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Rachel & Associates provides extensive training in the following
areas:
Research indicates that for change to occur, professional development
must be ongoing and include feedback. We work with districts to
develop effective long-term plans that result in implementation
of ideas learned in the training. Consequently, we recommend a
multiple-day training format, such as the following:
- Two consecutive days of training
- A third, follow-up day scheduled two months later
- A fourth, follow-up day scheduled two months after day three
Sharon Graves (standing) participates in a
table discussion at an R & A workshop.
Participants leave each training session with a personal
action plan (PDF file) and return with student examples of strategies
used. Our experience tells us that with this type of training format,
teachers actually incorporate new ideas learned, and those ideas
become a part of their repertoire.
Rachel & Associates also provides keynotes and miniworkshops
related to the three areas listed above. Sessions of this type
are used to help support participants in their implementation of
a long-term professional development plan. They are not meant to
replace a multiple-day training. Minisessions can be a way to introduce
educators to new literacy and learning ideas.
As you examine the multiple-day training options, keynotes, and
miniworkshops, reflect on your organization's professional development
goals. The following questions can support your efforts when planning
a long-term training program:
- What does your district/building data tell you about student
achievement?
- What are student reading and learning needs?
- Which sessions or combination of sessions might support your
needs?
- How can we assist in supporting your teachers as they learn
to best match instruction to the needs of students?
Rachel & Associates is ready to help you plan your training
needs. Please contact an associate to
begin the conversation!
 
Practical Applications for Creating a Thinking Environment
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Do you have students who struggle with reading the text?
Students who say they read it but can't explain the main
idea or necessary details? Attend this session and examine
reading strategies that improve students' comprehension when
reading in the content areas. Participants in this one day
overview will understand that teaching reading in their discipline
is really teaching the content. Information on how to create
a learning environment which nurtures the development of
strategic readers will be discussed. Participants will use
fix-it strategies that help readers comprehend text, as well
as helping them understand the necessary process skills involved
in reading comprehension. Sample
agenda (PDF file).
Participants will:
- Develop an increased knowledge base about reading to
learn in all content areas.
- Analyze themselves as readers.
- Understand the difference between reading narrative and
informative text.
- Examine and use strategies when reading informative text.
- Discuss effective ways to use strategies as assessment
tools.
Related one-day and half-day workshops:
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Building Strategic Learners
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"Why did you call on me? I didn't raise my hand." We
have all seen the look of surprise from students who prefer
not to participate. Years of research indicate that getting
all students actively involved in learning increases student
achievement. One of the hallmarks of successful teaching
is keeping all students mentally engaged in productive activities
throughout the entire lesson. When students become active
participants in the learning process they become become empowered,
strategic learners. A strategic learner is one who has learned
strategies and knows when to apply them. They have a repertoire
of strategies they selectively use to successfully complete
tasks in all content areas. Strategic learners are active
learners who reflect on their own thinking while learning,
analyze their use of strategies, and make revisions as necessary.
They are heavy on understanding of topics being studied and
light on memorization of facts. This interactive session
will examine different strategies teachers can use to mentally
engage their students. Participants will be engaged learners
using strategies, as well as discussing different approaches
for teaching strategies.
As a result of attending participants will:
- Investigate options for developing strategic learners
- Experience different areas for strategy instruction
- Discuss criteria for strategy selection
- Examine the benefits of using strategies to engage the
mind
Related one-day and half-day workshops:
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Practical Applications for Guiding Strategic Reading
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Session Description:
Have you been looking for ways to help students become strategic
readers? Do you need meaningful ways to assess reading
in the classroom or at the district level? This interactive
session will introduce participants to a new Reading Assessment
System which includes traits and attributes of a Strategic
Reader, K-12 scoring guides for narrative and informative
text, as well as ongoing and cumulative assessment tasks.
Participants will learn about assessment tasks and have
the opportunity to practice instructional strategies that
work with a range of ages and content areas. Participants
will receive a copy of the book, Capturing ALL of the
Reader Through the Reading Assessment System. Sample
agenda (PDF file).
Session Outcomes:
- Discuss effective reading assessment practices
- Examine the components of the reading assessment system
- Practice using reading strategies as assessment tools
in ALL content areas
- Develop reading assessment tasks
Related one-day and half-day workshops:
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