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November 30, 2007 - Houston, Texas
Using Literature in Writing Workshop / TAKS Preparation
Keynote Speaker: Becky Koesel

Becky Koesel has been in the educational field for 17 years focusing her time on grades K–12 and is currently a national literacy consultant. For the past 8 years she has worked with teachers as a consultant, mentor, and coach in the development of literate classrooms where the voices of learners are heard through reading, conversation, and writing. Growing up as an at-risk student has given Becky insight into creating a classroom in which students from all backgrounds can grow and feel strong as learners.
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.
 
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