West Jersey Reading Council Fall Conference

The LRQ Strategy: Learnings, Reflections, Questions is an instructional technique as well as a graphic organizer that students use as they reading assigned texts and prepare for class discussions. LRQ leads to enhanced classroom discussions and enables instructors to identify the questions and concerns of their students. The presenters of this session will share their experiences in using LRQ and provide a graphic organizer that attendees can use to implement this practice.

Appropriate for Middle and High School

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Explicit writing instruction that is student-centered and focused on the writing process is an essential part of literacy instruction. However, teachers are often unsure of how to teach it in a way that is not geared toward test-prep in the upper elementary grades, or sentence structure in the primary grades. In this session, teachers will gain an understanding of the key components of student-centered writing instruction, as well as its importance and effectiveness in building students' capacity as writers. This will include: What Students Need for Writing and How We Can Provide It Components of Writer's Workshop Tips for Getting Started

Appropriate for Elementary

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A guided peer led discussion is conducted in 3 steps. First the teacher creates and uses a pre-reading anticipation guide based on level 5 thinking concepts (human condition) with any narrative text at the students’ instructional level. Second, the teacher creates level 4 concepts (relationships within the text) based on the level 5 concepts to serve as purposes for reading. This allows the teacher to chunk the text in a meaningful way so student motivation and interest will not be hindered by "reading to a page number". Students read for one level 4 concept at a time and engage in small check-ins with the teacher or check in with a small group. This is repeated for each level 4 concept. Finally, the teacher facilitates a group discussion based on each level 4 thinking concept and stretches students to a level 5 and/or 6 concept. Level 6 is a personal connection made based on the human condition. This lesson is designed to enhance students' ability to silently read. Silent reading is the most authentic form of reading. The higher level prompting is designed to foster students who are able to critically think and make responsible decisions in our society.

Appropriate for All Levels

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The science of reading has become a powerful force in the never-ending debate about teaching reading. This presentation will explain who and what is behind the science of reading, take a look at what proponents and opponents say about it, and help educators develop a personal stance that they can discuss with administrators, parents, and others.

Appropriate for All Levels

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This session will focus on using speculative fiction in the areas of activism, voice and identity to foster student engagement and allow students to reflect on their own state of being as well as the existence of others. The use of speculative fiction in the classroom has the potential to engage students in conversations about social justice and provide opportunities for students to express their feelings about the future, their place in the future they envision as well as help in the cultivation of acceptance, belonging and critical hope. This presentation/workshop will include sample lessons for grades 8 and above and will utilize reading, creative writing and media to engage with the genre. The workshop will invite teachers to work with excerpts from Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood and Cherie Dimaline

Appropriate for Middle and High School

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In this workshop, participants will discuss best practices for teaching poetry that is deep, meaningful, and offer opportunities not only for analytical discussion/writing but also for social emotional learning. Participants will learn about meaningful poetry and how to develop multifaceted lessons that provide opportunities for reading comprehension or analytical writing tasks, while also keeping in mind the power of poetry to allow students to personally connect.

Appropriate for Middle and High School

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Disengaged writers! They make you tear your hair out! What if I were to tell you that you could turn that around with something as simple as a writer's notebook? Join me to learn why and how you can add the notebook to your writing instruction and get results. Already using one? I'll share some techniques to make it even more effective.

Appropriate for Upper Elementary, Middle, and High School

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The Five Star Classroom is designed to EQUIP administrators, faculty, staff, families, community & students with the necessary tools to be effective beyond the status quo. This will be accomplished through providing Access & Exposure to Multiple Opportunities for the SUCCESS OF ALL. When Students & Teachers have Voice, Visibility & are Valued It is THEN, we are ALL EMPOWERED to SUCCEED. Student Performance will be Enhanced, Student Achievement will be Increased & failure will Never be ... a final option!

Appropriate for All Levels

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Children simply cannot resist an adult who genuinely wants to spend time with them.?Our words, tones and attitudes depict and illustrate our desire to be with and guide our students.?Through the daily practice of positive language, we can create classroom environments where children feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.?When we train our hearts and minds toward positive language, our teaching will flow from a place of intention and inspiration.?As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to more readily recognize the effects of the daily destructive language that surrounds our students, both in media and in personal relationships.?Participants will gain an understanding of the role of words and tone as atmosphere setters of our schools. With this knowledge, participants will create a plan for an intentional attitude of positive communication that will eradicate negative language from their classroom and school building.?Teachers will learn alternatives to language and messages that threaten to tear down students and walk away with positive practices and powerful words that can be utilized immediately to transform classroom learning, student attitudes, and school atmosphere.

Appropriate for All Levels

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In this session, participants will learn how to create connections with school day literacy lessons in the afterschool or out of school time setting. Instructors will gain knowledge of ways to create extension activities from the students school day readings. These activities include creating a "curious connection" timeline. This timeline works on how the timeline of the story can also tie into their own life connections. Participants will also see evidence of how the Pathways 21st CCLC program has been able to successfully promote reading in their program across the districts' many schools.

Appropriate for All Levels

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This presentation will share the research on how and why to use decodable texts in your K-2 classroom. You will learn how you can make your own decodable texts that align with your phonics program, use natural language, and keep your readers engaged.

Appropriate for Primary Classrooms

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With a greater influx of English Language Learners entering classrooms, it's never been more vital for every teacher, not just ESL teachers, to have practical, actionable resources to use. This session is helpful for the following people: -ELL teachers -Content area teachers -Elementary teachers -anyone wishing to build their capacity and knowledge of this unique population Attendees will walk away with varied approaches rooted in SIOP but concrete enough to implement.

Approriate for all levels.

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This session will provide information on the research-based practice of flash feedback in writer's workshop. Participants will be given brief summaries of where flash feedback comes from and examples from the presenter's pilot with sixth grade students. This includes how to create one to three minutes of video feedback and how to provide flash feedback in written comments. Educators will be given time to brainstorm ways they can apply flash feedback to writing instruction in their schools. The purpose of the session overall is to help teachers create effective, quick feedback on writing that students will truly use.

Appropriate for Middle School

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Using Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching and the brain and Dr. Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model for Education, we will look at who we are as educators to better engage students in conversations about identity and power dynamics in literature.

Appropriate for Middle and High School

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Our presentation will focus on providing awareness to educators and leaders in the importance of creating spaces for students where books, literature and readings are culturally diverse and relevant.

Appropriate for All Levles

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Trauma changes the brain and affects learning but a strengths based. Participants will be provided literacy-based strategies that can be used with children in PK- 12 grade. Key pieces of literature that can be used to support students of trauma and help build resilience will be presented. These strategies foster learning and help traumatized children process information who are struggling to learn.

Appropriate for All Levels

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When we consider ways that we can think “outside the box” in terms of engaging literacy practices for diverse learners, we embrace linguistic, cultural, and academic diversity and leverage their backpacks of experience! Literacy engagement can look different for each of our learners–and all of it is valuable and supportive of environments that foster a love of reading and writing. Join us as we reflect on practices that engage and empower ALL of our learners in finding their voices in literacy.

Appropriate for All Levels

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The IRE approach to literature discussions (teacher Initiates question, student Responds, teacher Evaluates) is a common approach to beginning a whole-class discussion of a story; but answering questions does not always lead to rich, engaged, dialogic conversation. When teachers are asking students to respond to stories and books that feature painful or challenging events, a true dialogue can be even more difficult to spark. In this session, we will explore several techniques and activities that allow students to react to, reflect on, and critically analyze what they are reading without the high-stakes feeling of being quizzed. The presenter will model the use of grand conversation prompts, quotable quotes activity, concept sorts, etc. The participants will have a chance to reflect on how authentic literary conversation shapes students' reader identities differently from traditional teacher-facilitated discussion.

Appropriate for Upper Elementary, Middle, and High School

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Motivation and engagement are key for all students. Those students who struggle with reading need instruction to be explicit, to follow a sequence of skills, and to be fun! As part of this presentation, attendees will play various games tailored to specific phonics skills. The presentation will include grouping of games specific to cvc words, blends, syllable types, and more. Be ready to have fun and play like the students do! Games are a wonderful way to reinforce phonics skills and to support cooperation and game skills. Easy to implement right into your classroom the next day and with little to no cost!

Appropriate for Elementary

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Navigating a complaint or challenge to books and other materials can feel complicated and overwhelming, but you can be informed, empowered, and prepared! Join our team of experienced librarians as we explore how to make sure your library, school, or district is ready to respond to a book challenge, why we uphold our students' freedom to read, and what you can do to support your colleagues and community if a challenge does occur.

Appropriate for All Levels

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In this fun, interactive presentation, attendees will explore the foundation of reading and ways to promote development in early learners. Research, along with easily infused strategies, will be presented. Attendees can expect to walk away with a better understanding of how children learn to read and ways to support this development. All levels of educators are encouraged to attend.

Appropriate for All Levels

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Literacy is how we interact with the world , how we shape it and are shaped by it. As a result , the ELA classroom is an excellent arena to incorporate SEL components such as understanding feelings, empathy , compassion, relationship building , communication, compassion, and understanding . In this workshop, attendees will be able to identify the importance of mentor texts , in this case , picture books, in the ELA classroom, and how to use them to not only teach standards and skills, but to incorporate SEL components into a lesson as well. Attendees will leave with resources and lesson plans to use immediately within their own classroom , and hopefully a greater appreciation for the importance of picture books in the classroom I’m particularly when it comes to SEL and ELA best practice.

Appropriate for Elementary

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Wondering how to fit it all in? This session will help you feed many birds with a few seeds. Learn how to use Interactive Read Alouds in new ways for assessing student needs: where they are now and where they need to go next. Participants will learn how using a hierarchy of goals and a progression of skills can simplify strategy groups, guided reading, individual student goals, and conferencing. Practical approaches will be shared that you can use tomorrow!

Appropriate for Elementary and Middle School

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V.I.P. Vision, Innovation & Passion...Imagine entering a classroom for the very first time whether a teacher or a student… everyone goes through same door that begins with a journey of anticipation and aspiration. As the journey continues, it leads toward the end goal of successful outcomes. When the administrators, faculty, staff, families, community, and students are equipped with the necessary tools to be effective, it is then, everyone is empowered to succeed. In order to accomplish this, there needs to be more than exposure, but access to multiple opportunities for the success of all. Vision, Innovation and Passion are among the key factors to provide access to the desired successful outcomes. V.I.P. will take us through the classroom door into the learning environment which is the catalyst to 21st Century Education and life. It is a safe oasis for relationships, a laboratory of experiences, and a proving ground that every person who passes through has learned and has something to contribute because they have Vision, Innovation and Passion.

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