessment Frameworks will be presented, and teachers will have the opportunity to identify local curricular gaps in relation to the frameworks. Specific reading strategies to help students be more successful will be modeled and practiced during this hands-on workshop, with emphasis on levels of questioning, functional reading samples and Extended Response rubrics. The second part of the workshop reviews the Extended Response: what it is, the rubric, how to structure a response and a discussion of how writing functions. (5 hours)
ISAT Extended Response
for First Timers
This workshop will provide teaching strategies to help your students demonstrate in writing how well they understand a reading selection. The hands-on activities will focus on how writing functions, approaches to answering an Extended Response question, ways to organize a student's thinking and perceptions, and how to construct meaning from the details in the story. You will also examine student samples in light of the state rubric and come away with practical material and ideas for teaching writing in your classroom (3 hours)
ISAT Advanced Extended Response
PREQUISITE: Participants in this Advanced Course must have attended the basic ISAT Reading Extended Response presentation given by the Du Page ROE and should be using the writing strategies in their classes.
This is an intensive writing seminar for the ISAT Reading Extended Response. There will be a review of the key elements of writing and how that writing functions. Participants will practice generating workable questions, writing key ideas, finding and interpreting evidence, and ending the paper effectively. Teachers will write and critique their work. We will also examine ISAT student samples, share successes, and address questions. Participants will have an opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (3 hours)
The ISAT Persuasive Composition
for First Timers
This hands-on workshop will focus on the Persuasive Composition, define the Key Elements of Writing and address How Writing Functions. Topics to be covered include modeling an organizational pattern, developing voice and word choice, and checking for fluency and conventions. The workshop will provide hands-on activities using the Persuasive Composition ISAT rubric and provide authentic writing experiences for students. Participants will be able to plan future for persuasive prompts that can be incorporated into their daily instruction. (3 hours)
The Advanced ISAT
Persuasive Composition
PREREQUISITE: Participants in this Advanced Course must have attended the basic ISAT Writing: Persuasive Composition presentation given by the Du Page ROE and should be using the writing strategies in their classes.
This is an intensive writing seminar for the ISAT Persuasive Writing Exam for teachers of grades 6-8. There will be a brief review of the key elements of persuasive writing and how that writing functions. In addition, the participants will learn how to structure an effective opening paragraph, develop body paragraphs and exit the paper with impact. Teachers will write and critique their work. We will also examine student samples in light of the state rubric, discuss the differences in scoring, share successes you've had, and address questions. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (3 hours)
The ISAT Narrative Composition
for First Timers
This hands-on workshop will focus on the Narrative Composition, define the Key Elements of Writing and address How Writing Functions. Topics to be covered include modeling an organizational pattern, developing voice and word choice, and checking for fluency and conventions. The workshop will provide hands-on activities using the Narrative Composition ISAT rubric and provide authentic writing experiences for students. Participants will be able to plan future for narrative prompts that can be incorporated into their daily instruction. (3 hours)
The Advanced ISAT
Narrative Composition
PREREQUISITE: Participants in this Advanced Course must have attended the basic ISAT Writing: Narrative Composition presentation given by the Du Page ROE and should be using the writing strategies in their classes.
This is an intensive writing seminar for the ISAT Narrative Writing Exam for teachers of grades 6-8. There will be a brief review of the key elements of narrative writing and how that writing functions. In addition, the participants will learn how to structure an effective opening paragraph, develop body paragraphs and exit the paper with impact. Teachers will write and critique their work. We will also examine student samples in light of the state rubric, discuss the differences in scoring, share successes you've had, and address questions. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (3 hours)
PSAE RELATED WORKSHOPS
PSAE Preparation
Mastering ACT Reading
(Grades 9-11)
In this workshop educators will review the 2008 PSAE exam. This session will provide models for curricular planning and instructional strategies to improve student performance in reading on the ACT. The session will focus on practical classroom strategies that foster improved comprehension of literary and informational text. (3 hours)
PSAE Preparation
WorkKeys Reading
(Grades 9-11)
How are your 11th graders performing on this crucial test? This workshop will help teachers give their students a critical edge when the come face-to-face with the demands of workplace reading tasks. The workshop will open with an overview of the format and expectations of the test and then focus on practical classroom strategies that will prepare students for comprehending workplace communications. Teachers will leave the workshop with materials ready for their next day's classes, as well as the tools they need to create/find more materials as they are needed. This program is recommended for teachers of freshmen and sophomores, as well as juniors. (3 hours)
PSAE Preparation ACT Writing - How to Succeed on the ACT Essay
(Grades 9-11)
This full day workshop will prepare you for the ACT Writing portion of the PSAE. It will focus on the key elements of Persuasive Writing. You will learn how to read a question, evaluate each side of an issue, and develop a position, write an effective opening with a clear stand, how to address the opposition, create meaningful topic sentences and body paragraphs, find and interpret evidence, and exit the piece with impact. We will examine and score student samples using the ACT rubric. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (5 hours)
ADDITIONAL WRITING WORKSHOPS
Improving Writing Scores through Peer Conferencing
(Grades 6-8)
This workshop is designed for teachers who want to implement research and classroom tested peer conferencing strategies. These strategies will focus on student writing skills related to the ISAT expository, narrative and persuasive compositions. The workshop will feature a review of research and a broad range of strategies and models from basic to complex. Participants will leave the workshop with materials and strategies that can be used immediately in the classroom. (3 hours)
Improving Writing Scores through Peer Conferencing
(Grades 9-12)
This hands-on workshop is designed for teachers who want to implement classroom tested peer conferencing strategies. We will examine models and analyze their effectiveness using language your students can understand. We will look at the individual components of a composition and then how the piece works as a whole. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop and will come away with strategies that can be used immediately in the classroom. (3 hours)
Expository / Non Fiction Writing Seminar
(Grades 6-8) (9-12)
This hands-on workshop will enhance teacher instruction of Expository and Non-fiction writing such as essays, reports, literacy analysis papers, and personal experience writing. We will address How Writing Functions, review the organizational pattern of Expository writing, discuss how to open a paper, develop workable topic sentences, organize body paragraphs, and exit the paper effectively. We will examine student samples and discuss them. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (3-5 hours)
Persuasive Writing Seminar
(Grades 9-12)
This hands-on workshop will focus on the key elements of Persuasive Writing: how to narrow a topic, develop a position, address the opposition, create effective topic sentences and body paragraphs, find and interpret evidence, stylize an appealing opening and exit the piece with impact. We will examine student samples and participants will have an opportunity to work together to apply and analyze the material covered in the workshop. (3 hours)
Narrative Writing Seminar
(Grades 9-12)
This hands-on workshop will address the key elements of Narrative Writing: establish the situation effectively, open and exit a piece, build characterization and action, and hold reader interest. Teachers will write and critique their work; we will also examine student samples. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to apply and analyze material covered in the workshop. (3 hours)
Contact tpotts@dupage.k12.il.us for further information and scheduling.
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