Middle school narrative writing demands more than plot — it requires intentional craft. This session helps teachers prioritize the non-negotiables of narrative instruction, from generating compelling problems and solutions to guiding students toward purposeful control of ideas, organization, voice, and detail. Teachers leave with classroom-ready strategies that raise the rigor of narrative writing across grades 6–8.
Courtney grew up in London, Ontario where powerful experiences in her own schooling led to her passion for teaching and education.
That passion took her to Grace College in Indiana where she secured a BA in Elementary Education and landed her first teaching job at a nearby middle school. Courtney later returned to Grace as an Adjunct Professor of Education after earning her Master’s Degree from Olivet Nazarene... Read More →
Help students move beyond surface-level reporting with a clear instructional approach to informative writing. Teachers will explore how to teach organizational structures based on purpose, embed text evidence and domain-specific vocabulary with elaboration, and craft introductions and conclusions that go beyond the predictable.
Courtney grew up in London, Ontario where powerful experiences in her own schooling led to her passion for teaching and education.
That passion took her to Grace College in Indiana where she secured a BA in Elementary Education and landed her first teaching job at a nearby middle school. Courtney later returned to Grace as an Adjunct Professor of Education after earning her Master’s Degree from Olivet Nazarene... Read More →
Middle school writers present unique management challenges — this session addresses them head-on. Explore practical routines and structures that make writing time purposeful and consistent, build independent writing stamina, and prepare students to perform confidently on district-wide writing prompts. Teachers leave with concrete procedures ready to use from day one.
As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, Didi Harris partners with educators to strengthen reading and writing instruction through practical, evidence-based strategies. Drawing on her experience as a classroom teacher, interventionist, and reading specialist, she helps teachers... Read More →
