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Reading/Language Arts Workshops
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Check out our new Reading/Language Arts Blog!
Join us for short discussions tailor-made for reading and writing teachers!
HB3 Reading Academies
RLA Interactives
We are excited to announce our latest professional development offerings! Click the titles to find a description and registration information. For more information about any of these workshops, e-mail reading@esc4.net.
Region 4 is going virtual this summer to keep everyone safe and socially distanced. We'll be providing professional development via Zoom. Presenters will email participants with a link to join the session prior to the training session.
Acceleration Series for English/Language Arts
Each of the online sessions below are part of the series; however, the acceleration series may be taken in any order. For more information about the Acceleration series, e-mail reading@esc4.net.
Segmenting Text
In this session, participants will learn how to segment, or divide, a text, with an instructional mindset. Specifically, participants will gain knowledge of the structure, content, and challenges of sophisticated, complex texts in order to design reading experiences that scaffold and accelerate reading growth in students. Learn more about this session by clicking on the dates below.
- October 15, 2020 (4 p.m.)
Using Fluency and Word Study
In this session, participants will learn strategies to increase their students' comprehension and stamina. Specifically, participants will learn how to accelerate reading progress using a scaffolded approach to develop reading fluency and vocabulary acquisition. These approaches will support students as they tackle sophisticated, challenging text.
- September 29, 2020 (4 p.m.)
- October 22, 2020 (4 p.m.)
Questioning and Responding to Informational Texts--A TEKS-Based Approach
In this engaging workshop, participants will learn strategies to help students develop focused, thoughtful questions about informational/expository texts as they read. This approach helps students process, understand, and retain ideas and information, thereby boosting comprehension. Explicit connections to the newly-adopted English Language Arts TEKS will be made and suggestions for enhancing virtual learning will be explored.
- October 2, 2020 (9 a.m.)
- December 11, 2020 (9 a.m.)
Using Paired Reading Structures
Participants will explore several structures that leverage the paired-reading dynamic to promote general comprehension, increase inferential thinking, and bolster critical stances towards literature. Learn more about this session by clicking on the dates below.
- October 8, 2020 (4 p.m.)
- November 3, 2020 (4 p.m.)
Using Syntax and Summarizing
In this session, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the role syntax plays in comprehension. Participants will also learn how to teach students to quickly and accurately understand the gist of a complex text, which builds the foundation for critical thinking.
- October 13, 2020 (4 p.m.)
- November 5, 2020 (4 p.m.)
Uncovering Themes and Deeper Meanings of Narrative Text--A TEKS-Based Approach
In this engaging workshop, participants will learn strategies to help students uncover the deeper meanings of narrative texts. Participants will learn a structured, scaffolded approach to identity and analyze theme based on text evidence. Explicit connections to the newly-adopted English Language Arts TEKS will be made and suggestions for enhancing virtual learning will be explored.
- October 17, 2020 (9 a.m.)
Using Text Complexity
In this session, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the attributes of qualitative text complexity while learning how to use this knowledge to accelerate reading growth for students in grades 3-12. Specifically, participants will learn how to create text sets that serve as knowledge scaffolds that support students as they tackle sophisticated, challenging text.
- October 20, 2020 (4 p.m.)
- November 12, 2020 (4 p.m.)
Understanding the Role of Author's Craft and Rhetoric in Informational and Persuasive Texts
--A TEKS-Based Approach
In this engaging workshop, participants will learn strategies to help students explore, identify, and analyze elements of author's craft in informational and persuasive texts. Participants will learn a structured, scaffolded approach to examine the impact that diction and rhetorical devices have on the meaning of texts. Explicit connections to the newly-adopted English Language Arts TEKS will be made and suggestions for enhancing virtual learning will be explored.
- December 5, 2020 (9 a.m.)
The Science of Teaching Reading - Virtual Series
This virtual series explores the importance of foundational literacy skills, including oral language, phonological awareness, print concepts, alphabet knowledge, phonics and word identification skills, syllabication, morphology, and reading fluency to literacy development. The course content is based on the Texas Science of Teaching Reading Framework (Domain II, Competency 003-007) and is intended to explore the concepts, principles, and best practices related to each literacy skill. This series may be used to further assist participants in preparing for the Science of Teaching Reading certification exam (STR 293), as a supplement to Reading Academies course content, or simply to improve content knowledge in the area of foundational literary skills for all educators , instructional coaches, and administrators in grades PreK-6.
Print Concepts and Alphabetic Principle
This interactive course explores the critical foundational literacy skills of print concepts and the alphabetic principle. In the class, participants will review the research, continuum of learning, high yield instructional practices, TEKS alignment, supporting second language learners, and concepts related to culturally responsive teaching. Learn more and register here.
Phonics and Other Word Identification Strategies
Learn all about phonics, including the six types of syllables, and other word identification strategies to help your growing readers and writers excel in word attack and spelling skills. Learn more and register here.
An Introduction to Syllabication and Morphology
This highly interactive course focuses on how to divide multisyllabic words into individual syllables to simplify reading and spelling. Participants will learn and apply syllable division strategies to break down larger words. Additionally, participants will explore the meaning units of words (morphology), including Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek affixes, base words, and roots, to bolster vocabulary knowledge. Learn more and register here.
Reading Fluency
December 8-9, 2020
Reading fluency acts as the bridge that connects word identification skills to reading comprehension. In this course, participants will explore the importance of understanding the role of fluency in literacy development, TEKS alignment, high yield instructional strategies, progress monitoring, and using assessment to plan instruction. Learn more and register here.
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Moving From Learning Letters to Learning to Read Series
Each session of the Moving From Learning Letters to Learning to Read Series can be selected individually. You can choose to participate in one, two, or all three sessions of the series and you can attend in any order.
Story and Language Awareness
To build good readers, we want to engage students in the story by emphasizing the language structure, meaning and organization. This session will explore ways to foster the development of storytelling, building vocabulary and language structure as they learn to read during face-to-face and remote learning.
Phonological Awareness
According to the Science of Teaching Reading, recognizing and manipulating sounds in words are very important to students' development of automatic decoding sounds which leads to learning to read. This session will focus on strategies for the early stages of phonological awareness instruction (sentences, syllables, rhymes, onset-rime) by using scaffolding examples for the classroom and ideas for teaching remotely.
Letters, Sounds, Words, Oh My!
Join us for this engaging session to learn effective methods for teaching letter-sound correspondence as we look into print awareness, a beginning stage of learning to read. We will explore ways for students to see how print works in order to build a foundation for early readers for face-to-face and remote learning. We will discuss various word walls, word meanings and simple sentences to allow for scaffolding support as we strengthen the students alphabet knowledge and concepts of print.
Help I See Struggling Readers - Virtual Workshop Series
Comprehension Edition: The Power of Critical Thinking
Open the door of reading comprehension for your struggling readers. Transform instruction and increase student achievement by integrating the comprehension processes into reading instruction. This online session explores meaningful academic routines for increasing critical thinking by using interactive approaches to close reading. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on practice of research-based techniques to improve student comprehension. The techniques prepare students for STAAR success.
Vocabulary Edition: Vocab Magic
Turn learning new and challenging words into an interactive experience for struggling readers. Learn how to use vocabulary to improve recall, comprehension, and word knowledge for diverse learners. Participants will examine meaningful academic routines that can transform their vocabulary instruction. Participants will practice research-based techniques to improve academic language. The techniques prepare students for classroom, STAAR, and everyday success.
Shoot for STAAR® Success with STELLAR!
Are you searching for a resource that could easily integrate into your face-to-face and virtual instruction? Do you need support preparing your students for STAAR®? STELLAR is the answer to both questions. This session will examine the components of the STELLAR resource that help create a robust, thematically linked, and TEKS aligned unit to meet the needs of all learners. Participants will explore multi-genre texts, STAAR® formatted assessments, and lesson activities that inspire inquiry, discussion, ongoing reflection, digital literacy provided in the STELLAR resource. The resource is available for purchase on Region 4 store. Register for one of these upcoming workshops using the links below!
The Writing Teacher’s Toolkit: 20 Proven Practices for Struggling Writers (Virtual)
Meet the challenges of supporting struggling writers with proven instructional routines and strategies. Participants will build a writing teacher toolkit equipped with 20 writing routines and strategies to help support the demands of the writing TEKS and STAAR. Examine how engagement, technology, and collaboration impact students who are with writing.
- September 29, 2020
- February 16, 2021 (available soon)
One Hour Cafe - Virtual Workshop Series
Power in Choice Boards
Energize your daily instruction with high yield research-based practices for face-to-face and virtual classrooms. In this one hour session, participants will explore how to create choice boards with ease. This differentiated technique will help students access background knowledge, incorporate the language domains (listening, speaking, reading and writing), boost student engagement and emphasize content area concepts. All learners (highly abled, on-level, and struggling) will benefit from the innovative techniques.
Let's Go RAFTing
Energize your daily instruction with high yield research-based practice for face-to-face and virtual classrooms. In this hour session, participants will explore how to develop and use RAFTs that will encourage critical reading and writing across the curriculum. Participants will learn how to use RAFTs to incorporate the language domains (listening, speaking, reading and writing), boost student engagement through choice and reinforce content area concepts.
Rubrics to the Rescue
How do I improve the quality of my students' work products? How do I save time grading their products? Rubrics to the rescue! In this one hour session, participants will examine the benefits and steps to creating quality rubrics to improve the quality of student work products and increase achievement. We will explore how the use of rubrics can help teachers, students, and parents authentically monitor learning and progress in a face-to-face or virtual classroom.
The Right Fit with Tiered Assignments
Energize your daily instruction with high yield research-based practices for face-to-face and virtual classrooms. In this one hour session, participants will explore how to tier assignments that will help students access background knowledge, incorporate the language domains (listening, speaking, reading and writing), boost student engagement and emphasize content area concepts.
Teaching Like Their Lives Depend on It: Culturally Responsive Teaching (Virtual)
Inject new life into your instruction with culturally responsive practices. Examine an approach that empowers students intellectually, socially and emotionally and encourages the student to take ownership of learning. In this hands-on session you will not only learn innovative, culturally responsive techniques that respect, utilize students' identities and backgrounds as meaningful sources for creating optimal learning environments, but you will try them out as well. Learn more and register here.
The Engagement Factor: Capturing the Disengaged Student (Virtual)
Energize your instructional practices through an in-dept study of providing multiple means of engagement whether in a face-to-face or virtual classroom. Acquire research and evidence-based techniques to engage and motivate all types of learners. Participants will explore the Affective Network and its impact on classrooms, instruction, and students. This session examines common myths about motivation, unmotivated students, and struggling students. This is a hands-on session that discusses practical and innovative strategies for approaching student engagement that impact academic achievement, test performance, and student attendance. Learn more and register here.
The Science of Boy Learners: Creating Classrooms that Work for Boys (Virtual)
Is your campus or classroom data regarding the boys disappointing and alarming? Are you asking how can we increase authentic engagement and decrease distracting behaviors for boys in the classroom? We do this by designing classrooms that work for boys? Discover the science behind boy learners and the powerful impact it can have on your instructional practices and student achievement. Participants will explore brain-based principles of male learners to create environments that support boys and learning. The session provides the opportunity examine techniques used specifically to engage boy learners. Learn more and register here.
Playbook of Processing Strategies: Teaching Learners How to Learn! (Virtual)
All students yearn to learn, but some do not know how to do it. The Playbook of Processing Strategies provides tools to help create multiple pathways to learning. Explore teacher and student-owned strategies to increase learning outcomes. Participants will explore innovative processing strategies that support metacognition and the transfer of knowledge. Learn how to create your own playbook of processing strategies to improve student retention, organization of information, and engagement.
Get-N-Go Lunch Series for Elementary Reading/Language Arts
Formative Assessment Partnered with Effective Feedback
November 5, 2020
How do you assess your students during the day? When you are observing, what are you assessing? Come join us to get some quick ideas on how to embed formative assessments in instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning. Learn more and register here.
Gradual Release of Responsibility
November 10, 2020
Need a quick refresher on the Gradual Release of Responsibility? Maybe you're not sure if your delivery of instruction is the most effective. Come join us for ways to use this framework effectively and immediately in your classrooms to strengthen independent readers. Learn more and register here.
Enhancing Reading Fluency, Grades 3-5
December 2, 2020
How are you supporting students' fluency? Come and explore several strategies to build fluency that can positively effect reading growth. While fluency alone is not enough to produce good readers, it does relieve one major impediment to comprehension. Join us as we discuss how to help students increase their fluency rate, thereby allowing for a greater opportunity to becoming independent readers. Learn more and register here.
Check back for additional opportunities!
What's the Big Idea of Questioning: Most Students Don't Respond Anyway! (Virtual)
Are you struggling with getting your students to respond to questions during class? Explore how to create a culture of questioning during classroom discussions that will capture all students. Participants will examine current research-based questioning practices for teachers to use in an effort to improve student achievement.This session will provide questioning techniques as a form of differentiated instruction to reach all types of learners and tools for encouraging students to ask and answer more questions. Learn more and register here.
The Write Moves: Differentiation in the Writing Classroom!
November 19, 2020
Take the right steps to improve the overall quality and quantity of student writing by delivering intentionally differentiated instruction. Learn innovative practical techniques to tier writing instruction and assessment to meet the needs of the diversity of learners. This online session builds your confidence as a writing teacher of all types of learners. Learn more and register here.
Classroom Management that Works for Beginners! It's All About Instruction
Examine instructional routines that promote positive classroom interactions between students, teachers, and parents. Participants will explore practical strategies that promote a healthy classroom through effective management of instruction to impact the learning of all students. Teachers will acquire skills to determine the classroom structure, organization, routines and procedures that increase student motivation, engagement, and levels of student responsibility. This session focuses on the building blocks for creating positive classroom environment through designing effective instructional routines. Learn more and register here.
Lesson Planning Using the Gradual Release of Responsibility
Identify the six steps of planning any lesson aligned to the rigor of the standard, follows the gradual release of responsibility, and establishes assessment criteria. Learn more and register here .
Contact us for details about any of these sessions. Coaching and customized professional development are also available by e-mailing reading@esc4.net.