Reading: Basic to Success: (K-3) Staff Development Programs
Two 60-minute videos

These professional development programs provide an orientation for the series, Reading: Basic to Success. The first program, Introduction, visits a first grade class in September. The teacher gives students individual assessments and then demonstrates small group instruction based on the results of those assessments. The final program of the series, Review, revisits the same first grade classroom in May to observe student progress made in reading acquisition. The Results Project, a program that focuses on matching instruction to assessment, is discussed.

Reading Basic to Success: This module includes eight 60-minute staff development video tapes and sixteen student instruction video tapes in which the studio instructor models the strategies which are presented in the staff development videos.

Unit 1: Skills for Beginners, K-1
One 60-minute staff development program

The staff development program demonstrates how to help students acquire alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness, and concepts about print. Appropriate tools for assessing these concepts are presented.

The two student programs model activities that include systematic lessons, reading together, and word play.

 

Unit 2: Phonics Instruction, K-1
One 60-minute staff development program

The staff development program takes teachers through the stages of phonics development and demonstrates appropriate assessment tools for these stages. An explicit, systematic phonics lesson is demonstrated and appropriate reinforcement activities are provided for students in grades K-1.

The two student programs invite classroom students and their teachers to experience a phonics lesson that addresses specific skills. A decodable text is used to reinforce these skills. Activities that teach high frequency words and phonics patterns are also included.

Unit 3: Spelling Instruction, K-1
One 60-minute staff development program

In this staff development program, the stages of spelling development are described and appropriate assessment tools are examined. The program describes the transition from phonetic spelling at the K-1 level to conventional spelling by the end of first grade. The program includes an explicit spelling lesson, as well as activities that reinforce the spelling process.

The two student programs invite classroom students and their teachers to experience a lesson that teaches a specific spelling pattern at the K-1 level. Several activities that reinforce spelling patterns are included.

Unit 4: Comprehension and Vocabulary Development, K-1
One 60-minute staff development program

Interactive read-aloud strategies are demonstrated on this staff development program that help students deepen comprehension and expand vocabulary.

The two student programs invite students to interact with the text as it is read aloud by the studio teacher. Students experience predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing strategies at the K-1 level. After the story is read, students are encouraged to respond to the story through writing, illustrating, and dramatic enactment.

Unit 5: Phonics Instruction, 2-3
One 60-minute staff development program

The staff development program takes teachers through the stages of phonics development and demonstrates appropriate assessment tools for these stages. An explicit, systematic phonics lesson is demonstrated and appropriate reinforcement activities are explored for students in grades K-3.

The two student programs invite classroom students and their teachers to experience a phonics lesson that addresses specific skills at the grade 2-3 level. Students participate in activities that reinforce the phonics concepts learned during direct instruction.

Unit 6: Spelling Instruction, 2-3
One 60-minute staff development program

In this staff development program the stages of spelling development are described and appropriate assessment tools are given. The program includes an explicit spelling lesson as well as activities that reinforce the spelling patterns being learned.

The two student programs invite classroom students and their teachers to experience a lesson that teaches a specific spelling pattern at the grade 2-3 level. Activities that reinforce spelling patterns and word parts (root words, prefixes, and suffixes) are also included.

 

Unit 7: Comprehension and Vocabulary Development, 2-3
One 60-minute staff development program

Activities are demonstrated on this staff development program that teach students to use strategies that deepen comprehension and expand vocabulary. Both narrative and informational text are used. The writing process is introduced.

The two student programs invite the students to interact with the text as it is read aloud by the studio teacher. Students experience predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing strategies at the grade 2-3 level. After the story is read, students are encouraged to respond to the story.

Unit 8: Strategic Reading Instruction, 2-3
One 60-minute staff development program

The staff development program demonstrates strategies that help students become independent readers. The reciprocal teaching method that teaches students to predict, question, clarify, and summarize information is highlighted. Video segments demonstrate each of these processes with students.

The two student programs invite students and their teachers to experience strategic reading lessons using both fictional and informational texts.

 

Teaching Writing, Kindergarten - Grade 1
One 60-minute staff development program

The staff development program for this module takes teachers through the stages of writing development. Examples of student writing at the kindergarten and first grade levels are shared. Strategies are modeled that encourage young children to attempt their own writing. Video clips show students actively engaged in the writing process.

During the first student program, the studio teacher models the writing process and motivates students to create their own stories on the topic of pets. The second student program focuses on writing in the content areas. The studio teacher introduces students to the concept of collecting and organizing research in a report form.

 

Teaching Writing, Grades 2-3
One 60-minute staff development program

The studio teacher discusses the stages of writing development and shares samples of student writing at the second and third grade level. Suggestions are made for helping students learn to use the writing process.

During the first student program, the writing process is modeled. Students create their own stories about pets.

The focus of the second student program is on writing in the content areas. The studio teacher introduces students to the concept of collecting and organizing research in a report form.

LANGUAGE ARTS: The Windows on My World

The Windows on My World Series is designed for students in grades 4-7. Each module is sequenced around a different piece of literature with integrated listening, talking, writing, and technology components.

Letters from Rifka
One 60-minute Staff Development Program

This 60-minute staff development program introduces and familiarizes teachers with the content and teaching strategies specific to the novel. Teaching guides and procedures for implementing student programs and discussed. The staff development programs is followed by five 30-minute student programs for grades 5-7.

Patty Reed’s Doll: The Story of the Donner Party
One 60-minute Staff Development Program

The staff development program introduces and familiarizes teachers with the content and teaching strategies specific to the novel. Teacher guides and procedures for the implementing student programs are discussed for grades 4-5.

Shiloh
One 60-minute staff development program

During this staff development program the general philosophy of the series is shared. The program helps prepare 4th –6th grade teachers of the student programs in the module by sharing ideas for room arrangement, classroom management, pre-program preparation and pacing of instruction.

Reading / Language Arts | Mathematics | History / Social Studies | Science

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