Teaching, Supporting, and Monitoring the Comprehension Strategies of Connections, Sensory Images, and Predicting in Readers K-6

This PowerShot will help you unlock three huge comprehension strategies for the readers in your building; Connections, Sensory Images, and Predicting.  We will discuss how to effectively teach mini-lessons on the strategies, how to confer with readers about their use of the strategies, and what to do to encourage readers who are struggling with them.  You will also leave with a bibliography of read-alouds that lend themselves to each of these strategies.

Classroom Management: A Firm Foundation

Whether you are a new teacher, new to C.L.A.S.S., or just polishing your practice, this PowerShot will provide you with a firm foundation on how to design your classroom, build a positive climate, and set student expectations.  Ask yourself, have I set myself up for a successful year?  What procedures need to be in place?  What are the C.L.A.S.S. Life Essentials and do I have them embedded in my practice?  How are am I going to build community in my classroom, foster good relationships, and create an environment for optimal learning?  What needs to be communicated to parents?  Am I ready for unexpected barriers?  This PowerShot focuses on your start to a rock-solid plan for a successful year! 

Memory Lanes: Taking Information to Long-term Memory

The brain has lanes that act as file cabinets storing information, skills, and facts from learning experiences. The information is filtered, interpreted and stored in various parts of the brain using these lanes. It has at least five of these lanes that can be used for long-term memory; automatic, emotional, episodic, procedural and semantic. We will investigate each of these lanes and give practical techniques on how to use and integrate these lanes into your teaching to help students take information to long-term memory.

Vocabulary REMIX with Rubeyonce!

She’s back by popular demand!  Rubeyonce is bringing even more fun vocabulary/spelling strategies for students of all ages. Toss out the boring worksheets. Put the workbooks to the side. Bring back the fun and novelty to your vocabulary lessons and watch your students actively engage in learning new words!

Teaching, Supporting, and Monitoring the Comprehension Strategies of Inferring, Synthesizing, and Questioning in Readers K-6

This Powershot will address four comprehension strategies students need to be able to use well in order to understand text; inferring, synthesizing, using  schema (or background knowledge), and questioning.  This PowerShot will focus on how to explain these strategies in ways that students understand them, how to have conversations that will encourage students to use and communicate their use of the strategies, and ways you can document use of the strategies. You will also leave with a bibliography of read-alouds that lend themselves to each of these strategies.

ALL ABOARD!  Creating a Positive Climate through ALL SCHOOL PERSONNEL

In order to reach our destination of a positive, enriching school environment, everyone—EVERYONE must be prepared for the journey!  How do we make sure that everyone who is in contact with the students is on board and contributing to the students’ character development? This PowerShot focuses on how to take Life Goals and Lifelines beyond teachers and students. We will dive deep into the use of specific strategies to equip every member of your staff as positive contributors including Instructional Assistants, Aides, Administrative Assistants, Tutors, Cafeteria Workers, and Bus Drivers.  ALL ABOARD—Don’t miss this train!

“Tell me about your writing.”  Conferring with Writers in Grades K-6

This PowerShot enters the subject of talking with writers. You will be exposed to conferencing techniques that will stretch writers to their limits, help them make appropriate choices, and be able to articulate the reasons for their choices.  This is one you won’t want to miss. Grab your pencils, get your current draft, and …”Tell me about your writing.”

Parent Power

Remember, what’s good for the classroom is good for home too! This PowerShot focuses on strategies that you will be able to use to empower parents by giving them concrete examples of how to work with their children in behavior and literacy development. We will give attention toward literacy comprehension, vocabulary, Life Goals, Lifelines, and setting behavioral procedures for the home environment. Through this PowerShot, you will be giving your parents meaningful tools to help their children’s development while strengthening your communication and relationships with your students’ parents.

2012 Edition of New and Notable Picture Books!

How can I move my students in word choice?  Could I help them learn to predict while reading?  Will they ever learn to work well in a group?  All of these can be addressed, discussed, modeled, and practiced with a picture book.  The time frame is quick, it can be revisited again and again, and everyone loves to be read to.  Join C.L.A.S.S. for ten new and amazing picture books, and how you can use them in your classroom to have a positive impact on reading comprehension, writing progress, and behavior supports. 

Gender Differences and Learning

Did you know that the areas of the brain associated with language work harder in girls than in boys during language tasks, and that boys and girls rely on different parts of the brain when performing these tasks? There are no differences in what girls and boys can learn. But there are big differences in the best way to teach them. We will touch on some major learning differences in gender and practical strategies to use in your classroom including the use of competition, creating a positive classroom environment, following student interests, and hands-on materials.