A new session of each course opens each month, allowing you to enroll whenever your busy schedule permits!
How does it work? Once a session starts, two lessons will be released each week, for the six-week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends.
Keep in mind that the interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes 2 weeks after each lesson is released, so you’re encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The Final Exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the Final Exam has been released, you will have 2 weeks plus 10 days to complete the Final and finish any remaining lessons in your course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
Week One
Lesson 01 - Why Is It So Hard to Read and Write?
Wednesday
Have you ever wondered why so many of your students struggle to read and write? You're not alone! This introductory lesson will discuss why these two subjects are so hard for students and how you can make their lives a little easier.
Lesson 02 - The Total Literacy Framework
Friday
To really help struggling readers and writers, you need a framework. The total literacy framework is just the thing: Guided reading, writing, engagement, and assessment are the components that make it so effective. This lesson will discuss guided reading, writing, and engagement.
Week Two
Lesson 03 - Where Does Assessment Fit In?
Wednesday
Assessment is the part of the total literacy framework that drives instruction. After all, you need to know where students are academically and where they need to go before you can effectively teach them. In this lesson you will look at fun and simple ways to assess students' reading and writing skills.
Lesson 04 - Recipe for a Guided Reading and Writing Lesson
Friday
The recipe you will learn about in this lesson is one that you can easily modify for any K-12 setting, and it's dotted with examples from real classrooms where guided reading and writing are changing lives.
Week Three
Lesson 05 - Writing Stories
Wednesday
Have you ever read a great story only to think, "I could write something better than that"? Well, guess what? Your students think the exact same thing. This lesson will teach you the basics of leading a successful story writing activity.
Lesson 06 - Composing Nonfiction
Friday
Nonfiction is often less popular in the classroom. However, with a little imagination, you can make nonfiction come alive for your students. In this lesson, you will learn how you can make nonfiction more appealing to students.
Week Four
Lesson 07 - Writing Poetry
Wednesday
Some students absolutely hate reading and writing poetry, but they won't after you introduce the techniques taught in this lesson! Additionally, you will take a tour of the different kinds of poetry that inspire students.
Lesson 08 - Developing Papers
Friday
Writing papers is never going to be the most exciting part of school, but it's always going to be necessary. This lesson will discuss how to teach students to read research material and use it as a launch pad for papers that are clear and thought-provoking the first time around.
Week Five
Lesson 09 - Crafting Ideas Across the Content Areas
Wednesday
One of the neat things about employing the total literacy framework is that you can extend it across the content areas. In This lesson, you will learn how to use guided reading and writing to your advantage whether you're teaching math, social studies, or science.
Lesson 10 - Reinforcing Good Writing Habits
Friday
Have you ever written something that was a little hard to understand? This lesson will cover ways to teach students to craft their own style, hone their organization, and check for proper mechanics before they turn in any assignments.
Week Six
Lesson 11 - Holding Writing Conferences
Wednesday
Writing conferences are a great chance to make sure students are successful as they turn reading into writing and writing into ideas. This lesson will discuss the power of conferences and how to make the most of them.
Lesson 12 - Turning Small Successes Into Big Rewards
Friday
It's important to take time to encourage and inspire students by turning their small successes into big rewards. If you're looking for new strategies to motivate students and make reading and writing fun, you won't want to miss all the tips and tricks in this final lesson!