Smoothly, Accurately, Expressively
Fluency Instruction is for Adolescent Readers Too!
Many adolescent readers have difficulty comprehending text because they lack good fluency. In this session teachers will participate in activities that build accuracy, phrasing, and expression. Paired readings, choral readings, phrase-cued text lessons and other strategies will be explored. Assessment tools will also be shared.

Reaching English Language Learners with Foldables™
English Language Learners need vocabulary and comprehension strategies to help them make sense of text. Graphic organizers have been very effective tools for reaching second language learners. Foldables, which are three dimensional graphic organizers, are an even more effective tool because students can use them as manipulatives.

How to Carry On a Conversation with Yourself and Not Be Labeled a Lunatic
Using “Think-Alouds” to Teach Reading
Research has identified the kinds of strategies that successful readers use. All too often students are told to use these strategies but not taught how. “Think-Alouds” are an excellent tool to teach students how to apply such strategies as predicting, making inferences, and making connections. In this session teachers will learn a systematic approach for using think-alouds to help students construct meaning from text.

Becoming a Reading Mechanic
How to Monitor Comprehension and Repair Confusion
Less proficient readers often fail to recognize when meaning breaks down. They reach the end of a selection and simply respond that they didn’t understand. In this session teachers will learn ways to help students recognize when meaning breaks down. A variety of “fix-up” strategies students can use to help them repair their confusion will also be explored.

It’s Not Quite Origami
Using Manipulatives to Teach Reading
Good readers use text-specific and task specific strategies to make sense of text. To facilitate these strategies, teachers often use graphic organizers. In this session teachers will learn to create and use “foldables,” which are three dimensional graphic organizers that students can use as manipulatives, to learn these strategies.

A Volkswagen Approach to Teaching Reading
The Importance of Pre-Reading Instruction
Front loading activities prior to reading are important instructional activities that nurture successful reading. In this session teachers will learn to pack the luggage needed for the reading journey at the front end before reading rather than at the back. A variety of engagement strategies that build concept development and teach vocabulary will be explored.