Comprehension instruction has become synonymous with strategy instruction. Thus much of our instructional time is spent teaching children to use the five of six cognitive strategies deemed most important. While strategy instruction definitely has its place, it's probably best thought of as having a supporting rather than a starring role in children's literacy development.

In order to better comprehend text, children also need opportunities to engage in real reading, writing, and talking experiences, and within that context, expand their oral language and vocabulary, develop accurate and fluent reading, acquire and use background knowledge, and sustain reading-writing connections. We'll explore daily classroom practices and routines that help children do just that.

Participants will also consider ways to teach the cognitive strategies in developmentally appropriate ways, and gain ideas for developing a cohesive school-wide plan for addressing them.

Sharon Taberski, author of the bestselling On Solid Ground, is a nationally recognized educator, author, and presenter. Her workshops are practical, fast-paced, and motivational, drawing on her interactions with children. Sharon's classic video series A Close-Up Look at Teaching Reading is now available on DVD.

The following topics will be addressed:

• A theoretical framework that supports meaning making.
• What "developmentally appropriate" actually means and why providing "just-right" literacy experiences for students is the most effective and efficient use of their time and ours
• Practical and effective ways to develop children's oral language and vocabulary
• Fluency and the classroom practices that support its development
• The central role that background knowledge plays in comprehension
• The reading-writing connection with special emphasis on how writing supports reading
• A three-faceted approach to comprehension-strategy instruction.

Program Highlights

Time to Read

Independent reading plays a key role in children's reading achievement. Its successful implementation lies with our ability to make it work systematically WITH other components of our balanced-literacy program. We will examine tools, materials, and practices that make the most of our independent reading time and explore the need for matching children with books that will not only help them learn to read but motivate them to choose to read when they don't have to.

Time to Write

Although we know full well how reading supports children's efforts to write well, it's equally important to examine how writing supports reading comprehension. We will take a close-up look at the parallels between reading and writing skills and strategies then explore classroom practices to help children acquire them.

Time to Talk

Learning to read is a social experience, not a solitary one. Therefore, in order to fully comprehend text, readers must engage in thoughtful conversations around texts they read and those that are read to them. We will explore book talks and small-group read-alouds and how they promote children's ability to discuss texts and lay the groundwork for more formal literature discussions.

Who should attend?

Time: 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

TUITION

The cost of this workshop is $189.00 per person. If you register 3 or more participants at the same time the cost is $179.00 per person. For Early Bird rate prices, call 1-800-541-2086 ext. 1151.