This workshop equips educators in grades 3–12 with research-validated strategies to move vocabulary instruction beyond rote memorization and toward deep conceptual understanding. Participants learn how to prioritize high-utility academic words (Tier 2) and domain-specific technical terms (Tier 3). The curriculum emphasizes the "Robust Vocabulary" framework, which focuses on active student engagement rather than passive dictionary look-ups. Educators will master the art of creating student-friendly explanations that replace complex definitions with accessible, relatable language. Participants will learn how to provide students with multiple exposures to new words in diverse contexts.Teachers will explore active-processing techniques, such as using word associations and non-examples, to ensure new terms are integrated into long-term memory. The session offers practical applications for all disciplines, demonstrating how robust vocabulary directly unlocks complex texts in Science, Math, Social Studies, and ELA. Finally, the program fosters "word consciousness," empowering teachers to build a classroom culture where students are motivated to notice and use sophisticated language. This workshops is designed to ensure that vocabulary becomes a powerful engine for reading comprehension and student voice across disciplines and grade levels.
English Learner Program Specialist, MSD of Pike Township
Tracy Bunting has been a dedicated educator for over 31 years with a heart for under-served and under-resourced populations. She has been a Pike Township Instructional Specialist since 2011 but has been an educator for over 30 years. She began her career in Fort Wayne Community Schools... Read More →
Discover the key components of effective short constructed responses, including inferential thinking and the use of textual evidence. Learn practical lesson ideas that cater to writers who will face state assessments, helping them develop the necessary writing skills to excel in this important format.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
This workshop equips educators in grades 3–12 with research-validated strategies to move vocabulary instruction beyond rote memorization and toward deep conceptual understanding. Participants learn how to prioritize high-utility academic words (Tier 2) and domain-specific technical terms (Tier 3). The curriculum emphasizes the "Robust Vocabulary" framework, which focuses on active student engagement rather than passive dictionary look-ups. Educators will master the art of creating student-friendly explanations that replace complex definitions with accessible, relatable language. Participants will learn how to provide students with multiple exposures to new words in diverse contexts.Teachers will explore active-processing techniques, such as using word associations and non-examples, to ensure new terms are integrated into long-term memory. The session offers practical applications for all disciplines, demonstrating how robust vocabulary directly unlocks complex texts in Science, Math, Social Studies, and ELA. Finally, the program fosters "word consciousness," empowering teachers to build a classroom culture where students are motivated to notice and use sophisticated language. This workshops is designed to ensure that vocabulary becomes a powerful engine for reading comprehension and student voice across disciplines and grade levels.
English Learner Program Specialist, MSD of Pike Township
Tracy Bunting has been a dedicated educator for over 31 years with a heart for under-served and under-resourced populations. She has been a Pike Township Instructional Specialist since 2011 but has been an educator for over 30 years. She began her career in Fort Wayne Community Schools... Read More →
