Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This month we are bringing you ideas on daily, purposeful read alouds, using concrete manipulatives to help students construct meaning and develop conceptual knowledge, and teaching executive skills. We are also launching our first ever online learning seminar in October! We are using the Zoom platform to conduct interactive professional development sessions. We hope you can join us and add digital tools and ways to use them to your teaching and learning toolbox.
Please let us know if you need any resources.
We are here to serve you.
Happy Teaching!
-Kelly Harmon & Randi Anderson
Building Meaning....Literally
Have you ever struggled to find the right words or explanation of something? Most of us have been there once or twice. Students struggle with this, too. So, why not build something to represent your thinking? Constructing a model of what you are picturing or thinking can help to solidify conceptual understanding. Using legos, building blocks, or play doh, students build to represent an idea or understanding of a concept. This can be a less intimidating option for students to show their understanding or thinking about ideas or topics.
Recently, my three year old son, Whitten, had been hearing the news and conversations about hurricane Harvey and the devastation in south Texas. He had asked me several questions and we talked about the flooding that was happening in Houston. He wanted to know what flooding was and how a hurricane moves. That afternoon, we went to our local Play Street Museum, and while he was playing, he constructed his interpretation of what was happening. This was his way of learning and dealing with the heavy ideas he had seen and heard. Play Street posted a wonderful message about hurricane Harvey and his building here. Be sure to check it out!
This year we challenge you to turn a written task into a building task. This is not only great for our littlest learners but, also our English language learners. This helps develop vocabulary, construct meaning, and open their minds for the outside to see in.
Teaching Children Executive Skills
While at the International Literacy Association Conference this summer, I attended a session that focused on helping struggling readers develop executive skills for academic success. Kelly Cartwright, author of Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension, A Guide for Educators, made a research-based case that many students are not experiencing success because of underlying issues. These executive function issues are not evident of the surface, but can easily be identified and addressed. Her research has found that executive skills begin to develop early and are a good predictor of proficient reading in grades two and beyond.
Harvard University defines executive skills as "skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully."
Executive skills help us make decisions, self regulate, and prioritize tasks. These are all real world skills that successful people execute well.
Students who have executive skills are able to read strategically and apply their new knowledge to their world. Harvard University also says "children are not born with these skills- they are born with the potential to develop them." It is important to teach students the thinking processes that develop executive skills such as developing working memory, mental flexibility, and self control. Teaching this thought process goes hand and hand with the habits of the mind and teaching to have a growth mind set.
This year, we will feature one or two executive functions. We will define the skill and offer ideas for assessing and developing the skill.
To read the entire blog post on Teaching Executive Skills, click here!
Digital Literacy Online Seminar
Saturday, October 7, 2017
9:00am -12:30pm
Grades 1-8
Earn 3.5 Hours of Professional Learning Credit
Join Kelly Harmon for a half day session engaging student's in reading and writing instruction using technology to increase engagement and achievement! Learn new apps for writing and producing projects. Discover ways to integrate reading and writing instruction that will not only motivate but advance student's writing stamina. For more info, click here!
To register, call or email Randi @ (817) 583-1290 or randi@kellyharmon.net
After your paperwork and payment is received, you will receive a video link to the training.
Reaching Our Struggling Learners (Two Day Conference)
November 1-2, 2017
DFW Area (TX)
K-12
In this exceptional and all new intensive, Kelly Harmon will share new strategies and ideas for igniting a passion for reading in our struggling students. Learn how collaborative discussions can be an avenue to achievement for all students. Guide learners into a growth mindset and cultivate a culture of success. Walk away with practical and ready-to-implement strategies, techniques, and activities to increase student achievement. Dig deep into ways to build parent partnerships and community in your school. Register early (by October 10th to receive the early bird discount) Space is limited! Group discounts available. For more information, click here!
Creating Strategic Readers Conference
An in-depth conference for increasing student fluency and comprehension in meaningful and authentic instruction
San Antonio, TX
K-6
Gain a full understanding of what a proficient reader looks like! Spend the first day examining ways to boost student's fluency while teaching phonemic awareness skills. Learn ways to progress monitor and assess students with fidelity. On Day 2, educators will dive into the world of guided reading instruction and how that is implemented successfully along with ideas and activities to boost students comprehension. Discover ways to get students motivated to read a variety of texts. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas and resources for creating proficient readers in your classroom! Attend both days for $425 or just one day for $225 per participant. Register today to receive an early bird or group discount. Click here, for more information!
Writing Instruction That Works! Online Event
Boost your student's writing achievement with fresh ideas to engage and excite students about writing!
ONLINE EVENT
January 20, 2018
9:00am - 12:30pm
Grades 3-8
Earn 3.5 Hours of Professional Learning Credit From Home!
Transform your writing instruction when you discover new and engaging writing activities to use in all content areas! Discuss blogging, letter, and journal writing. Increase your student's writing stamina as you scaffold students using rigorous and motivating activities. Learn expository writing ideas, grammar strategies, and much more! This is half day seminar you will not want to miss! To register, call or email Randi @ (817) 583-1290 or randi@kellyharmon.net
After your paperwork and payment is received, you will receive a video link to the training.
Strengthening Your Title I Program Conference
Learn how to better lead your school or district Title I team in this strategy-packed, two-day institute led by nationally acclaimed presenter, Kelly Harmon. You will discover how to work with teachers to identify and implement the most effective cutting-edge, research-based instructional strategies to increase school and district wide student achievement. You will learn how to develop teacher expertise in working with struggling students along with ways to continually monitor and adjust instruction based on student results.
Guided Math Conference
Kelly Harmon & Associates, LLC
Email: randi@kellyharmon.net
Website: www.kellyharmon.net
Phone: 817-583-1290
Twitter: @TexasLiteracy