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March 12, 2010 - Brooklyn, New York
K–5 Poetry / 6–8 Feature Article / 2–5 Test-Prep with Real Books
Keynote Speaker: Georgia Heard

Georgia Heard received her M.F.A. in poetry writing from Columbia University. She is a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project in New York City. Currently, she visits schools in the United States and around the world teaching writing and poetry.
Featured Workshops:
Poetry Unit of Study Grades K–1, 2–3 and 4–5

Poetry is a core genre study for students of all ages. It is both a form and a genre as seen in our collection of books where the writers use the form of poetry to write memoir, fiction, essay, nonfiction, and a host of other genres. A unit of study in poetry invites an exploration of language and expression and reinforces important writing skills such as word choice, organization or shape, and sentence fluency. Together we will go through the writing process, from immersion, to drafting and revising, to editing and publishing. During this daylong workshop, teachers will explore the teaching of poetry and discover how students will naturally delight in the writing of poetry as they observe the world around them with wonder and awe.
Feature Article Unit of Study Grades 6–8

Feature article is an exciting nonfiction genre that profiles people, analyzes events, explores trends, and covers in-depth stories. Feature articles appear in magazines, newspapers, newsletters, reference works, collections of writing, and on web sites. Students will be engaged in the writing of their own feature articles through the study of this genre.


Test-Prep Using Real Books Grades 2–5

This workshop will be devoted to looking at the small-group instructional supports that are needed in order for our whole-group lessons to be most effective. We will also look at what we still need to introduce to our students in the days before the exam approaches.
Presenters:
 
DARLENE FARRACE-PROTT
Darlene holds a certification in Elementary Education and has more than 14 years classroom experience. She received a BA from Kean University in New Jersey, and is currently completing course work towards a master's degree in Educational Administration. Darlene is a cofounder of NJ Teacher 2 Teacher, LLC, which was established in 2003 to provide teachers with high quality professional development. Her vocation as a staff developer includes traveling to many districts presenting workshops in Language Arts and Mathematics. Darlene is excited to share her experience, ideas, and strategies with other professionals in the field of education.
 
 
ILENE COHN
Ilene holds a master’s degree in reading and is a licensed school administration supervisor. She received training at Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University and taught at the elementary level for 10 years using balanced literacy strategies. She has also worked as both a literacy coach and reading coordinator. Ilene is currently a national literacy consultant for public schools, specializing in the areas of reading and writing.
 
 
MICHELLE WOLF
Michelle is a lead writer and developer of the Writing Fundamentals Units of Study. She has worked on Long Island and in New York City as a teacher, staff developer, and literacy consultant. While with the New York City public schools, she served as a district mentor providing workshops for teachers and principals. Michelle has a vast knowledge of children's literature and has been instrumental in the development of the Schoolwide, Inc. catalog.
 
 
NICOLE PEPE
Nicole Pepe is cofounder and lead presenter for NJ Teacher to Teacher, LLC, which provides high-quality professional development for educators throughout the tri-state area. Nicole has more than 7 years teaching experience in grades K-6, with a special interest in balanced literacy. In addition, she is a supervisor of Rutgers teaching interns and presents workshops for various organizations, such as the Center for Effective School Practices (CESP). She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and graduated with honors from Rutgers University with a master's in elementary education.
 
 
ROBIN COHEN
Robin is presently a literacy consultant in several school districts in the Northeast. She was formerly a reading specialist and staff developer in District 11 in the Bronx and at Liberty Elementary School (Nyack School district in Rockland County, NY). Robin was the 2005-2006 winner of the International Reading Association Exemplary Reading Award for New York State. She was the NY State Reading Teacher of the Year in 2002, and honored as an NCTE Educator of Excellence in 2001. Robin is also the originator of the Student-Run Bookstore project published in the American Educator and Parade magazines.
 
If you have any questions, please call us at 1.800.261.9964