Real Life Literacy

Professional Development

Teachers are the single greatest asset to a school district.  The job that lies before teachers has changed dramatically in recent years and our knowledge of what works in literacy education has grown exponentially.  Resources and programs come and go with big promises of increases in student achievement; however, resources and  programs  don't teach children- teachers do!  Together, let's focus our time and energy where it has the greatest impact on our students: building the capacity of our  teachers!

Course Offerings

The best Professional Development experiences are those created through collaboration to meet a school district's goals and vision.  

Here are some examples of the work Kristen has done.  Professional Development experiences are personalized to meet each school district's specific needs. 

Creating Classroom Culture to Support the Workshop Model

Fostering Student Directed Learning Environments

Implementing Standards Based Writers Workshop

Supporting Writers Through Small  Groups and Conferring

The Art of Letting Go; What to Accept and Expect in a Writers Workshop

Conferring with Students to Accelerate Progress

Using Data to Plan Targeted Small Group Instruction

Planning Feedback Driven Small Groups

Leveraging Both Sides of the Simple View of Reading Model

Choosing and Using Decodable Texts

Foundational Skills for Intermediate Students: Closing the Gap

Connecting the Dots:  Finding Most Powerful Practices in Existing Programming

Charting a Course with Science of Reading, State Standards and Existing Resources






Meet Kristen

Kristen is an educator with over thirty years experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and professional developer.  She thrives when thinking and learning together with other teachers.  She believes that all learners, including adults, need a safe environment to learn.  She believes that growth requires giving ourselves and others the grace to approximate on the way to proficiency.  Her mission is to support teachers' perpetual growth, by working side by side to make every child a thoughtful lifelong reader and writer.  Her goal is to make this work purposeful, practical and joyful.