Essential Lessons to Accelerate Student Writing

ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP

Register Now

Genre-based strategies for teaching writing 

Students need explicit, skill-based instruction that demonstrates how to incorporate the most critical, genre-specific ingredients into their own first-draft writings.

Using the college and career-ready writing standards as the foundation, this workshop for K-12 teachers identifies the core writing skills to teach per unit.

Whether you assign topics or students choose them, whether your students write multiple paragraphs or draw a single picture with letter labels, this four-part workshop identifies the top-tier instructional priorities to plan into any writing curriculum.

WATCH

Enroll now and enjoy on-demand
access for a full year.

LEARN

Gain practical, best-practice
strategies you can use right away.

EARN

Receive a downloadable completion
certificate for 5 hours of PD credit.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Topics covered:

Embedding content, text evidence, and topic-specific vocabulary accurately.

Recognizing the different ways to organize information depending on the writing purpose or prompt.

Identifying reasons to support a position with evidence and elaboration.

Prioritizing the two required elements of every story—a problem and a solution.

Generating read-write narratives that align with the expectations of standardized tests.

Learn how to:

Prioritize the type of “info” that must be incorporated in informative writings.

Target the different genres of informative writing and their various characteristics.

Craft instruction for powerful persuasives and sophisticated arguments appropriate for primary, intermediate, and secondary classrooms.

Target the non-negotiables of any narrative writing unit.

WHO SHOULD
ENROLL?

  • K-5 Classroom Teachers
  • 6-12 English Language Arts Teachers
  • Literacy Coaches / Coordinators
  • Title I Teachers / Directors
  • ELL Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • K-12 High-Ability Teachers
  • K-12 Administrators
REGISTER NOWDOWNLOAD FLYER

WHAT YOU GET

On-Demand Videos

Relevant & engaging presentations

Downloadable Handout

Full-color note-taking guide

Secret Site

Lifetime access to digital resources

Completion Certificate

5 hours of PD credit

PRICING & GROUP RATES

1 person

$169

Register Now

2-14 people

$159/person

REGISTER GROUP

Group of 15 or more? Email us or call (888) 376-0448 for custom pricing.

WHAT OTHER
EDUCATORS SAY

“Informative and easily accessible information to help with future planning and instruction!”

Sarah Boehme
Teacher, Pawnee Elementary School, Pawnee, IL

“I love the way Kristina presents the information with so much enthusiasm. I love how she builds on what she’s taught before.”

Kristin Smith
Teacher, Elm Gilmer County High School, Glenville, WV

“After 28 years of teaching, I have attended a lot of PD workshops. Absolutely none of them hold a candle to the Smekens workshops…Kristina is inspirational and makes me look forward to a new year!”

Carol Brown
Teacher, Ankeney Middle School, Beavercreek, OH

School-Wide Professional Learning Plans

Learn

$2,500/school

Z
12-month access to Essential Lessons to Accelerate Student Writing.
Z
Lifetime access to the corresponding “secret site” of digital resources.
REQUEST ACCESS
Grow

$8,000/school

Z

12-month access to every webAcademy workshop.

Z
Lifetime access to the “secret site” for every webAcademy workshop.
Z
Differentiated PD options to support diverse needs.
REQUEST ACCESS

Implement

$12,000/school

Z

12-month access to every webAcademy workshop.

Z

Lifetime access to the “secret site” for every webAcademy workshop.

Z
Differentiated PD options to support diverse needs.
Z

12-month subscription to webPD with access to 300+ PD videos.

Z

8 hours of customized Remote Coaching to support implementation.

Z

Customized yearlong Professional Learning Plan aligned to school goals.

REQUEST ACCESS

TOP QUESTIONS
ABOUT
ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS

What is included with my registration?
  • Access to the workshop video for one full year.
  • 5 hours of dynamic workshop content.
  • A downloadable copy of the workshop handout.
  • Lifetime access to classroom-ready digital resources.
  • A completion certificate for 5 hours of continuing education credit.
How long do I have access to the workshop?

Once you enroll in the online workshop, you can access the videos for one full year. The self-paced format means you determine how fast or slow you move through the workshop.

Your workshop registration also comes with lifetime access to exclusive digital resources in the “Secret Site” that accompanies this workshop. Here you’ll find classroom-ready worksheets and blackline masters, along with videos and articles to take your learning further. Teachers love the way the “Secret Site” helps them implement what they learn in the workshop.

Can I share my workshop with colleagues?

Online workshop sharing is not allowed. Our Terms of Use specify that one registration fee allows access for just one person. However, we are happy to offer group discounts. Give us a call at (888) 376-0448 to get the details.

Can I get continuing education credits?
Most likely! With prior approval from your school district, participants may receive credit for up to 5 hours of professional development for completing each of the workshop videos. A Certificate of Completion is provided to participants when they complete all aspects of the workshop. For possible Illinois-approved credit, please contact our office.
Can I receive Illinois-approved credits?

Smekens Education is a for-profit entity located outside of Illinois, and as such is not eligible to administer state-approved PD credit for webAcademy workshops. However, local school districts in Illinois may award credit when educators participate in professional development from Smekens and other for-profit, out-of-state entities. Please contact your district to determine if continuing education credit may be earned by participating in professional development events sponsored by Smekens Education.

Can I earn graduate-level units for this workshop?

Thanks to a partnership with the University of the Pacific, educators who complete each of the videos in a webAcademy workshop are eligible to pursue 1, 2, or 3 graduate-level units. (Graduate-level units cost is separate from registration fees. Units are $62 each.)

Graduate-level units offered through the University of the Pacific are non-degree units which are designed for professional certification renewals and salary step increases. (These are post-baccalaureate professional development semester units of non-degree graduate level and are not applicable to a degree at University of the Pacific.) To learn more, contact us by email or call (888) 376-0448.

What if I'm unhappy with the workshop?
We would never want you to be unhappy! That’s why every online workshop comes with a 100% money back guarantee. We are convinced the simple and effective strategies will transform the way you teach so we stand behind this workshop with full confidence. If you aren’t satisfied, contact me within the first ten days of your purchase, and I will give you a refund immediately. There are no additional forms to fill out, and there will be no delay. Just call (888) 376-0448 and ask for Brady or email me directly. We believe so strongly in this online workshop that we give you our personal promise of a speedy, hassle-free, no-questions-asked, total and complete refund.

Brady Smekens
Director of Professional Development
Smekens Education Solutions, Inc.

Every online workshop comes with a 100% money-back guarantee within the first 10 days of your purchase.

Have a Question?

Complete the form below or call (888) 376-0448.