Register Today for Our Weekday Workshops

Workshop: Say Goodbye to the Run-On Sentence:

What Every Teacher Can Do to Empower Kids as Writers


December 4, 2024: Grades 1-5
Location: Charles N. Holden Elementary School 1104 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608

The conversation in the last few years has focused heavily on the science of reading, but what about writing? What does research say is essential for children to learn the skills, cognitive processes, and behaviors that proficient writers need to flourish? What does every child need to be taught in order to become a skilled writer?

This workshop will focus on the building blocks of writing instruction: parts of speech, sentence elements, and sentence structures. Our goal is to provide each educator with guidance for sequencing foundational language skills, as well as the knowledge and clarity to explicitly and effectively teach grammar and syntax using the gradual release of responsibility model. Empowered by research and armed with tools, each educator will leave ready to teach every child the basic–yet transformational–skills of writing.

Workshop Structure, Logistics + Cost:

The workshop will take place at Holden Elementary from 9 am - 3 pm, with an hour break for lunch. The registration fee is $175, and participants receive 5 hours of CPDU credit.

Registration and payment deadline is Friday, November 22, 2024

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Workshop: The Essentials of Developing Executive Function + Regulation Skills:

Uncovering Explicit + Implicit Strategies, Structures +
Tools to Create Well-Regulated Classrooms


January 29, 2025: Grades 2-8
Location: Charles N. Holden Elementary School 1104 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608

The research is becoming increasingly clear that self-regulation and executive function skills have a profound impact on students’ academic success – even greater than language or intellectual ability. What strategies, structures and tools can we incorporate into our teaching to develop well-regulated classrooms?

This workshop will explore the science behind the development of executive function and regulation skills from infancy to adulthood. Educators will explore opportunities to explicitly and implicitly teach self-regulation, both through literacy instruction as well as in isolation. Teachers will leave with a strong understanding of factors that influence the development of executive functioning, along with explicit lesson plans and routines to sustain students’ ongoing regulation.

Workshop Structure, Logistics + Cost:

The workshop will take place at Holden Elementary from 9 am - 3 pm, with an hour break for lunch. The registration fee is $175, and participants receive 5 hours of CPDU credit.

Registration and payment deadline is Friday, January 17,2025.

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Teacher Feedback from Previous Professional Development Sessions:

You two are fantastic! You are knowledgeable, positive, and inspiring. You understand that teaching is challenging and change is the only constant. You deliver information in a way that is accessible and manageable.

What worked? EVERYTHING! Carissa you are absolutely fabulous and so gifted and talented at what you do. You can tell you have a true passion for it as well and it shines through! I have never learned so much, had so many "ah ha" moments, or had so much fun at a workshop!

Carissa is so engaging, and clearly presents the work in a way that is clear and concise. She is truly a master of her craft and I love learning from her!

Fabulous PD. I'm fired up to teaching writing this school year!

It was by far the best writing professional development seminar I have attended!

Maria did a wonderful job presenting. She is extremely knowledgeable and very friendly.

I greatly appreciate the professionalism and knowledge of both literacy coaches, Maria and Carissa. They are an invaluable asset to me as a teacher, as well as to my school!!

This was a fabulous three days, and I'm thrilled to have been able to get to participate. Maria, you've made me so excited to start the literacy workshop in my classroom this year!

I love Maria and Carissa and the resources they provide for me as a teacher and teacher leader in my building. Going into my third year with CLG, I felt very confident about planning.