The 2010 Plugged-in Literacy Workshop will be held June 28–29, 2010 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Educators are encouraged to reserve seats for the workshop early. Download the registration form (PDF).

The Plugged-in Literacy Workshop is designed for educators who strive to support student literacy achievement in and beyond the classroom. Educators in grades 4–12 will discover effective strategies for supporting students’ literacy success through hands-on experiences and professional development. Each morning Dr. Allen, author of several professional development books including Words, Words, Words and a respected authority on adolescent literacy, will lead with a keynote. Throughout the day educators will participate in a diverse range of breakout sessions with our Plugged-in practitioners.

Registration Information

To register for the 2010 Plugged-in to Literacy Workshop, call Recorded Books at 1-800-638-1304 x1122 or download the registration form available at http://pluggedineducators.ning.com.

Memories from Past Plugged-in Workshops

Susan White, Principal of Maine’s Caribou Middle School, attended the 2009 workshop and said “What Janet has done for our school is difficult to put into words…She has empowered all of us to be better. From my perspective as a school leader it has been wonderful to see not only students become more confident but teachers becoming more confident.” Caribou Middle School special education teachers Susan Keaton and Twyla Learnard said, “Janet Allen and Plugged-in have revolutionized the way we approach teaching reading comprehension…Our students are finally identifying themselves as people who read, and that says it all.”

Click to see memories from past workshops.

2010 Plugged-in Workshop Break-out Session Options Final Breakout List will be Subject to Change

Plugging-in to a New School Year:  Student Surveys, Pre-Assessments and Community-Building

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. You’ve just learned that you and your students will be Plugging-in to Reading and Nonfiction next school year.  What tools are available to jumpstart my students on paths to independent literate success? 

Books and Audio and Equipment, Oh My!  Managing the Plugged-in Classroom

The materials and the approaches are all new.  What will my Plugged-in classroom look like?  How should I setup the classroom libraries, the curricular materials, and the equipment for audio support?  What role do my students play in this process?  How do I prepare them?  How do I prepare me?!

What Does a Plugged-in Day, Week or Year Look Like?  Scheduling for the Plugged-in Classroom

Plugged-in to Reading employs the gradual-release-of-responsibility instructional model (Pearson & Gallagher).  How do I maintain this approach while building a curriculum map for the school year?  How do I manage all of the components (Teacher-directed learning, Peer-supported Learning, Self-directed Learning) on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis?

*Teaching Students about the World through the Word:  Effective Vocabulary Strategies

My students need word attach strategies to increase their reading and writing fluency and comprehension.  What strategic approaches can support their vocabulary acquisition?  How can I teach students how-to use context clues, structural analysis and other vocabulary acquisition strategies?

*Independent Reading:  How to Start Strong – How to Stay Strong

I have students who love to read, who hate to read, who struggle to read and who have made a conscious choice not to read.  How do I engage them in Independent Reading?  What supports do they need?  Should I use precious class time for students’ Independent Reading?  How do I hold their interest across the school year?

*Beyond Independent Reading:  Growing My Students toward Independent Literacy Exploration (ILE)

I have diverse learners in my classroom at all reading readiness levels and at all levels of engagement (and disengagement).  How can they handle choice and take responsibility for their own learning?  How can I successfully manage students and provide multiple learning choices for independent learning?

You Say Go High Tech.  I Say How High?  Technology in the Plugged-in Classroom

The new state standards include literacy technology but I’m technologically challenged.  How can I support students’ high tech projects?  What is Web 2.0?  How can it support my students’ success?

Formative, Summative, Authentic and High-Stakes:  We’re Talking Assessment

I need to track my students’ progress across the year’s instruction.  How can I assess today to inform my instruction for tomorrow?  What tools can I use?  From anecdotal records and checklists to post-assessments and rubrics, let’s talk multiple points of assessing student achievement.

*But My Students Can’t Read Their Textbook!  Promoting Strategic Transfer and Reinforcement in the Content Area Classroom

My students need effective literacy strategies for reading and writing in math, history, science and other content area studies.  I’m not a reading teacher and I already have extensive standards my students are responsible to learn.  How can I give them access to success with my content area texts?  How do I find the time to do it?

*Empower Students with Power Strategies:  Approaches for Nonfiction Literacy

Dr. Janet Allen outlines eight Power Strategies necessary for student achievement in nonfiction literacy.  Learn how to focus on nonfiction literacy strategies that will increase students’ critical thinking in the areas of fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition in nonfiction literature. 

**Introducing a New Plugged-in Theme Collection:  Myths and Legends

Plugged-in collections continue to grow.  Learn all about the new Myths and Legends collection from titles to instruction.

**What’s Going on in that Plugged-in Classroom?  Support for Literacy Leaders

So now that we’re plugging-in teachers and students, what should I be looking for in these classrooms?  We’ll start with a brief overview of the Plugged-in components and review tools to support your Plugged-in classroom observations.

 **We’re Plugged-in to Reading but What about Plugged-in to State Standards?  Aligning the Curriculum

I’ve got to connect student learning to the standards designated by the state.  What tools can support these connections?  What can I do on a daily basis to engage learners with the strategies I’m charged with teaching?

**What Would It Take to Plug-in Our Students?  Plugged-in to Reading and Nonfiction Overview

Plugged-in to Reading is a comprehensive literacy program that promotes best-practice instruction and authentic, engaged learning.  What are the components of the program?  What are the goals?  What is the instructional model?  What would an implementation look like in my district?

*Sessions highlighted for content-area teachers

**Sessions highlighted for literacy leaders and administrators

NOTE:  All sessions are open to all participants.  The asterisks are used to highlight sessions pertinent to those in the content-area strand and the literacy leader strand.