Do your students underperform on state writing assessments?
It’s not just about writing—it’s about reading closely, thinking critically, and responding clearly under pressure.
Test-Ready Writers:
Strategies to Help Students Read, Think, and Write Under Pressure
Writing under pressure requires reading closely, thinking critically, and responding clearly…all at once.
That’s why we created the Test-Ready Writers workshop—so you can show students how to handle on-demand writing situations.
This workshop will reveal proven strategies, scaffolded mini-lessons, and ready-to-use resources that make rigorous response writing manageable—for you and your students.
When you’ve equipped your students with the right tools to succeed on test day, they can demonstrate comprehension in clear, well-developed responses.
3 Reasons You Can’t Miss This Workshop
Turn test stress into success
Equip students with practical strategies for tackling constructed and extended responses.
Leave with tools you can use tomorrow
Get ready-to-go mini-lessons and resources to utilize with current course content.
Boost student thinking & writing
Push students past surface-level answers to write well-supported, high-quality responses.
If you’re battling low ELA test scores, attending this workshop is the right decision.
This workshop is designed for all educators responsible for preparing students for response writing on standardized assessments and performance tasks, including:
- Grades 3–12 ELA teachers.
- Science and social studies teachers.
- Instructional coaches, curriculum coordinators,
and instructional officers. - SPED, ML, Title I, and intervention specialists.
- School principals.
- District curriculum directors.
CHOOSE YOUR EVENT
DECEMBER 3
Indianapolis, IN
Holiday Inn
Indianapolis Airport
8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. ET
DECEMBER 10
Merrillville, IN
Dean & Barbara White
Community Center
8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. CT
DECEMBER 11
Chicago, IL
Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare – Rosemont
8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. CT
JANUARY 13
Cincinnati, OH
Holiday Inn Cincinnati North – West Chester
8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. ET
JANUARY 14
Louisville, KY
Hilton Garden Inn
Louisville Airport
8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. ET
JANUARY 21
Virtual Event
Attend from the comfort of your home or watch with colleagues
9:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. ET
Registration for in-person events begin at 8:00 A.M. local time.
A 1-hour independent lunch break is included.
When students have the right tools,
test day becomes proof of their progress.
You’ll walk away with strategies that help students write with confidence—
not only for the test, but for school and for life.
COST
$209 in-person
$199 virtual
Take 10% off with groups of 10+
PD CREDIT
5.5 hours of professional development credit
DIGITAL RESOURCES
Get access to classroom resources & lesson ideas
PRESENTER: Kristina Smekens
A celebrated educator, author, and literacy consultant, Kristina Smekens has built a reputation for using enthusiasm, humor, and common sense to equip K-12 educators with simple and effective strategies for teaching reading and writing.
As president and lead consultant for Smekens Education, Kristina is constantly developing new strategies to help teachers meet the demands of today’s College and Career-Ready Standards. She shares those strategies with teachers across the United States and beyond through on-site professional development, seminars, and an always-growing pool of print, digital, and video resources.