Literacy Summit with Keys to Literacy "Lots of great ideas!"
"Informative, relevant and thorough. Thank you."
"Very informative and responsive. Real life examples are so helpful. I loved the reviewing and application on morning of Day 2..."
"Useful skills and strategies that can easily be used in my classroom as soon as tomorrow (and easily)..."
The Middle School Literacy Summit is developed exclusively for Middle School educators. It is an outstanding opportunity for teachers to acquire additional skills and knowledge and Administrators to learn essential strategies and tools to develop a comprehensive literacy plan.
The two-day Literacy Summit offers participants to choose one of two tracks, comprehension instruction or school wide literacy planning (choose one). The format provides ample time for deep exposure to the material and hands-on learning with the instructors.
The Key Comprehension Routine is a research based comprehension strategies program that emphasizes the integration of strategies using existing content materials and can be used in any content area. This instructional routine is effective for both general and special education to support Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction. Session attendees will leave with strategies that can be used immediately in the classroom to build student comprehension skills. Topics include:
These skills are integrated into activities that are used before, during and after reading: using a top-down topic web, taking two-column notes, summarizing, and generating questions. Participants will leave with a foundational and practical routine that can be readily embedded in their classrooms.
Literacy Planning is a two-day session for building and district personnel who are interested in developing and implementing a comprehensive district or middle school literacy plan. The workshop provides a detailed review of a literacy planning process that incorporates recognized best literacy planning practices. The session also provides a detailed review of the planning methodology and tools and time to start work on your literacy plan. The phases of the literacy planning process include:
In addition, workshop participants will receive an in-depth review of 8 essential literacy plan components and how they are addressed at each planning stage:
There will be time allotted for teams to initiate the literacy planning process for their district or building. Teams will leave the session with a completed literacy plan framework that will include literacy objectives and a detailed project plan.
For a graduate credit syllabus please click here.
Click here for a Plymouth State University graduate credit registration form.
Participants will choose one of two Summit tracks, Comprehension Instruction or Literacy Planning.
8:30 -9:00 – Registration and continental breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 – Keynote
The Common Core Expectations for Content Literacy Instruction Joan Sedita, Founder, Keys to Literacy
9:45 – 11:45 –Workshop Sessions
Comprehension Instruction with Maureen Murgo
Literacy Planning with Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
11:45 – 12:30– Catered lunch
12:30 – 3:30 – Workshop Sessions
Comprehension Instruction with Maureen Murgo
Literacy Planning with Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
8:00 -8:30 – Continental breakfast
8:30 – 11:45 – Workshop Sessions
Comprehension Instruction with Maureen Murgo
Literacy Planning with Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
11:45 – 12:30 – Catered lunch
12:30 – 3:30 – Workshop Sessions
Comprehension Instruction with Maureen Murgo
Literacy Planning with Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
To address literacy in the middle grades, Keys to Literacy offers district- and school-wide literacy planning with professional development in the area of content reading instruction. Joan Sedita, the founder of Keys to Literacy is a recognized expert in the area of adolescent literacy and the author of the Key Comprehension and Key Vocabulary Routines. Keys to Literacy has worked with hundreds of school districts and thousands of teachers to improve teacher practice and student literacy skills.
Elissa is a speech-language pathologist and reading specialist with experience providing instruction and intervention in language and literacy to students preK-8th grade. She received her bachelor's degree from Gordon College, her master's degree from MGH Institute of Health Professions and her doctorate degree in Reading and Language Arts from Florida State University. Prior to working at Keys to Literacy, Elissa was a curriculum and intervention specialist at the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) at Florida State University. She serves as an adjunct faculty member in the graduate education department at Gordon College teaching graduate classes on reading foundations, adolescent literacy, instruction, assessment, and intervention.
Maureen has been a teacher and administrator for 18 years. After receiving her Masters in School Leadership from Harvard University, Maureen worked as an Assistant Principal and Administrator for 8 years. She received her Masters of Education in Special Needs from Lesley University, and her teaching experience has focused primarily on students with reading, learning and emotional challenges. Maureen taught at the Landmark School for students with reading and learning disabilities; the Newton, Billerica, and Lexington Public Schools in MA; and Bedford High School in NH. In addition to teaching and administration, Maureen has written a remedial study skills program, and developed a district-wide tutoring program.