Menu of Workshops
All workshops share research-supported methods that are effective with young adolescents and include hands-on work with the content.
In the Muddle™: Teaching Literacy with Real Adolescents in Real Classrooms
for ELA teachers, grades 4-8
one, two, or three full days
Focuses on using a pragmatic framework for planning effective literacy instruction in the middle grades. The workshop includes information on differentiated instruction, word level strategies, vocabulary instruction, fluency development, comprehension strategy instruction, the use of student-led discussion, effective text selection, assessment to guide instruction, and organizations for instruction in the middle grades. The workshop can also be modified for content area teachers.
Guided Reading: Managing the Three Ring Circus
for ELA teachers, grades 4-8
half day or full day
Demonstrates how to use reciprocal teaching and literature circles as frameworks for small group guided reading instruction as well as peer–led discussion. The full day workshop also includes examples of how to develop and to use centers and other student-driven assignments to facilitate small group instruction with young adolescents.
Developing Fluency: Making Reading Sing! for ELA teachers, grades 4-8
half day or full day
Provides effective substitutes for the damaging use of round robin reading. The workshop shares information on effective cooperative strategies for reading content area material; assessing reading rate, automaticity, and prosody; and improving fluency through fun, meaningful activities, including Karaoke Club© (Ash & Hagood, 1999).
Expanding What Good Readers Do: Focusing on the Four Roles of the Reader in New Times for all teachers, grades 4-12
half day or full day
Expands traditional comprehension instruction to include critical reading tasks. The workshop describes the four reader roles (code breaker, meaning maker, text user, text analyst) and how reading across the curriculum can help students become proficient and critical readers inside and outside of school. Includes instruction in Reciprocal Teaching Plus (Ash, 2001).
Why Words Really Matter: Teaching Vocabulary to Improve Comprehension for all teachers, grades 4-12
half day or full day
Introduces the role of vocabulary in comprehension of texts. The workshop shares effective techniques for teaching vocabulary to improve comprehension of narrative and expository texts: before, during, and after reading.
Creating Word Addicts: Using Effective Word Study Assessment and Instruction for ELA teachers, grades 4-12
half day or full day
Describes the development of young adolescents’ understanding of how words work (orthographic knowledge). The workshop includes how to assess students' orthographic knowledge and how to use that assessment to provide differentiated instruction in word identification, spelling, and vocabulary.
ALL half-day sessions are, to some degree, a part of the two-day and three-day In the Muddle™ Workshops.
