Literacy Training & Development

Literacy is the foundation of learning how to learn and is a passion for Susan Kruger, founder of SOAR®.  As a reading specialist, Susan has trained thousands of teachers in a variety of literacy topics…which means that Susan has also learned from thousands of teachers, too!  She is also a consultant and national trainer for a major text-book company, which has allowed her to visit many different classrooms and observe various teaching styles in action.  She brings all of these learning experiences together with a solid foundation of research-based principles for what “works” in the classroom.  All sessions include hands-on activities and welcome input and ideas from participants.

Programs Include:

	The five SIX Essential Components to Creating Better Readers (and Writers) (K-8)
	Building the Intangible - Comprehension; Reciprocal Reading, Graphic Organizers, & Schema Connections (K-8)
	2500 Words per Year?! - Painless Strategies for Building Vocabularies (K-12)
	Four Blocks™ (Cunningham, Hall, & Sigmon) – Integrating your Language Arts Curriculum into a Four Block™ Framework (K-6)
	Custom Literacy Training & Development (K-12)

The five SIX Essential Components to Creating Better Readers (and Writers) –(K-8)
   

fluency - vocabulary - phonics - phonemic awareness - comprehension - writing

 

Using the Five Essential Components of Literacy (+ Writing), we provide easy, powerful, and effecient strategies for covering all bases in a differentiated literacy curriculum.  Our practical strategies can be implemented immediately and meet the needs of all levels of learners (differentiating instruction to meet the varying needs of students in one classroom is the ultimate goal of this program.)  Systems for organizing and implementing literacy instruction are illustrated while providing plenty of hands-on strategies and tips that can be used immediately.   Many make-and-takes are included in this program.

Full program = 5-6 hours

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Building the Intangible – Comprehension Development with Reciprocal Reading , Graphic Organizers, & Schema Connections (K-8)

The ultimate goal of reading is to create meaning, yet it is also the most difficult concept to teach. If only we could climb into our students brains (or have them climb into ours)… Comprehension instruction can actually become one of the most enjoyable facets of literacy instruction! This program demonstrates the use of reciprocal reading, graphic organizers, and schema connections. Participants will practice each strategy themselves and evaluate ways to integrate these strategies across the curriculum.

Full program = 3 hours

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2500 Words per Year?! Painless Strategies for Building Vocabularies (K-12)

Yes, that’s right. It is estimated that students need to learn an average of 2500 words per year, just to stay on grade-level! That’s more than 69 words per week!

How is possible to develop such a vast word bank for your students? This workshop evaluates how and when to provide direct vocabulary instruction as well as strategies for promoting healthy vocabulary development across the curriculum. Teachers will enjoy this captivating program and will walk away with tools they can use the next day!

Full program = 2-3 hours

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Four Blocks™ (Cunningham, Hall, & Sigmon) Integrating your Language Arts Curriculum into a Four Block™ Framework (K-6)

Four Blocks™ is a framework for organizing your Language Arts instruction. It is a wonderful tool to help you prioritize your lesson plans and ensure that you cover pertinent literacy topics, while reaching the needs of all learners. Teachers will be refreshed to see that Four Blocks™ is not another layer, but an easy system for integrating all facets of language arts instruction. This framework works with all literacy programs (i.e. leveled books and basals).

Full program = 2-3 hours

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Michigan Literacy Progress Profile-MLPP (K-3)

MLPP is a compilation of several assessment pieces and correlating intervention strategies to help teachers reach all readers. MLPP was designed to provide teachers with a system of diagnostic assessments to target students’ literacy needs and enable students to be successful readers by the end of third grade. The assessments cover eleven facets of literacy development: literacy attitudes, concepts of print, oral reading, sight words, oral language, known words, writing, letter/sound recognition, phonemic awareness, hearing/recording sounds, and comprehension.

This workshop explores each of the 11 areas of literacy, how and when to use the assessment pieces, and what to do with the results. Classroom management strategies and tips are also addressed as it pertains to the effective implementation and use of these tools.

Full program = 5 days

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Custom Literacy Programs Available (K-adult)

Do you have an interest in additional literacy topics? If so, please call us for a free consultation. We will discuss your needs, determine if we can help, and create a proposal for your review.