Some of my most joyful moments have come as I’ve watched teachers become more confident in their skills–especially in the areas of reading, writing, and student-centered science teaching. All staff development offerings are tailored to your teachers’ unique needs.
Read. Write. Science!: Give teachers the basic tools they need to integrate reading, writing, and content instruction through literacy learning cycles. Teachers from any grade can learn how leading with science builds literacy motivation and skill. For elementary workshops, I focus on effective ways to use science to motivate students who struggle with reading and writing tasks. For middle and high school workshops, I emphasize how literacy instruction can directly address the key science content that students need, leading to students who are better science learners.
Science Argumentation: Both the NGSS and the Common Core emphasize making claims and supporting them with evidence. Teachers will learn how to introduce claims, evidence, and reasoning; how to help students put their thoughts in writing; and how to evaluate their finished work.
Once Upon a Life Science Book: Teachers will focus on key content from the NGSS paired with literacy strategies that address the Common Core. They will try out content-specific lessons that they can put right to use in their middle and high school classrooms. It is strongly recommended that participants have access to Once Upon a Life Science Book: 12 interdisciplinary lessons to create confident readers— a year-long program for building literacy instruction into life science and biology.
Once Upon an Earth Science Book: As in the Life Science workshop, teachers will focus on key content from the NGSS paired with literacy strategies that address the Common Core. Teachers will leave with lessons that teach reading, writing, and Earth science content that they can use right away in middle and high school classrooms. It is strongly recommended that participants have access to Once Upon an Earth Science Book: 12 interdisciplinary lessons to create confident readers— a year-long program for building reading instruction into Earth science.
Once Upon a Physical Science Book: As in the Life and Earth science workshops, teachers will focus on key content from the NGSS paired with literacy strategies that address the Common Core. Teachers will leave with lessons that teach reading, writing, and physical science content that they can use right away in middle and high school classrooms. It is strongly recommended that participants have access to Once Upon a Physical Science Book: 12 interdisciplinary lessons to create confident readers— a year-long program for building reading instruction into physical science.
Long-Term Change Agent: If you are looking to help your teachers make big changes in their teaching, to move toward a student-centered focus or to make literacy integration a cornerstone of your science program, contact me. I will develop a one- or two-year program to guide your teachers through major changes by incorporating workshops, model teaching, peer observation, and gradual culture change. This process allows teachers to try new methods and then meet back for support and problem-solving.
Use the links below to see me in action!
Back in 2017, I created a series of short videos for the Georgia Department of Education. Check out any of these links to check out some of my content. Feel free to use these videos for in-house staff development if you prefer.
Elementary:
- Integrating Writing and Science
- Integrating Reading and Science
- Writing about Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning
- Sentence Frames for Reading, Writing, and Forming Science Knowledge
Middle/High:
- Integrating Writing and Science:
- Integrating Reading and Science:
- Signal Words for Reading, Writing, and Forming Science Knowledge
- Writing about Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning:
K-12:
- Reading Strategies Part 1: Make it Make Sense: For Teachers in Grades K-12
- Reading Strategies Part 2: Problem-Solving Tools
- Knowing Enough to Read: How Background Influences Science Comprehension
- Before and After Writing: Prewriting and Evaluation
- Integrating Reading, Writing, and Science in the K-8 Classroom: A Call to Action for Administrators
Once Upon a Science Book 