VRI: Vermont Reads Institute at UVM

VRI Newsletter - Fall 2007

December 11 & 12
Reading, Writing and Thinking K-3
Pam Chomsky-Higgins & Nancy Woods
Double Tree Hotel, Williston Road, Burlington, VT
9:00-3:00

This two-day session will focus on sharing best practices for teaching children strategies for comprehending text beyond retelling. Participants will learn new tools for teaching comprehension strategies through explicit instruction, modeling, and discussion while fostering independence. We will offer opportunities for practicing techniques for modeling thinking, specific examples of strategy lessons, and approaches for helping children make their thinking visible through oral and written responses to text. This workshop will be particularly useful for K-3 teachers.

Cost
- $125
- 1 UVM Credit Available for additional charge of $140

January 14
Writing in the Content Areas, Gr. 6-12
Mary Beth Monahan
LOCATION TBD, Montpelier, VT
12:30-3:30pm

In this session, participants will try out various techniques for making the most of writing in the content areas—to support, enrich, and extend students’ thinking and learning. We will also explore how to implement these different writing approaches before, during, and after reading to maximize student engagement and understanding. Please bring any texts or instructional materials that you are working with in your classroom so that you can apply these techniques to a current unit of study.

Cost:
- Free for VALLI cohort members
- $50 for all others

February 3
Focus on Response to Intervention (RTI):
Promises, Possibilities, and Potential Problems
Marjorie Y. Lipson, Faculty at University of Vermont
Doubletree Hotel, Williston Rd, Burlington, VT
12:30-3:30pm

Marge Lipson will detail the rationale and “requirements” for undertaking a RTI approach and will share several models from schools/districts/states across the country. In particular, Marge will focus on the roles and responsibilities of classroom and reading teachers, emphasizing the importance of a solid classroom instructional program. She will use a set of guidelines and principles, developed by IRA’s Commission on RTI, to promote thinking and problem solving in small-group work and then will entertain questions to wrap up the afternoon.
Marjorie Lipson is co-chair of the International Reading Association’s Commission on RTI.

Cost:
- Free for LLI members, reading first coaches and coordinators
- $75 for all others

February 12 & 13
Writing Workshop Gr. 2-6
Nancy Woods & Cathy White
VRI at UVM Training Room, 250 Main Street, Montpelier, VT
8am-4pm

This 2-day session will provide the essentials for implementing Writing Workshop. In addition to management, participants will be introduced to practical teaching and assessment approaches to enhance student’s thinking about the process and content of their writing. Models of texts that demonstrate a variety of author’s crafts will also be examined and shared as resources for teaching writing. Each person will receive a copy of The Writing Workshop by Katie Wood Ray.

Cost:
- $125
- 1 UVM Credit Available for additional charge of $140

February 12
Beyond the VT-DRA:
Keeping Comprehension in View in Primary-Level Literacy Assessment
Sue Biggam and Jane Mekkelsen
Location TBD
12:30-3:15pm

Over the past several years, many educators have noticed a gap in emphasis and expectations for literacy development between the primary and lower intermediate grades. Because the VT- DRA is not a required state-level assessment this year, it will be important to consider how to sustain the positive aspects of assessments that focus on accuracy and text levels, but also think about other aspects of literacy of that should be assessed --either on a school-wide basis or at the classroom-level. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for participants to consider criteria for making decisions about elements of a local comprehensive system at the primary level. This workshop is geared towards teachers, administrators, and others in positions of literacy leadership (K- 4).

Cost: $25

February 16
Beyond the VT-DRA:
Keeping Comprehension in View in Primary-Level Literacy Assessment
Sue Biggam and Jane Mekkelsen
VRI at UVM Training Room, 250 Main Street, Montpelier, VT
12:30-3:15pm

Over the past several years, many educators have noticed a gap in emphasis and expectations for literacy development between the primary and lower intermediate grades. Because the VT- DRA is not a required state-level assessment this year, it will be important to consider how to sustain the positive aspects of assessments that focus on accuracy and text levels, but also think about other aspects of literacy of that should be assessed --either on a school-wide basis or at the classroom-level. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for participants to consider criteria for making decisions about elements of a local comprehensive system at the primary level. This workshop is geared towards teachers, administrators, and others in positions of literacy leadership (K- 4). Co-sponsored with LAPDA.

Cost: $25

March 6
Common Assessments & Benchmarks: Cross-Curricular Implementation
Jane Mekkelsen
LOCATION TBD, Montpelier, VT
12:30-3:30pm

This workshop will provide an overview of models and critical aspects of effective school-wide common assessments grades 6-12. The focus will be on the development of common assessments and benchmarks within and across content areas. Participants will begin to develop plans for creating and using benchmarks and rubrics using currently existing student work and course assignments. Garreth Parizo will share work completed at Middlebury that has increased ongoing discussion about student work and has shown positive increase in student achievement. Please bring examples of any rubrics or benchmark pieces you are currently using in your content area or across content areas at your grade level(s).

Cost:
- Free for LLI and VALLI members
- $50 for all others

March 16, 17 & April 1, 2
Reading Academy, Spring 2009
250 Main St, Montpelier, VT
8:30-3:30
FREE!

Participants will deepen their understanding of the 5 essential components of reading in grades K-3: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Comprehension, Fluency, and Vocabulary. They will expand their repertoire of research-based instructional approaches to help students achieve Grade Level Expectations. Instructors will provide opportunities to practice several approaches with colleagues and time to plan ahead for classroom application.

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