Professional Development and Parent Programs

As a literacy specialist for over twenty years, I enjoy interacting with educators on a variety of topics related to literacy and children’s literature. I was the character education/SEL columnist for LibrarySparks, which inspired my Children’s Book Corner blog where I spotlight outstanding children’s books that promote social-emotional learning while connecting to the curriculum.

I present widely at local, state, and national conferences, and offer professional development workshops across the country. I am the Professional Development Chair for the Niagara Frontier Reading Council and have served as the Educator Event Coordinator for the Western New York Children’s Book Expo since its inception in 2015.

I offer a variety of workshops focusing on connecting outstanding children’s books with the curriculum. Each workshop features hands-on activities and includes opportunities to sample suggested books. Workshops center on specific content areas and are tailored to school / grade level needs.  An extensive resource is included with each workshop. A few workshops to consider: “Linking Literacy and the Arts through Interactive Read-Alouds,” “The Read-Aloud Rx,” and “Meet State Standards and Reinforce Math Concepts with Outstanding Children’s Books.”

In the workshop, “Social-Emotional Learning: Teaching It by the Book”, I expand upon the themes and suggestions found in the postings on my Children’s Book Corner blog. I have been fostering social-emotional learning through connections to curriculum since I wrote a monthly character education column in LibrarySparks. I have continued on the blog and through focused workshops for educators. Explore SEL-rich children’s literature—both fiction and informational—for students in Grades Pre-K—Grade 8. Scaffold instruction, deepen understanding, broaden learning, build character, provide role models, and satisfy state standards. Plant a seed and fill a need. We’ll cover it all in this dynamic, uplifting workshop.  An extensive bibliography is provided.

In my popular “Set Your Poetry Phobia Packing” workshop, participants learn about “poetry pauses” that reinforce and extend core curricular units of study as well as delve into ideas for full-blown poetry lessons. The tips, techniques, and resources offered in this workshop will banish fear of teaching poetry! We explore poetic devices, poetry forms, and poetic techniques. We’ll visit work by poets kids will connect to and love to read, review teacher resources, anthologies, and themed collections that pique students’ interest. Ample time is provided during this hands-on workshop to develop and share ideas for teaching poetry. An extensive bibliography of current children’s poetry books and a list of resources for educators is provided to all participants. De-mystify poetry once and for all! Poetry phobia be gone!

In my workshop focusing on Empowering Families: Practical Ways to Involve Parents in Boosting Literacy, participants become familiar with the resource and use the ample step-by-step materials within to plan, organize, and discuss implementation of the parent/caregiver programs set forth in the book.

I am dedicated to connecting with parents. Middle Web praised Empowering Families: Practical Ways to Involve Parents in Boosting Literacy as, “the most useful tool in promoting student literacy at home that I have ever come across.”   Parents In Touch called this resource: “invaluable… a comprehensive look at a vital area of learning which will give the best results when applied throughout the school—and this book makes doing so easy and achievable—and provides great encouragement.”

One of my most popular presentations for parents is “Why Should I Read to My Child?” which can be a single session program or a series of more in-depth gatherings. Participants receive a new children’s book to jumpstart the read-aloud habit!

Contact me for more information about professional development workshops and parent programs.