New Teacher Study Group for the Teaching of Reading

Grades: K-8

Venue: Online via Zoom

Instructor: Natalie Louis

Price: $200.00

Dates: This study group for new teachers will meet virtually across the year on 6 different days for afterschool sessions. 

Who Should Attend: New teachers (to a grade, a school, or the teaching of reading)

Program Description

This group is designed for new teachers to study the teaching of reading in the company of peers. The group will focus on understanding the foundations of teaching reading, learning ways to establish a reading community, and building classroom protocols to support whole-class, independent, and collaborative reading practices. Participants will also learn how to provide critical feedback to students and leverage direct, explicit instruction to support young readers.

No matter the curriculum, students need opportunities to practice and receive feedback on their thinking and reading. In this course, teachers will reflect on their classroom practices, rituals, and lessons, and also develop skills to assess reading based on standards, genres, and developmental skills. We will also examine how motivation, identity, and collaborative structures play an essential role in developing powerful thinkers and readers.

Learning Objectives

• Teachers will be able to plan and execute whole-class read-alouds and close reading experiences that model proficient reading, foster peer discourse, and leverage knowledge-building strategies to enhance vocabulary and comprehension.

• Teachers will develop the ability to observe and listen to readers as they read, providing targeted, in-the-moment coaching to improve decoding skills and reading fluency.

• Teachers will be able to establish and manage small reading groups with a clear focus on supporting skill development, fostering meaningful discourse, and building students' background knowledge.

• Teachers will be able to create and implement effective routines for partner reading and book clubs, promoting student collaboration and discussion around texts.

• Teachers will be able to use various assessment strategies to monitor student progress and differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of all readers in the classroom.

• Teachers will be able to design and organize classroom libraries that are inviting and student-centered, with a clear system for matching students with books for independent and collaborative reading. 

• Teachers will learn ways to communicate and collaborate with families and caregivers to provide literacy support outside of school.