In this powerful workshop, teachers will learn how to plan and conduct differentiated small-group reading sessions that result in improved student achievement. Kristi McCullough will show teachers how to support students at their developmental levels, engage them in authentic text, and provide targeted lessons to increase students’ comprehension in both literature and informational texts.

Workshop Topics:

• Learn how to develop a schedule where small-group reading occurs in tandem with students working independently in literacy stations.
• Obtain ways to utilize teacher-led small groups during the reading block.
• Understand how to interpret reading levels of students and match them with appropriate text.
• Gain strategies to support readers at different stages of reading.
• Learn how to tie whole-group mini-lessons to small-group instruction.
• Learn types of before, during, and after-reading strategies and how they fit into small-group reading lessons.
• Acquire methods for supporting readers by incorporating effective oral reading strategies.

When you leave, you’ll be able to:

• Use small groups to support and deepen mini-lesson skills first taught during whole-class direct instruction.
• Introduce a new text to students in a way that provides support for them to be able to decode and understand the text.
• Increase the amount of time students spend reading the whole text.
• Cultivate student interaction with the text during reading.
• Organize your space and supplies to make small-group instruction both efficient and effective.

Free follow-up training video:

• Teachers who attend this Reading Block workshop will be given a complimentary one-month subscription to Kristi's matching video on webPD, Leading an Effective Reading Block (K-5).
• During the complimentary subscription period, teachers are encouraged to share access with every colleague in their school, allowing the entire staff to learn key concepts from the workshop.

Workshop Excerpts:

Target Audience

K-5 Classroom Teachers
Literacy Coaches
Literacy Coordinators
Title I / Directors
Special Education Teachers
ELL Teachers
K-5 High-Ability Teachers
K-5 Administrators

Testimonials

“The workshop was packed with ideas to improve guided reading groups. Kristi's personality and energy were fun! You could see her passion for reading the way she presented!” Karly Douglas, teacher at Heywood Elementary School, Troy, OH

“I have launched guided reading in my classroom, and I struggle with what to focus on with groups/individual students. This information is EXACTLY what I needed!” Olivia Raley, teacher at Calvary Elementary School, Lebanon, KY

“Smekens always has workshops that give me fabulous ideas and cause me to reflect on what I currently do. I can't wait to get back into the classroom.” Tracy McKee, teacher at Saint Christopher School, Indianapolis, IN

"I love the immediate use of materials. I always walk away with great ideas right now!" Mary Cooper, teacher at New Buffalo Middle School, New Buffalo, MI