In this fifteen hour course teachers will learn how to design a unit that will ultimately spark student interest in reading novels by a specific author and give students another avenue, familiarity with an author, for selecting novels for further independent reading. The unit involves students reading two novels written by their chosen author, identifying the elements of fiction, learning to locate and process information regarding their authors' lives through research, note-taking, creating a timeline of factual information about their authors' lives, and writing an extended research-based report about the author's life. The unit culminates with each student creating a T-shirt advertising his/her author presented at an Author Fan Club Convention including refreshments, decorations, etc. reflecting the themes of their authors.
6 - 8
Christensen Rhetoric
Articulated by Francis Christensen, Marilynn Martin Munson and their colleagues, this program provides a systematic plan of introducing the concepts which regulate the formation of the English language sentence and paragraph structure coupled with practice strategies that lead to mastery and assimilation. As Christensen contends, the key to a successful writing program is a carefully planned sequence, first presenting a crucial concept followed by focused practice exercises before moving on to the next concept. The practice is cumulative, building on what comes before. Examples are taken from the work of professional writers. Nothing is watered down, which would only serve to delude the student into thinking the process is easy. Besides, the aim of this program is to enable the student “to say well whatever it is [he/she has] to say.” Using the work of professionals will also help students “see what there is to say about the world” through exposure to the writing of others because “a writer is not just a person who writes, but a person who knows what to write.” Teaching strategies include Consistent Terminology, Analyzing Levels of Generality, Slotting, Transformation, Structural Rearrangement and Experimentation, Sentence Combining, Modeling, Culminating Activities, Integration and Reinforcement. A perk resulting from learning Christensen Rhetoric is that the student (and her teacher) will become better readers as well.
6 - 12
Creating Templates for Reading Comprehension
How do students connect to literature? Does visualizing a text help students to improve comprehension? Wouldn’t it be great to design reading handouts that can be used with all of the literature you cover in the classroom? Using Laura Robb’s theory of reading comprehension instruction as a model, this course is designed to review reading strategies to improve comprehension, provide a forum for ELA educators to discuss best practices, and provide an opportunity for teachers to design templates for reading comprehension instruction in the classroom.
9-12
Language and Literacy in the Early Education Classroom
Language and literacy are the foundation for all other learning. This course will provide early education teachers the necessary tools to facilitate a language and literacy rich approach to teaching. By incorporating these strategies throughout all aspects of the classroom, students will gain insight and understanding of knowledge they will need for future success in their elementary years.
K-3
Portfolios: Authentic Assessment
In this 15 hour course, participants will learn about authentic assessment, how to maximize the usage of portfolios and reflection in their English Language Arts classrooms, and the benefits of using portfolios to assess individual learning. The portfolio is a flexible and valuable tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. This class is designed for middle school English Language Arts classes, and will cover all of the New York State English Language Arts Learning Standards.
6-8
Project-Based Reading and Writing
Many students today need a little extra motivation to get them going in reading and writing. This course will give you many exciting reading and writing activities that you can use in the classroom to motivate those students. The activities are educational and based on the NYS ELA Standards. You will actually do several projects that will soon be a part of your classroom plans. There will be opportunities to work together in a live chat session using the program, “Elluminate”. I will be there supporting you in all of your online work. Join us in a worthwhile experience and have some fun along the way. Recommended for Middle School Grades but can be adapted to any level.
5 - 8
Sloan Course
Teaching Reading and Writing to Students who have Difficulty Attending, Processing and Following Directions
This course is designed to provide information to increase awareness and knowledge of an Auditory Processing Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder in young children learning to read and write. Participants will learn what Auditory Processing Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder are and the various signs of these disabilities. Participants will read related articles about A.P.D. and A.D.D. /H.D. with a focus on how it affects elementary school aged children's reading and writing ability. There will be ongoing discussions, reactions and reflections about the readings with the expectation that you submit an action plan of various strategies and tools to help better teach students who struggles in these areas.
K-12
Tech Treasures for Literacy
This 15 hour online course will focus on finding, creating (and of course sharing) literacy tools, TREASURES, for use within PK-3 classrooms. Participants will explore MarcoPoloNY, as well as o the r free online software sites, search for online manipulatives, and create classroom resources. Focus will be on the FAB 5; phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.
PK-3
Sloan Course
Using Literacy Across the Curriculum
This is a course designed to show teachers from Pre K- 12th grade how to use literacy as the core for any of their lessons. It will be based on Heidi Hayes Jacobs’ philosophy from her book, Active Literacy across the Curriculum.
K-12
Using Literature Circles to Enhance Reading
Literature Circles add an exciting dimension to a
student’s literacy experiences. These discussion groups encourage students to
be positive members of a literate classroom community while capitalizing
on how they personally respond to literature. This course will help the
participant explore the various roles of the literature circle and select roles
appropriate for their students – regardless of reading level or ability.
Participants will conduct and record literature circles in their own
classrooms.
2-5
Using Research Skills in the Development of Student Newsletters
In this course teachers will learn to use MarcoPolo as a resource to guide students through research on a specific topic. They will develop clear guidelines geared to the development of individual student newsletters. They will develop a rubric designed to aid students in assessing their work, and will learn to use Microsoft Publisher so as to guide students in the use of that program in order to develop student newsletters. Teachers will learn how to show their students how to develop new research skills and hone existing skills while using MarcoPolo, learn basic components of a newsletter, apply their knowledge in developing their own newsletters, and synthesize their research results by developing newspaper articles.
