Fall Choice Literacy Workshops October 18 - 20, 2008 Samoset Resort


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Fall Choice Literacy Workshops
October 18 - 20, 2008
Samoset Resort - Rockland, Maine

Featuring:
Jennifer Allen, Becoming a Literacy Leader
"The Sisters" - Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, The Daily Five
Aimee Buckner, Notebook Know-How
Brenda Power, Living the Questions
Franki Sibberson and Karen Szymusiak, Still Learning to Read

Are you tired of overpriced literacy conferences that feel like cattle calls, with huge crowds, long lines, not enough seats, and lousy acoustics?

So are we.

Join us this fall for a literacy leadership workshop at a lovely locale - - the four-star Samoset Resort in Rockland, ME.

We've created professional development events we would like to attend, but never seem able to find anymore - small enough to chat with the presenters and other participants, in beautiful locales that help us recharge mentally and physically, and with resources provided that leave our minds buzzing with new possibilities for working with students and colleagues back home.

The learning environment that Choice Literacy creates -- the locations of the events, the agenda of the days, the gifts, the presenters' personalities -- all come together to engage the audience, even though the content of the workshops is gift enough!

-- Janice Driscoll, from Clifton Springs, New York

Our workshops will give you the resources you need to go back home and lead professional development events for your colleagues and staff.

You'll leave with templates, high quality videos, workshop protocols, and memories of conversations with colleagues from across the country who share the joys and struggles of helping schools move forward in literacy.

Samoset at sunset. Photo by Joan Moser, taken during the 2007 Fall Choice Literacy Workshops.

All Choice Literacy events will be held at the Samoset Resort, Maine's only four-star resort, located on the coast. The resort features many fine restaurants and paths for walking along the ocean breakwater.

Samoset Resort

Website: http://www.samosetresort.com/

Reservations: 1-800-341-1650 ("Choice Literacy" Reservation Code for Discounted Rate)

Rates: $119 Single/Double plus tax

Fall Workshop Descriptions

The Literacy Principal in Action (NEW in 2008)

with Karen Szymusiak, Co-Author of Still Learning to Read

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, October 18th

Principals are expected to be curricular leaders in their schools - but what does that look and feel like? This full-day workshop takes you into daily routines of Karen Szymusiak, a principal at Glacier Ridge Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio and author of many best-selling books and videos on literacy instruction. Karen will share strategies for observing and collaborating with teachers, leading meetings with a curriculum focus, and guiding staff in new literacy initiatives in a way that honors and respects educators, even as you challenge them to try new teaching techniques and strategies. Karen brings years of experience as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, and district curriculum administration to her role as a principal, so she has a unique ability to step into the shoes of many different stakeholders in literacy reform. Participants receive a copy of the "Literacy Principal in Action" DVD, currently in production.

To download a registration form, click here.

Helping Struggling Readers in Grades 3-6 (NEW in 2008)

with Franki Sibberson, Co-Author of Still Learning to Read

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, October 18th

What routines are most helpful to struggling readers, and how can they participate as full members of the classroom community in reading workshop? This workshop will include examples of best practices, word study, books that are especially useful, and strategies for including strugglers in whole-class discussions and small groups in ways that differentiate instruction without discouraging or singling out students. Franki will present perspectives from her classroom of grades 3 and 4 students, and her work as a coach in classrooms throughout her school as she helps colleagues grapple with struggling readers. Participants will receive a copy of a new Choice Literacy DVD in production and print materials.

To download a registration form, click here.

This workshop is tailored to meet the needs of both teachers and instructional coaches. It is organized well and balanced with lecture, video, questions and time to talk. A very relaxed but highly effective use of time. I only have positive things to say about this conference. I'm so happy I was able to be a part of it.

Lisa Meyers, Literacy Coach from Portland, Oregon

Mentor Texts: Teaching Writer's Craft and Reading Strategies (NEW in 2008)

with Aimee Buckner, Author of Notebook Know-How

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday, October 19th

What are the books you can't live without in your coaching and teaching, the ones you return to again and again when teaching minilessons or conferring with students? Aimee Buckner will lead a day-long session on selecting and using mentor texts in literacy workshops. She'll take you into her 4th grade classroom with video segments and children's work samples, to show how mentor texts can use used to build a classroom community and elevate the quality of student work at the same time. Specific reading and writing strategies linked to books will be shared, with many genres presented. Participants will receive a copy of Aimee's Choice Literacy DVD Mentor Texts, currently in production, and many print resources.

To download a registration form, click here.

CAFÉ/Daily 5 Combo

with "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser), Authors of The Daily 5

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, October 20th

Teachers know assessing young readers involves more than determining a reading level and moving them onto the next. Yet all too often, assessment systems don't provide much information beyond determining a child's reading level. Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (authors of the book The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades) developed the Daily 5 independent work system and CAFÉ assessment system to help elementary students understand and master different strategies used by successful readers. Joan and Gail are still teachers in the public school system. They both use the system daily with students, and have helped dozens of teachers in their school districts implement the program. Participants will receive a copy of the DVD workshop kit CAFÉ in the Classroom and a wealth of print resources.

To download a registration form, click here.

Just what I needed to nudge my own professional development in my work as a literacy coach. It really jumpstarted my thinking about the needs of our school. We continue to struggle with balancing curriculum and student needs but most of all, time. Both CAFE and the Daily 5 together have the potential to move teachers towards a management and instructional system to address all of these. I can't wait to share with my colleagues.

Rose Patterson, Literacy Coach from Waterville, Maine

Coaching Content Literacy (NEW in 2008)

with Franki Sibberson, Co-Author of Still Learning to Read

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday, October 19th

Literacy skills are crucial in math, science, and social studies, but sometimes the demands of these texts require different kinds of instruction in workshops. Franki will show video clips and examples of instruction that help elementary students understand the language styles and text features in different disciplines, and how teachers can make clear connections between literacy across the curriculum. She will also take participants into her work with colleagues as a coach, and her collaboration with coaches in her school who focus full-time on content disciplines. Participants will receive a copy of a new Choice Literacy DVD in production, as well as many print resources.

To download a registration form, click here.

This workshop validates how teaching is truly a profession that requires thoughtful decisions made by people who take the time to grow themselves and bring that knowledge to their decisions about next steps for each student. The tone and quality of the workshop is truly something every teacher should experience.

Diana Doiron, State Department Literacy Specialist from Augusta, Maine

Leading Study Groups and Meetings (NEW in 2008)

with Jennifer Allen, Author of Becoming a Literacy Leader and Brenda Power, Founder of Choice Literacy

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday, October 19th

One of the least acknowledged but most important skills any literacy leader needs is the ability to lead meetings well. Some of these meetings might be organized professional development offerings, like study groups. Others are ongoing weekly or monthly gatherings, like grade level team meetings around assessment data or required school staff meetings which include a short curriculum discussion period. In this workshop, we'll share strategies for organizing and leading effective meetings with colleagues. The focus will be on fostering thoughtful conversations around literacy best practices. Well-run meetings and study groups become a catalyst for talk, collaboration, and new literacy practices that can energize the school community all year long. Participants receive a copy of the Choice Literacy DVD The Well-Run Meeting (currently in production) and other print resources.

To download a registration form, click here.

Intriguing and commonsense methods we take for granted -- talking through metacognition, reflecting, debriefing, etc. I have learned many things that I will implement right away. Thanks for a fabulous experience!

Tanya Becker, Literacy Coach from Omaha, Nebraska

Literacy Coach Jumpstart

with Jennifer Allen, Author of Becoming a Literacy Leader and Brenda Power, Founder of Choice Literacy

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, October 19th

It seems like almost every elementary school is adding a literacy coach to the faculty these days - but who will coach the coaches? Literacy Coach Jumpstart is a one-day workshop designed to help K-5 literacy coaches, curriculum coordinators, and school leaders acquire the skills they need for coaching success all year long. Workshops and presentations tackle the toughest challenges coaches face, including:

Creating year-long professional development goals and plans with teachers

Mentoring new teachers and setting up veteran-novice teacher partnerships
Designing and stocking a literacy resource room for teachers
Demonstrating model lessons and strategies in K-5 classrooms
Leading teacher workshops and study groups in diverse settings
Scheduling to maximize coaching time in classrooms and teacher growth
Conferring techniques that are most effective in coaching sessions
Integrating curriculum coaching into regularly scheduled staff meetings
Designing a year-long study group, coaching and assessment plan

Participants receive a wealth of print resources (over 80 pages of planning templates, checklists, conferring tip sheets, advice from veteran coaches, sample daily, weekly and year-long calendars) and a DVD of classroom-based vignettes of teachers in action for use in workshops. Workshop leaders take participants step-by-step through the design, implementation, and evaluation of study groups and workshops using these video resources.

To download a registration form, click here.

A great introduction to the many hats of a literacy coach. Addresses obstacles you may face and the rewards of coaching. I loved seeing the video clips and getting the handouts and the DVD.

Billisue Sandefur, Literacy Coach from Monroe, Michigan

To read more testimonials from participants in Jennifer Allen and Brenda Power's workshops, click here.

NEW in 2008 - Teas and Desserts

Want to extend your learning a bit after a day-long Choice Literacy workshop? This year we are offering a small number of afternoon teas and evening desserts. Each two-hour tea or dessert function includes refreshments, a presentation, and a Choice Literacy DVD linked to the topic. The DVDs participants receive are valued at a minimum of $99, so the $79 price of these events is a great value.

Design and Desserts with "The Sisters"
Sunday, October 19th 4 - 6 p.m.
Fee: $79 (includes a copy of the Simply Beautiful DVD or Simply Organized for each participant, a $99 value)

This is a fun dessert session, and you'll leave with the tools you need to beautify your classroom or school on a limited budget. A short version of The Sisters' acclaimed Trading Spaces course.

"If You Like..." Tea with Franki Sibberson
Saturday, October 18th 4 - 6:00 p.m.
Fee: $79 (includes a copy of a new Choice Literacy reading DVD, currently in production)

Have you ever wondered how you could translate a child's passion for a particular author or series into interests in other authors, topics, and genres? Franki provides a wealth of insight and booklists for tapping kids' passions for everything from Babymouse to Matt Christopher to Harry Potter, connecting these authors and series to other less well-known texts. This tea is a great way to expand your knowledge of current children's literature authors quickly.

To download a registration form for the teas and dessert events, click here.

Click here for information on hotel locations and rates.