This series offers an in-depth exploration of writing development. We begin with the big picture of writing instruction, where we look at the key layers (the core skills and understandings), alongside the role of the writing process. Each subsequent session examines a specific layer of writing: why it matters, what to teach, and how to teach it, with research-based strategies from real classrooms. Topics typically include Handwriting (Printing, Cursive, Keyboarding), Word Study, Sentence Structure and Syntax, Vocabulary, Text Structure and Purpose, and the Writing Process.

This dynamic session supports secondary teachers across all academic disciplines by enhancing students’ fluent reading and comprehension skills. Participants will explore why accuracy, rate, and prosody are essential indicators of comprehension and how improving fluency can unlock deeper understanding of complex content. Through a disciplinary lens, teachers will examine how fluency impacts subject-specific comprehension and learn practical, evidence-based strategies to help students not only read more fluently but also engage more deeply with texts.

We explore the power of dialogic talk to deepen student comprehension, thinking, and learning. Through dialogic talk, students engage in purposeful, collaborative conversations that move beyond surface-level responses, fostering deep understanding and critical thinking. This approach boosts student engagement by inviting learners to actively participate in meaning-making, make personal connections to content, co-construct knowledge, and develop the ability to transfer and apply their learning across contexts.

Screen time is a reality of modern life, and developing technological literacy and fluency are essential. This session explores research on the role and impacts of digital devices from early childhood onward, including a look at the ‘transfer deficit’ and ‘technoference’ effects. We also share insights into the brain differences when we engage with digital versus print text. We then provide practical strategies to help families, caregivers, and educators to support healthy, purposeful screen use across ages.

Gain practical insights into designing a comprehensive Word Study program and investigate some evidence-based teacher moves that support students in engaging with the complexities of English. We share keys to success as you design your program to meet the needs of your learners as they learn and consolidate their reading, spelling, and writing in English, a complex orthographic system. We discuss ways to tailor your word study instruction to the needs of your diverse class. 

We can also tailor this session specifically to Words Their Way (now called Word Study for Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary)

We explore the role of Text Structure in supporting deep comprehension and as a tool for planning and implementing meaningful writing with students. Although text structure is essential for both comprehension and writing development, it is often misunderstood or overlooked in literacy instruction. We begin by building clarity and consistent language around text purpose, structure, and form – tools that help students access, enjoy, and create texts in ways that honour their thinking. From there, we will investigate how text structures and related thinking patterns can be leveraged to support instruction across the disciplines.