Workshops

About Karen

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Arts in Education. I have over a decade of experience implementing Reading Workshop in classrooms in both the United States and Australia.

I began sharing my experience with teachers as a lab classroom, welcoming educators in to observe and engage in professional dialogue. I have offered professional development sessions as a shoulder to shoulder coach, large group presenter, and study group facilitator.

I work to bring honest, real life experience coupled with a rich theoretical background to support teachers in taking their next steps with workshop teaching.


The Reading Workshop Approach

Reading Workshop is a pedagogical approach to teaching reading that puts authenticity at the forefront.  Through carefully structured minilessons, teachers strategically teach key decoding, comprehension, and fluency techniques, which children practice during their independent reading time. Their reading is supported through one on one conferences with the teacher, who coaches them in building a positive and successful reading life. Reading Workshop focuses on offering students choice and supporting them in applying their learning to the books they have selected, building both successful and motivated readers.

I offer a variety of workshops to support teachers in implementing a successful Reading Workshop. Whether your school is brand new to this approach or you are veterans looking for next steps, I have designed trainings to take you to your next level.


Current Workshop Offerings

Launching the Reading Workshop

This full day program introduces the structure of Reading Workshop and supports teachers in taking the first steps to establishing the routine in their classrooms. I use videos, modeling, discussion, and lots of examples from my personal experiences to address how to begin a Reading Workshop.

 

Diving Deeper With Minilessons

Delivering engaging and on target minilessons is an art. In this half day session I delve into the details that make minilessons powerful. I focus on each component of a high quality minilesson to support teachers in delivering lessons that stick.

 

Conferring With Readers

This program is available as a full or half day session. I bring to life the architecture of a conference, discuss how to balance different types of conferences, and share tried and true methods for record keeping. This session is best for educators that have launched the Reading Workshop and are ready for the next step.

Just For Foundation

With a decade of experience working with our youngest readers, I am well equipped to offer this specialized session just for Foundation level teachers. This full day program is rich with methods that help teachers build and maintain a highly successful Reading Workshop with emergent readers.

Observational Practice

Seeing is believing! I will come into your classroom and teach a Reading Workshop session with your students while you observe, OR observe your teaching and provide feedback. This is followed up with professional dialogue about the experience. This format is also available for teams to observe and debrief collaboratively.


What Teachers Are Saying

“Karen presented Reader’s Workshop in a simple, easy to understand way. Her presentations are engaging and provide “real” classroom examples. Breaking down each of the critical components has given me the confidence to implement it into the classroom, with great success! Thank you Karen!!” – Kirsty O’Keefe (Grades 1/2)

“Karen is a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and succinct presenter.  Her training days follow a sequential format which is easy to follow, engaging and interactive.  Through her guidance and  expertise, I have felt confident to implement a Reader’s Workshop program into my Prep/1 classroom.  Karen is particularly helpful with her ongoing support, offering professional advice on any additional questions that I have after the workshop.” – Hope Haughie (Foundation)


Contact Me

I am happy to talk with you to discuss your school’s goals and customize a program to fit your needs. Contact me at [email protected]