Sample Workshops and Consultations

WORKSHOPS

Content Literacy Strategies that Work
Audience:  content teachers in middle and high school, administrators
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the use and advantages of content literacy strategies
• Describe a decision-making process for identifying and implementing a school-wide literacy approach
• Identify the components of a professional development plan to foster teacher proficiency and collegial coaching
• Link schoolwide approaches to a systematic accountability design
• Complete a planning tool for establishing and implementing a school-wide literacy program for their school site

Improving Thinking and Writing Through Instruction
Audience:  teachers across grade levels, administrators, parents
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe writing standards for elementary, middle and high school students
• Understand the gradual release of responsibility model of writing (Language Experience Approach, Interactive Writing, Writing Models, Generative Sentences, Power Writing, RAFT Writing, Independent Writing)
• Complete a planning tool for establishing and implementing a school-wide writing program for their school site

Developing Literate Behaviors
Audience:  Elementary and English teachers
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe a gradual release of responsibility model for developing literacy (focus lessons, guided instruction, collaborative learning, and independent work)
• Identify the ways in which content, process, and product must be differentiated to ensure that students are successful in developing literacy
• Design an integrated unit of study for students, based on content standards using a gradual release of responsibility model of instruction

Workshop Title: Language Learners in the English Classroom
Audiences:  Teachers, administrators and/or parents

In this workshop, Doug focuses on the role of English teachers in developing students’ language.  Specifically, participants will focus on grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension in both reading and writing instruction relative to English language learners.

CONSULTATIONS

Hoover High School and Monroe Clark Middle School, CA
I worked with the staff at Hoover High School and Monroe Clark Middle School between 1998 and 2006.  We developed school-wide literacy plans and the supporting professional development to change the culture at the schools.  The plans were based on school-wide content literacy strategies, a reader/writer workshop in English, wide reading, and administrative accountability.  Over these years, these two schools had the highest change of achievement on the California Standards Test for all schools in the district. 

Waianae High School, HI
I have worked with Waianae High School in Hawaii for the past year.  Together we have written a school-wide literacy plan and provided weekly professional development for teachers at the school.  During the first year of implementation, reading achievement increased 8% based on the Hawaii Standards Test. 

Northview Schools, MI
For two years, I supported the K-12 literacy plan in Northview schools, Michigan.  This district created a K-12 literacy framework and organized professional development for all of their teachers, K-12.  The plan is based on a gradual release of responsibility model of instruction and is designed to build students’ reading and writing habits across grade levels and content areas.