One Presenter Groupie
Several years ago, after having attended many wonderful EARCOS Conferences and at each one learning so many fantastic ideas, taking pages of notes, and then returning to the classroom to implement them, I often found that I couldn’t remember many of the fabulous ideas that I was so excited about only days before. I realized that I was experiencing “great ideas overload” and resolved to change the way I choose what sessions to attend.
For me, I realized that the best way to carry away meaningful information that I could then implement in the classroom was to follow one workshop presenter through all of his/her sessions the duration of the conference. In this way I could more easily learn and remember as each session connected with and often built upon the previous session.
This year I chose to follow Maggie Moon, and what a fantastic choice that turned out to be! Our Elementary School at International School Bangkok has been extremely fortunate for these past two years to have Maggie working with us as our Literacy Coach/Counselor/Advisor. Maggie’s workshop sessions focused on Balanced Literacy through the Reading and Writing Workshop format. Below are descriptions of her workshops, and if you follow the link from her name it will take you to where you can download the extremely useful handouts appropriate for both Elementary and Middle School language arts classes.
MAGGIE MOON
Maggie Moon
Workshop 1 – Title: Read Aloud with Accountable Talk-Thinking and Talking Deeply About Books
Description:This workshop will show teachers how to successfully launch and sustain an important component of their daily literacy instruction, called The Interactive Read Aloud with Accountable Talk. Using the techniques of Think Aloud, Turn and Talk, and Stop and Jot, teachers will learn how to plan their Read Aloud texts, as well as ways to assess students.
Workshop 2 – Title: Book Clubs for Independent Readers
Description:This workshop will walk teachers through the ways to form and launch student Book Clubs, from Grades 3-8, as part of a Reader’s Workshop. Teachers will also learn of the helpful Minilessons and conferences that play a large part in student success, as well as receive suggestions for great children’s literature.
Workshop 3 – Title: Writing Workshop 101
Description:For teachers who have dabbled in launching a Writing Workshop, this session will explain the basics of setting up a daily Writing Workshop in grades K-5. The topic of Units of Study will be looked at closely, as well as what Minilessons, conferences, and small group instruction tend to make workshops and young writers soar!
Workshop 4 – Title: Assessing Students’ Narrative Writing Skills
Description:This workshop will provide teachers with an in depth look at Narrative Writing, and the particular Units of Study that might be executed in a Writing Workshop. Then teachers will take a close look at a tool that aids in assessing student writing along a continuum.
