Research-based, Engaging, Differentiated Professional LEARNING
I offer professional development in language, literacy, and reading instruction. My work is engaging, relevant, research-based, and carefully tailored to meet the needs of your school or district. My professional development comes in two formats: face-to-face and online.
POSSIBLE TOPICS
Choose from the partial list below, or tailor something to the needs of your school:
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Think Big with Think Alouds: Building Reading Comprehension through a Three-Step Process
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My, What Big Words You Use!: Improving Vocabulary Instruction through Read Alouds
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The Question is the Answer: Supporting Emergent Readers and Writers
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Sort Your Heart Out: Words Study in K-5 Classrooms
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Comprehension and Composition with Informational Text
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Hot Tips for Fluency Fun
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Unlevel those Libraries: Motivating Independent Reading through Access, Relevance, and Choice
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The More You Read, the More You Know: Best Practices for Comprehension Instruction
ONLINE PD
I offer three formats of virtual professional development. My offerings can be self-paced and allow teachers to select their own topics, for increased buy-in. I use a variety of digital tools (Zoom, GoogleHangout, Insertlearning, etc) to offer any of the following:
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Mastermind Meetings, where I virtually assemble a small group of people to talk about their work, set professional goals, learn together, and problem solve.
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Online book clubs
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Flipped PD, where I create modules for your staff including links to videos, articles, and other relevant learning tools which teachers access on their own time.
FACE-TO-FACE PD
I offer anything from a two-hour workshop to a long-term coaching relationship. Embedded in research and, I engage participants in participatory activities and share my passion for reading instruction. Though I do short-term work, my real favorite is working with teachers and schools in a longer-term coaching capacity.best-practices
Making the Most of Your
ELA Block
Author: Dr. Molly Ness
Course Description
This course presents research-based, engaging, student-centered strategies to build comprehension and vocabulary in K-5 students.
Driving Question
How can I maximize effective comprehension and vocabulary strategies in my K-5 ELA block?
Course Objective
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To understand the importance of background knowledge in comprehension.
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To explore effective vocabulary instruction.
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To build teachers' abilities to think aloud to promote effective comprehension instruction.
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To understand how to support readers after reading.
The Wonderful World of Word Study K-8
Author: Dr. Molly Ness
Course Description
This course helps K-8 teachers understand why spelling matters and how spelling develops. It explores word study as an effective instructional approach to build phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and orthography skills.
Course Objective
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To explain why spelling matters in students’ literacy development
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To overview spelling development and spelling stages
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To understand how to assess students’ spelling
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To give instructional ideas to integrate vocabulary, fluency, and orthography into the overall reading curriculum
Raising a Reader:
Creating Literacy-Rich Home Environments
Author: Dr. Molly Ness
Course Description
This course helps parents and caregivers create literacy-rich home environments. It explores what to expect at each stage of a child's literacy development and how to foster a love of reading.
Driving Question
What can I - as a parent or caregiver - do at home to help my child love to read?
Course Objectives
By taking this course learners will:
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Outline the compelling research about the importance of home literacy practices
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Present the key literacy developments and milestones from ages birth through twelve
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Provide concrete, practical, and easy-to-implement strategies to motivate and entertain readers through elementary school