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 →
Argumentative writing is among the most complex — and most assessed — skills students face. This session helps teachers make the critical distinctions between persuasion and argumentation clear, guiding students to acknowledge multiple viewpoints, align positions with evidence, and support claims with well-elaborated proof. Teachers will leave with classroom-ready tools that raise rigor and prepare students for standardized writing demands.
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 →
Literary analysis requires students to read closely, think critically, and write with precision. This session helps teachers build analytical skills from the inside out — guiding students through character, theme, point of view, and author’s craft as they work toward well-developed analytical writing.
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 →
Standards are the destination, but success criteria are the highly visible landmarks along the way. However, we tend to miss the actual cognitive demand that can be defined by determining how student success looks. In this interactive workshop, we will move from deconstructing state standards and start deconstructing our frameworks. You will learn how to identify exactly what students must say, write, or do to prove mastery. As a result, you will leave equipped to lead your home PLC in shifting the focus from what students are doing to what students are proving.
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Tanika Kinartail is an experienced educator with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Indiana University–Bloomington. After seven years as a classroom teacher and eight years as an assistant principal, she developed deep expertise in instructional leadership. Currently a... Read More →
Standards are the destination, but success criteria are the highly visible landmarks along the way. However, we tend to miss the actual cognitive demand that can be defined by determining how student success looks. In this interactive workshop, we will move from deconstructing state standards and start deconstructing our frameworks. You will learn how to identify exactly what students must say, write, or do to prove mastery. As a result, you will leave equipped to lead your home PLC in shifting the focus from what students are doing to what students are proving.
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Tanika Kinartail is an experienced educator with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Indiana University–Bloomington. After seven years as a classroom teacher and eight years as an assistant principal, she developed deep expertise in instructional leadership. Currently a... Read More →
Unclear assessments lead to unclear PLC data. In this hands-on workshop, we will tackle PLC Question #2, "How will we know they learned it?", by learning how to design Common Formative Assessments (CFAs) that are aligned to targeted success criteria. Using cross-curricular case studies, you will practice generating assessment questions to ensure they measure the exact framework expectations. You will walk away with a straightforward process to take back to your PLC, ensuring your next data meeting is driven by clear, reliable evidence.
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Tanika Kinartail is an experienced educator with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Indiana University–Bloomington. After seven years as a classroom teacher and eight years as an assistant principal, she developed deep expertise in instructional leadership. Currently a... Read More →
Unclear assessments lead to unclear PLC data. In this hands-on workshop, we will tackle PLC Question #2, "How will we know they learned it?", by learning how to design Common Formative Assessments (CFAs) that are aligned to targeted success criteria. Using cross-curricular case studies, you will practice generating assessment questions to ensure they measure the exact framework expectations. You will walk away with a straightforward process to take back to your PLC, ensuring your next data meeting is driven by clear, reliable evidence.
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Tanika Kinartail is an experienced educator with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Indiana University–Bloomington. After seven years as a classroom teacher and eight years as an assistant principal, she developed deep expertise in instructional leadership. Currently a... Read More →
This afternoon coaching experience moves from professional learning into real planning, as Smekens consultant Didi Harris works directly alongside Pike Township teachers to apply the morning’s strategies to upcoming units, lessons, and district writing priorities. It’s collaborative, practical, and immediate — turning the day’s learning into instruction that’s ready to deliver.
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 →
