Using Projects to Engage Learners in Reading and Writing Workshops (Grades 3-5)***CANCELLED***

In this course, participants will first look closely at the literacy work that takes place in their classroom and will seek to answer the following questions:

- What does workshop time look like in my classroom in reading and in writing?
- What parts of my workshops need some fine tuning?
- How am I doing in terms of aligning the work I am asking of students to Common Core literacy standards?
- How active and engaged are my students in the work they are doing?
Are there ways to integrate my reading and writing workshop units in order to better engage students and help them go deeper with their thinking and writing?

Participants will then work with colleagues at their own grade level to support growth in areas of interest based on these questions. Finally, participants will work over the course of the year to develop or fine tune one or more highly engaging units of study integrating the reading and writing work expected of students at their grade level.

In addition, the facilitator will share actual classroom examples of integrated projects involving reading, writing, and the content areas. Lessons, anchor charts, literature selections, and student writing will be shared for projects such as "Reading and Writing Historical Fiction - Immigration," "Informational Reading and Writing based on All the Way Home," and "The Constitutional Convention Project." The facilitator will spend time breaking apart elements of the workshop, sharing student work samples and videos of students at work, and supporting participants in developing units of study (creating lessons and anchor charts, locating resources, connecting to standards, etc.).

Location: NYSUT Headquarters, Latham
Dates: 11/15, 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2
Time: 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Facilitator: Beth Whiteman, Guilderland CSD Teacher