Conversations in Literature: Objectifying the Text
This workshop showcases the reader as critic. Here, you will become part of the discussions that evolve as the readers look at Alice Walker's Revolutionary Petunias and Langston Hughes' Theme for English B. The readers examine the author's craft, the structure of the text and its various literary elements, and choice of language in order to evaluate both works as pieces of literature. They also objectify and analyze their personal journeys through the texts. Dr. Langer encourages teachers of readers by pointing out how the techniques readers used here can be explored in their classrooms.
Conversations in Literature: The Stances in Action
In order to show how readers move into and out of each of the stances as they build their envisionments, this workshop focuses on two extended discussions among the groups of readers. Individually and collectively, they enter and become immersed in their reading, step back and reflect on its lessons, and look at the piece as literary critics would. This workshop session can serve as your virtual workbook, helping you hone your understandings of the stances and how they contribute to rich and vital envisionments.
Conversations in Literature: Returning to the Classroom
In the concluding workshop session, you will observe the readers in this community talk about the ways in which Dr. Langer's work - and their own expertise as readers - can truly affect the language arts classroom. In addition to sharing in their stories of successes, you will also eavesdrop on classrooms throughout the country to see how teachers are encouraging their students to become rich envisionment builders.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Building a Community of Writers
This workshop explores the essential characteristics of a successful writing community and shows examples of teachers who build community in their classrooms through a variety of ways. Explore how to nurture a structured classroom writing community that fosters trust among students, establish shared values about good writing, the work that writers do, and respect for others' work and participate as a member of the writing community by sharing your writing.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Reasons for Writing
In this course, educators will explore practices that motivate students to write and help them develop into independent, motivated writers. These effective practices include allowing students to make their own choices about their writing, helping them keep a writer's notebook in which to record their thoughts and draw inspiration, and providing opportunities for students to write for authentic audiences.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Reading Like a Writer
In this two-part course, educators will learn how to use "touchstone" and "mentor" texts to teach students new writing techniques to help them become better writers. Through interviews and classroom footage, this course will explore how educators in Grades 3-5 immerse students in literary genres and use engaging texts to set the stage for writing.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Teaching the Writing Craft
This course examines whole-class instruction in the writing workshop, looking at why teachers choose this type of instruction and how they integrate it with other instructional strategies such as working with individuals and small groups.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Conversations with Student Writers
All teachers understand the value of responding personally to student work. But how do teachers use that feedback to help students improve their writing? In this workshop, participants will examine examples of formal and informal writing conferences and study the practical issues that exist when planning and conducting such conferences.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Conversations Among Writing Peers
This course will examine the various forms peer response might take in a writing workshop, the importance of an authentic audience for written work, and how peer conferencing can enhance writing skills in grades 3-5. Educators will also explore teaching strategies for structuring peer conferences and helping students respond to each other appropriately and meaningfully.
Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5 - Learning to Revise
For elementary-age children, revision is often new and challenging. This course shows how educators overcome students' resistance to changing their writing by providing them with concrete, effective revision strategies. Using a paragraph based on her own research notes, the educator models the thinking and decision making that takes place in a writer's mind during revision.