Trainings, Workshops, & Presentations

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Writing Together: Advanced Strategies for Social Studies Teachers in Writing Communities (Coming January 2025)

Session Overview: This session will focus on refining the strategies introduced in the initial workshop, with particular emphasis on incorporating historical documents, using writing to support critical thinking, and advanced scaffolding techniques tailored to Social Studies classrooms. Participants will also have the opportunity to share student writing samples, discuss challenges, and collaboratively develop solutions to enhance writing instruction in the context of Social Studies content. The session will conclude with actionable takeaways designed to support cohesive writing instruction across Social Studies curricula.

Writing Together: Strengthening Writing Communities through Adaptive Strategies (Coming December 2024)

Session Overview: The follow-up session will also include collaborative discussions on common language resources, use of mentor texts in all subject areas, and peer revision strategies to support a more robust writing community. During the session, participants will analyze building-wide data from Trimester 1, identifying the types of writing and skills that have been attempted or missed. Based on this data, teachers will develop writing projects and a plan for Trimester 2, focusing on building stronger writing communities within their classrooms.

Step Outside!: Discovering the Heart of K-12 Writing in Connection to the Outdoors | National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE 2024-Teaching with Heart, Hope, and Humanity) Boston, Massachusetts (Coming November 2024)

Session Overview: This panel redefines the writing classroom by expanding its boundaries to utilize the potential of the school campus. Emphasizing the integration of outdoor experiences, activities, and projects in teaching writing, the panelists encourage teachers to step outside traditional learning spaces to promote nature connection, foster curiosity, and unlock creativity in students.

“Rather than educating kids despite nature . . .we connect kids with the outdoor environment and also help them realize their full potential”
-Bandile Phiri | TEDxCalgary

Description: The Step Outside Project is a collaboration to develop teacher capacity across Arizona in the teaching of K-12 curriculum standards, with an emphasis on science, literacy, and the outdoors. The project offers unique programs and resources to empower teachers who are eager to incorporate the outdoors into their teaching methodologies. Through peer coaching, one-on-one support, and a dynamic networking program, the tools and techniques are provided to teachers that are needed for positive classroom impact. By providing support for healthy eating habits and sustainable environmental practices, the Step Outside Project aims to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world, creating an enriched and enjoyable educational experience for all participants.

This panel is made up of a dedicated team of experienced educators, organizations, and experts committed to expanding the definition of a writing classroom and the teaching of writing in ways that utilizes the vast potential of the school campus just beyond all of our classroom walls. The project emphasizes the integration of outdoor experiences, activities, and projects into teaching writing, encouraging teachers to step outside and redefine traditional learning spaces. Our mission extends beyond the classroom, promoting the benefits of nature connection, fostering curiosity, and unlocking creativity in students through writing, research, storytelling, hands-on learning, and exploration.

Nature Journaling: This panelist offers insights on the power of taking journaling routines into the outdoors to equip K-12 educators with a holistic approach to education that not only nurtures academic writing skills but also instills a lifelong curiosity and connection to the world around us. By integrating sensory experiences, observation, and questioning, participants will discover how journaling routines can transcend subject boundaries for one of the most powerful interdisciplinary approaches to the work in the classroom. Outdoor journaling empowers students to become active contributors to their own learning through the documentation of their own life experiences as primary sources in their own education.

Recipe Writing: This panelist will awaken your senses with a presentation on integrating the genre of recipe writing with the outdoors. Using school campuses and local food for inspiration, educators will learn how to leverage the power of food as an educational tool in the classroom. The modern recipe is a thoughtful writing experience during which students can express their culture, tell a story, problem solve, build trust and create happiness for both the writer and reader.

Environmental PSAs: This panelist offers a transformative professional development journey that intertwines the power of Public Service Announcement (PSA) projects with the enriching experiences of outdoor education. In this session, K-12 educators will discover innovative ways to seamlessly integrate compassion-driven PSA initiatives with outdoor learning, fostering empathy, environmental consciousness, and a deeper connection to the world.

During the session, attendees will receive resources for teaching different genres of writing in connection to the outdoors, resources for engaging in the transformative work of moving your teaching outside. The session will close with a brief question and answer portion.

Writing Together: Celebrating Writing Across Classrooms and Fostering Collaboration through Cross-Curricular Conversations | Zoom Teacher Professional Development, October 2024

Session Overview: This 1.5-hour virtual professional development session is designed to celebrate the writing practices already happening across all subject areas and encourage meaningful collaboration among educators. Participants will reflect on their teaching experiences, explore different types of writing activities, and engage in conversations about integrating writing across the curriculum. By the end of this session, educators will feel empowered to foster a school-wide culture of writing and support student success through collaborative efforts.

The Art of Joyful Planning: Healthy Habits for Workplace Wellness in the Digital Age | Zoom Workplace Wellness Workshop, September 2024

Session Overview: This professional development session, in collaboration with KYD Network and Writing Mindset, will cultivate a culture of wellness within the workplace. The session will focus on developing healthy planning habits, using journaling to find gratitude and joy, and implementing mindset shifts to enhance overall well-being.

Writing Together: Building Writing Communities in All Subject Areas| Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo, MI, August 2024

How do we use writing as a tool to create the connections we need to build and sustain our community?

Session Overview: This professional development session aims to help educators build cohesive writing communities within their classrooms and school communities by fostering a common mindset and language for teaching writing. The session will cover the foundational elements of writing instruction and introduce strategies that can be applied across content areas in secondary education.

Goals:

Foster a unified approach to writing instruction across different content areas.
Create consistency in terminology and instructional language used by educators.
Apply instructional techniques that enhance student writing skills across various genres including writing workshops and the use of mentor texts.

Outcomes:

Educators will feel more confident and competent in teaching writing across content areas.
A common language and approach to writing instruction will be established, leading to more cohesive and effective teaching.
Students will benefit from improved writing instruction, leading to better writing performance across various genres.
Educators will create and sustain writing communities within their classrooms, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Teaching Argumentative Writing: Using a Cognitive Strategies Approach | National Writing Project, Central Arizona Writing Project, and University of California Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education, June 2024

Students need support synthesizing multiple sources to build strong and persuasive arguments. Join us as we use and learn research-based cognitive strategies to support students in reading and synthesizing multiple texts in arguments, including writing counterclaims. This interactive workshop models how to take a cognitive strategies approach to teaching reading and writing including:

Module 1: Overview of Cognitive Strategies
Module 2: Elements of Writing Genres
Module 3: Reading Scaffolds
Module 4: Writing Scaffolds
Module 5: Revision Strategies
Module 6: Language Support for English Learners

Course Flyer

StoryWalks in Action: Bringing Books to Life Outdoors with Micha Archer's Wonder Walkers and Daniel Finds a Poem | Step Outside Project, Tempe, Arizona June 2024

Session Description: Join the Central Arizona Writing Project in an exploratory workshop on the magic of storytelling through the innovative concept of StoryWalks, where pages of a book are displayed along a walking route, encouraging reading and outdoor exploration simultaneously. In this engaging session, we'll guide you through two separate StoryWalks featuring the captivating works of Micha Archer: Wonder Walkers and Daniel Finds a Poem. Walk away from this session with practical tips for organizing and implementing StoryWalks in your classroom, as well as ideas for lessons and extension activities to complement the StoryWalks.

Canva Slides

Writing Outside the Box: Outdoor Journaling Routines in the K-12 Classroom | Step Outside Project, Tempe, Arizona February 2024

Session Description: Join the Central Arizona Writing Project in an exploratory workshop on how outdoor nature journaling can address literacy goals, provide low-stakes writing opportunities across all subject areas, and foster a love for writing in all students. The session will feature three practical and immediately applicable journaling activities: Recognizing patterns in the outdoors, creating found poems, and listing and categorizing questions. Be prepared to transform your classroom into a dynamic learning environment that not only enhances writing skills but also fosters a deeper connection with the world outside the classroom walls.

Canva Slides

PRESENTATION RESOURCES

Discovering Teaching Tools in Everyday Environments | Step Outside Project Tempe, Arizona December 2023

Session Description: Join the Central Arizona Writing Project in an engaging session, "Discovering Teaching Tools in Everyday Environments," where we explore innovative approaches to teaching writing across the content areas. Delve into the transformative power of low-stakes writing and uncover how to seamlessly integrate learning manipulatives, providing educators with dynamic tools for fostering student creativity and expression.

GOOGLE SLIDES PRESENTATION

Introduction to Bullet Journaling with ANY Journal, Cromaine Library Hartland, MI, April 2021

Get ready to unlock the power of ANY journal you have around the house! You and your journal can handle anything. This class contains different ways you can focus on six different areas of life. This includes productivity, expressing feelings and emotions, guided reflection, setting goals, finding inspiration, and learning new things. You will see examples of layouts, pages, and spreads that will make your journaling work for you. Grab a notebook, your favorite pen or pencil, and get ready to see the power and potential in a blank notebook.

GOOGLE SLIDES PRESENTATION

Diverse Classroom Libraries Training, Kalamazoo, MI February 2020

Show up for young readers with diverse texts in classroom libraries//KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FEBRUARY 19 & 26 2020

Content Professional Development, Kalamazoo, MI October 2019

I AM AN AUTHOR! Using Diverse Middle-Grade Mentor Texts to Empower Young Writers//Kalamazoo Public Schools Oct. 25

4.5 HOUR TRAINING (BREAKING DOWN A MENTOR TEXT WITH TABLE TWITTER, CLOCKWORK PARTNERS SKILLS REVIEW, SCOPE AND SEQUENCE ROADMAPS, AND NOREDINK EXPLORATION)

HANDOUT-MIDDLE GRADE/YA DIVERSE TEXTS RESOURCE LISTS (BONUS: EXAMPLE SKILL SEQUENCE HANDOUT)

MCTE Fall Annual Conference, Lansing, MI October 2019

I AM AN AUTHOR! Using Diverse Middle-Grade Mentor Texts to Empower Young Writers MCTE 2019

HANDOUT-MIDDLE GRADE/YA DIVERSE TEXTS RESOURCE LISTS (BONUS: EXAMPLE SKILL SEQUENCE HANDOUT)

Cultural Responsive Education Training, Kalamazoo, MI August 2019

Ah-Ha Moments and Hands in the Air: Using Diverse Texts to Teach Comprehension and Raise Engagement Across Content Areas

HANDOUT-MIDDLE GRADE/YA DIVERSE TEXTS RESOURCE LISTS (BONUS: BIOGRAPHIES AND PRINCESSES)

ELA and Social Studies Curriculum Training, Kalamazoo, MI August 2019

Active Literacy: Providing Resources from the MEL Database and Strategies for the Transfer of Reading and Writing Skills

HANDOUT-GUIDED NOTES FOR DATABASES AND CLOCKWORK PARTNER ROTATIONS

Innovative Grant Presentation, Kalamazoo, MI May 2019

#BOOKFLOOD: Targeting Striving Readers with Diverse Mentor Texts

Michigan E-Library Promotional Materials

Michigan E-Library Demo Lesson for Databases, May 2019 “Collaboration in the Classroom”

Michigan E-Library Demo Lesson for Databases, May 2019 “MEL eResources in Your Classroom”

Summer 2020 Book Club Series-Kalamazoo Public Schools

Video #1: Introduction to The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Video #2: Character Webs and a Historical Timeline in The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

VIDEO #3: REVIEW PAGES 1-95 IN THE PARKER INHERITANCE BY VARIAN JOHNSON

VIDEO #4: REVIEW PAGES 96-245 IN THE PARKER INHERITANCE BY VARIAN JOHNSON

VIDEO #5: REVIEW THE END OF THE BOOK!

Article Mentions

Western Michigan University, May 6, 2020

Western Michigan University-WMU News

Breyana Wilson-My 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Teacher Cadet Loy Norrix High School Graduate 2020

Western Michigan University, November 7, 2019