Length (90min)

Do you struggle to support your emergent readers?

Emergent reading is defined as ‘all of the behaviours and understanding of learners of any age that precede and develop into conventional reading.’ (Koppenhaver et al, 1991; cited by Erickson and Koppenhaver, 2020).

Emergent readers are learning about:

• The functions and conventions of print
• Alphabet knowledge
• Phonological awareness
• Expressive and receptive language skills
• Why reading is a fun and desirable activity

In this workshop educators will learn about the components that all emergent readers need to learn these important skills for immediate implementation:

• Phonics instruction
• Shared reading
• Independent reading

See strategies and tools that support communication and participation for all learners, including those with complex learning needs.

Content  - What will participants learn?

• Three components of literacy instruction to support emergent readers:
• Alphabet and phonological awareness
• Shared reading
• Independent reading
• Considerations for success for students with complex learning needs.
• Identifying challenges facing teachers.
• Distinguishing between emergent and conventional learners. 
• Reviewing components of comprehensive literacy program.
• Strategies, tools, tips, tricks and other resources to ensure participation and communication.

Length (90min)

The primary goal of literacy instruction is to teach students to read silently with understanding.

Comprehension requires more than identifying and understanding individual words. We know it involves integrating many different skills.

In this session, we will delve into the necessary components to teaching students with complex learning challenges, who have moved beyond emergent reading to conventional reading:

• Reading comprehension
• Self-directed reading
• Vocabulary and Word Study

Learn the strategies and tools that can support students as they move from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’  In addition, participants will see how these tools can address specific challenges that occur when reading to learn in different curriculum areas.

Content - What will participants learn?

• How to distinguish between emergent and conventional learners.
• The instructional components for each group of learners.
• The specific instructional components for early conventional and conventional readers:
• Text Comprehension.
• Using Achor-Read-Apply Informational Text to build knowledge.
• Self-Directed reading.

Strategies, resources and tools that support instruction to ensure active participation and communication of ALL students .

Length (90min)

“A beginning writer is one who is learning to use written language to express communicative intent…” (Sturm, Cali, Nelson, & Staskowski, 2012).

In this workshop, we will examine how emergent writers -- those who are just beginning to use drawing, scribbling and letters -- can develop the skills and strategies needed to become effective writers and communicators.

We will debunk many of the myths related to teaching writing to students with diverse learning needs. Using a processed base, instructional approach, we’ll discover how tools available to participants can support different stages of the writing process.

Participants will learn the different ways you can ensure that every student has something to write with, and something to write about!

Content - What will participants learn?

• How to identify the components of a comprehensive literacy program.
• Developing independent writing.
• Understanding the emergent writer.
• Defining writing and beginning writing.
• With science backed research, dispelling the key myths about effective writing instruction.
• Strategies, tools, tips, tricks and other resources to ensure participation and communication.

Length (90min)

As students move beyond emergent writing and begin to develop more conventional writing skills, they continue to benefit from daily writing instruction and opportunities to apply strategies at each stage of the writing process.

In this workshop, participants will discover the specific strategies and tools to move students from writing some words to writing sentences and paragraphs.

Learn about the tools that can support all students while writing to learn in other curriculum areas.

Content - What will participants learn?

• Building the components of a comprehensive literacy program with a focus on independent writing.
• How to define writing and beginning writing.
• Science backed research on effective writing instruction.
• Strategies and tools that support instruction and student practice during each stage of writing.
• Tips, to get started, to get writing off the ground and to ensure your students feel valued.

Length (90min)

‘Emergent writing emphasizes written language use even before children know what writing looks like, how to produce it, or the purposes it serves.’ (Erickson and Koppenhaver, 2020)

When children are encouraged to engage in regular writing experiences while educators model conventional print use, students progress along a writing path toward conventional writing.

In this session, educators will learn about Shared Writing a flexible instructional activity where learners and educators write together to publish and share a piece of writing. We’ll explore effective strategies that support implementation and success with Shared Writing.

Learn how to deliver engaging instruction in print conventions to students with a wide range of learning challenges. The result -- writing becomes a way to express your students' interests, ideas, developing agency as individuals.

Content - What will participants learn?

• Building the components of a comprehensive literacy program.
• How to define writing and beginning writing.
• Science backed research that dispels myths about effective instruction for emergent writers.
• An approach to support shared writing.
• Predictable Chart Writing and strategies to support other shared writing experiencess.
• Strategies, resources and tools that support instruction to ensure active participation and communication of ALL students.