Upcoming Events Open to the General Public

The Reading Institute Sponsors Two Workshops With Sally Grimes: One for Paraprofessionals and One for Administrators

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM $175.00 for each (includes 7 PDP’s)

LOCATION of Each: Black Rock Country Club –
19 Clubhouse Road – Hingham, MA 01267

1) Designed for Paraprofessionals: The Five Essential Components of Reading... Working Together: Thursday, October 30, 2008

This workshop is designed specifically for paraprofessionals in Grades K-4 who work with struggling readers. It will provide an overview of the five essential components of the reading process as defined by the National Reading Panel: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension with hands on ideas for each component. Issues to be addressed include determining which interventions and curriculum materials are needed, how intensely they are needed, and how to provide appropriate scaffolding for those who struggle with reading. The format will include practicing activities and working in small groups. This workshop will serve as an introduction to the most recent research-based information about the reading process and focus on the reasons readers struggle and helpful interventions based upon those reasons.

2) Designed for School Administrators and Their Teams: A Roadmap for Reading Initiatives : Friday, October 31, 2008

Administrators, in their roles as educational leaders, are more and more involved in the details of reading instruction, but the learning curve involved can be daunting since it is difficult to stay current due to the great strides that have been made in understanding reading and "best practices". In addition, it is very difficult to find professional development in reading that is specifically designed for educational leaders and allows them to focus on the aspects of reading instruction that will help them spearhead changes in literacy practices. This workshop will serve as a "primer" that will focus on the key components of successful, evidence-based literacy initiatives and some central issues involved in evaluating reading practices. It will provide a kind of "road map" to guide leaders and help them find the resources they seek in making change in terms of curriculum, infrastructure, professional development, and assessment. It will outline the "hot button" issues such as a formative assessment, and the key consideration for literacy teams. Importantly, participants will be able to pose questions in a comfortable atmosphere with their colleagues and hear about successful practices of other administrators.

Some of the topics briefly addressed in this workshop:

    • why fluency issues contribute widely to reading failure

    • what are the barriers to reading comprehension?

    • how recent brain research in reading influences decisions in differentiating       instruction

    • the five components of reading and how oral language plays a role how DIBELS       and AIMSweb data can guide instruction

    • the Three Tier Model of Reading and "Response to Intervention" the       infrastructure needs of truly differentiated reading instruction

It is suggested that central office administrators attend this workshop along with their building principals, reading, special education, and Title 1 leaders so that the benefits from the group work will be maximized. This workshop will be geared to K-4, but others will benefit. Film clips of interviews with public school administrators and teachers involved in a reading initiative will be shown.

TO REGISTER CLICK ON: www.thereadinginstitute.net or call: 413-458-9995 or Email: janetjstratton@aol.com

Date: December 5, 2008

Times: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Location: MESPA Education and Technology Center

Name of Program: “From Learning Words to Building Meaning: Vocabulary and Comprehension Working Together – Practical Interventions”

Date: January 29, 2009

Times: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Location: MESPA Education and Technology Center

Name of Program: “I Have Data… Now What?!

Date: January 30, 2009

Times: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Location: MESPA Education and Technology Center

COMMONWEALTH LEARNING CENTER

Sally Grimes, Ed.M.
Reading and Response to Intervention (RtI)

Friday, December 12, 2008, 9:00AM-3:00PM
Newton Marriott Hotel

This workshop will provide an overview of RtI and its implications for providing reading instruction that is jointly planned and monitored by general education and special education administrators and staff taking "collective responsibility" for all students. The presenter will describe:

      • how this desired framework can be set up
      • what curricula support it
      • how a literacy team and assessment team are crucial
      • the need for ongoing professional development
      • the need for screening and targeted progress monitoring of students.
      • how a multi-tiered continuum of instruction uses scientific research-based         interventions that link remedial and preventive efforts within a school or district.

Successful models will be described and a variety of resources will be provided.

Fee: $175, includes lunch and handouts

5 MA Professional Development Points available

Please call 800-461-6671 to register

Sally Grimes is the Founding Director of The Grimes Reading Institute in Rockport, MA, one of the three entities awarded the contract for implementing the Massachusetts Reading First Professional Development Plan under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Sally was also one of three Lead Trainers for the Reading First Initiative in Massachusetts. Her experience includes teaching, clinical diagnostic work, policy development, public service, and helping to start Landmark School, a renowned school for students with dyslexia. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and in Special Education from the University of Illinois and a dual Masters Degree in Reading and in Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

MASCD (Massachusetts Association for Curriculum and Development) sponsors:

A Road Map for District and School Based Reading Initiatives

presented by

Sally Grimes, Grimes Reading Institute

Non-member $189 paying by check or credit card

OR - To register using a purchase order, click here
*MASCD membership is separate from ASCD membership.

February 12, 2009 - Held at Watertown Public Schools

This workshop is specially designed for curriculum directors and principals who want the most up-to-date, research-based knowledge on effective reading instruction for all children. Participants are invited to bring their reading specialists and teacher leaders.

This one-day session will serve as a basic guide to the critical components of a successful reading initiative that is consistent with the Three Tier Reading Model and Response to Intervention (RtI), that builds consistency throughout the district, and that uses scientifically based instruction, assessment and progress monitoring that reflects current knowledge in the field. It will briefly describe

        • how the "five+" components of reading interact
        • "choice" resources, including a glossary of terms and a "required reading list"
        • various curriculum choices for core, supplemental and intervention programs
        • school-based literacy teams
        • infrastructure and professional development requirements