Writing Instruction Workshops
Functional Grammar and Writing for Elementary Workshop
This two-day workshop provides teachers with the knowledge and strategies for teaching writing to both primary- and upper-grade elementary students, from basic sentence construction through longer compositions.
Participant Outcomes:
- Become familiar with effective practices in writing instruction.
- Understand the differences between modern and traditional grammar.
- Understand the structure of English sentences and how to teach the sentence at a level of complexity appropriate for elementary students.
- Become familiar with expository text structures.
- Learn how to teach paragraph writing.
- Understand the structure and organization of longer compositions and selected essay types.
Day 1 focuses on
- The current state of student writing proficiency
- Components of effective writing instruction
- Introduction to modern English grammar
- Sentence elements (subjects, verbs, adverbials, and objects) and parts of speech (adverbs, nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and conjunctions)
Day 2 focuses on
- Syntax structures: Subordinate clauses and complex sentences
- Sentence element: Complements
- Prepositions, writing conventions, and clause patterns
- Paragraph development
- The structure of longer expository compositions, including opening and closing paragraphs and transitions
- The organization of selected essay types
Levels: K–6. Audience: Classroom teachers, resource teachers, and school administrators who are implementing writing instruction for elementary-level students. Format: Two days. Materials: Participant Resource Guide.
Functional Grammar and Writing for Adolescents Workshop
This workshop provides teachers with the knowledge and strategies for teaching writing to adolescents, from basic sentence construction to longer compositions.
Participant Outcomes:
- Become familiar with best practices in writing instruction.
- Understand the differences between modern and traditional grammar.
- Understand the structure of English sentences and how to teach the sentence at a level of complexity appropriate for older students.
- Become familiar with expository text structures.
- Learn how to teach paragraph writing.
- Understand the structure and organization of longer compositions and selected essay types.
Day 1 focuses on
- The crisis in writing proficiency
- Components of effective writing instruction
- Introduction to modern English grammar
- Sentence elements (subjects, verbs, adverbials, and objects), parts of speech (adverbs, nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and conjunctions), and syntax structures (subordinate clauses and complex sentences)
Day 2 focuses on
- Instruction on complements, prepositions, conventions, and clause patterns
- Paragraph development
- The structure of longer expository compositions, including opening and closing paragraphs and transitions
- Thesis statements and the assertion/support format
- The organization of selected essay types
Levels: 6–12. Audience: Classroom teachers, resource teachers, and school administrators who are implementing writing instruction in grades 6–12. Format: Two days. Materials: Participant Resource Guide.
Writing Instruction Workshop: Houghton Mifflin Reading
This one-day session supports educators in the use of Houghton Mifflin Reading writing components. The workshop has two grade-level versions: K–3 and 3–6.
Participant Outcomes:
- Quickly locate Houghton Mifflin’s writing and language resources.
- Use explicit instruction to teach writing and language.
- Use the Daily Language Practice and the Journal Prompts effectively.
- Use assessment information to plan differentiated instruction.
- Use graphic organizers effectively in the writing process.
- Teach the five-phase writing process effectively.
- Teach the Reading-Writing Workshop effectively.
- Use evaluation tools, rubrics, benchmark papers, and checklists effectively.
Levels: K–3, 3–6. Audience: Elementary classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators. Format: One day. Materials: Participant Resource Packet.