 Most of our workshops
can be presented in a multi-day, full-day and half-day
format. We also offer follow up sessions where your
teachers can refresh and fine tune what they've learned.
Browse our on-site workshop offerings and let us know
which ones interest you.
English & Language Arts
Workshops (Grades 7-12)
History & Social Studies Workshops (Grades 7-12)
Elementary Workshops (Grades K-8)
Across the Curriculum Workshops (Grades K-12)
Workshop Leaders
Our workshops are led by dynamic, award winning teachers and
writers. Get to know our
presenters.
Workshop Descriptions
Getting Them to Write (Grades 7-12)
Learn strategies to motivate reluctant writers while stimulating
advanced students to stretch their abilities to reach a new
level. You will practice anxiety-reducing exercises such as un
graded journal writing that kids want to do, writing for
different audiences (historical, literary & mythological figures
as well as those from pop culture), imaginative interviewing,
quirky book reactions, creative writing (memoir, flash fiction
and poetry), etc.
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Teaching Writing for Test Takers
(Grades 7-12)
Teachers will learn to create and customize their own picture
prompt and persuasive writing topics. This skill-based workshop
will also share useful techniques to help students generate
multiple ideas for writing essays and other standardized test
preparation, revision strategies, points for editing and
polishing essays and a pain-free grammar blitz. Well, almost
pain-free. Superb preparation for ASK, HSPA and the SAT!
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Writing Teachers, Writing Students
(Grades 7-12)
This workshop will encourage teachers to become practicing
writers for their own professional development so they
become better teachers of writing. In addition, it will offer
approaches for evaluating student writing, paper management
strategies and will conclude with a plan to build a writing
friendly school by creating a community of teachers who write.
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Evaluating Student Writing
(Grades 7-12)
This workshop will present an overview of how to read and
respond to students' writing. Topics include creating
incrementally structured assignments, alternatives to numerical
and letter grades, group editing and peer critiquing, making
writing fun and handling the paper load. Teachers will leave
with handouts, ideas and enthusiasm for having their students
write more and better.
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Contemporary African-American Poets
(Grades 7-12)
A survey of the black poets who came into prominence after
Langston Hughes, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton,
Rita Dove, Robert Hayden, Yusef Komunyakaa and Marilyn Nelson,
as well a look at a younger generation including Elizabeth
Alexander, Cornelius Eady, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Terence Hayes,
Tim Seibles and Tracy Smith.
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Writing Strategies for Poor Achieving and Special Needs Students
(Grades 7-12)
This is a workshop for teaching literacy, critical thinking,
composition and creative writing to students who have low
academic self-esteem, limited vocabulary, emotional trouble, or
learning disabilities. Teachers will practice a battery of
proven techniques, exercises and models to get these kids
excited about writing.
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The Glamour of Grammar (Grades
7-12)
Instead of going over old, tired rules, use grammar as a form of
problem solving and watch your class discover for themselves the
ways their own language works. This workshop will suggest a
framework for using grammar instruction to help students write
better and provide practical techniques for putting theory into
action. The word glamour is a medieval variation of grammar,
connecting learning with magic. Inspire an interest in language,
and all sorts of glamorous things may happen.
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Writing in the Social Studies
Classroom (Grades 7-12)
A workshop for social studies teachers on classroom writing
strategies designed to: improve the cogency of the subject,
increase the interest level of students and lower student
anxiety over major writing projects. We will also discuss
surprisingly easy techniques for designing plagiarism-proof
assignments and streamlining teacher workload–a major concern
whenever writing is promoted.
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How to Teach About 9/11 and the Events Since
(Grades 7-12)
We will explore how to help students begin to understand the
historical and moral context of what occurred on September 11,
2001, including relevant events in our own history and that of
the Middle East, Central Asia; the essentials of Islam and the
particulars of Islamic fundamentalism; the history of Al Queda;
the nature and history of terrorism. We will seek to understand
the choices made in response to 9/11, including the wars in
Afghanistan, Iraq and, most recently in Gaza and Lebanon.
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Rx for Improving State Test Scores in LAL (Grades 3-5 & 6-8)
This workshop will present teachers with tools proven to boost
Language Arts Literacy scores in the NJ ASK tests. Participants
will learn classroom-tested techniques and tips to teach
students to effectively respond to multiple choice and
open-ended questions and to construct well-written speculative,
expository and persuasive essays. Strategies and ideas on
incorporating motivational activities will be shared.
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Linking Math and LAL (Grades K-3 & 4-7)
In this interactive workshop, teachers will learn strategies for
using children's literature and writing activities as
springboards to success in math. Presenters will model math
activities based on topics from a variety of popular children's
books. They will also share examples of how writing about math
improves comprehension. A great collection of high-interest,
easy to use handouts is included.
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Succeeding With Literature Circles (Grades 2-8)
This hands-on workshop will provide practical strategies to help
you incorporate literature circles into your reading and writing
program. Several models of literature circles will be presented
and handouts will be provided for classroom use. This workshop is
based on presenters Barbara Doherty and Charlotte Jaffe's book,
Succeeding With Literature Circles.
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Six Plus One Writing Traits (Grades 3-8)
Learn valuable strategies to help you develop confident and
creative writers. The Six Plus One Writing Traits are flexible
and easy to implement, and they work well with existing
curriculum and materials. These strategies will also help you to
guide and assess writing instruction and prepare students for
success in state and standardized testing.
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The Differentiated Classroom (Grades K-12)
This interactive workshop will provide teachers with a wealth of
practical ideas for implementing differentiated strategies and
activities in their classrooms. Participants will be able to
reach the wide range of learners they encounter more
effectively, from the struggling to the high-achieving. Teachers
will leave this exciting workshop with an understanding of the
ways to differentiate lessons, armed with ready to use
time-saving activities.
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Browse our other workshops
Ready to reserve your next inservice?
Call 888-887-2105 to request a quote or
click here.
Don't see what you're looking for?
We can design a custom program for your school. Call us. |
