October 26, 2007 - San Antonio, Texas

Using Literature in Writing Workshop / TAKS Preparation

Keynote Speaker: Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson, the award-winning author of the forthcoming book, Everyday Editing (November 2007), has taught writing and reading in K-12 for more than 18 years, focusing on motivating and developing struggling writers. His articles have appeared in Voices from the Middle, English Journal, and Educational Leadership. His other works include the book, Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style into Writer's Workshop, and a DVD, The Craft of Grammar, filmed in his inner-city classroom. He was recently awarded the Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Award (NCTE) for his published work on teaching grammar
in context.

Featured Workshops:

Using Literature in Writing Workshop Grades K–1 & 2–5

This workshop will focus on how to utilize books during Writing Workshop. Discuss units of study in the K-5 classroom, including genre, author, and writer's craft studies. Discuss criteria for choosing literature and ways to use books across the writing process.

10 touchstone texts
20 or more corresponding mini-lessons that take your students
through each stage of the writing process, from immersion to
generating ideas, revision, editing, publishing, and assessment!
10 book labels
1 storage bin
1 binder
1 Teacher’s Guide

TAKS Preparation Grades 3–5

This workshop will focus on how to use authentic literature to model strategies which will support quality test preparation rather than just standard test practice.

9 touchstone texts
15 whole-group lessons, each focusing on a particular skill or strategy and connected directly to the 9 touchstone texts
9 book labels
1 storage bin

Presenters:


	DAWN WEST
	Dawn has been an educator at the elementary level for the past 28 years, during which she has served as a Reading Recovery teacher and trainer. She currently provides researched-based practice guidance for K-5 Language Arts teachers, including modeling lessons, co-teaching, coaching, mentoring teachers new to the Amarillo Independent School District, training teachers in Balanced Literacy, and organizing campus and districtwide staff development. Dawn is also the lead teacher for Summer Academy in the AISD.


	GINI ROBERSTON-BAKER
	Gini's educational career spans 26 years and includes teaching all grades at the elementary level. As a lead teacher for the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) in Amarillo, Texas, she conducted sessions and presented new material to other lead teachers in the district. She has made presentations to district principals', addressing literacy issues and is currently a Curriculum Specialist for AISD. Gini is also a Literacy Trainer for her district and conducts workshops in reading comprehension and student writing workshops. The majority of her time is spent in elementary classrooms co-teaching and coaching, and she has been successful in creatively raising state standardized test scores in the AISD.


	KAREN SMITH
	Karen developed and presently runs her business, BLAST-Bridging Literature and State Tests as well as contracts her services as a test writer. Karen is a Reading Specialist and has taught grades 1-5 for the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) in Texas before becoming a Reading Recovery teacher. She later became a Curriculum Assessment Specialist, coaching classroom teachers across the curriculum in grades K-5 as well as analyzing results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), the Texas state test. Karen was a Literacy Trainer for the AISD and also presented at several workshops in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle including the Literacy Conference at West Texas A&M University.

If you have any questions, please call us at 1.800.261.9964