Course Description
Course Description:
In this three-part interactive course, you will explore issues impacting adolescent literacy along with evidence-based instructional practices and interventions that work for adolescent readers. You will have the opportunity to interact with curated materials at your own pace, write in response to prompts, receive instructor feedback, and attend three, ninety-minute small group coaching sessions facilitated by the instructor.
Topic 1: Hard Truths, Trauma, and the Struggling Adolescent Reader
This topic provides the critical background knowledge for supporting adolescent students by having you examine the reading crisis, poverty, and reading trauma. You’ll learn about the impacts of long-term reading struggles along with instructional practices and educator beliefs that can challenge and support adolescent readers.
Topic 2: (Re)Starting from the Beginning: Foundational Skills and the Adolescent Reader
You’ll learn about the importance of foundational reading skills and how they impact adolescent readers. You’ll also explore assessment protocols that pinpoint the needs of adolescent readers and research-based recommendations for successful interventions.
Topic 3: Teaching the Rope: Scaffolding and Explicit Instruction
The final topic focuses on age-appropriate scaffolding and explicit instruction. Using strategy instruction as an example, this deck includes the steps and measures involved in the successful transfer of learning so that students build independence and motivation.
Audience: Upper-elementary, middle school and high school teachers, special educators, specialists, interventionists, private tutors, and literacy coaches who have an earned bachelor’s degree.
Session Information
Remote Learning Technologies: Zoom, Google Drive
Instructors
Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.
Leigh Buettler, M.Ed.
Leigh Buettler has been in the educational field for over fifteen years, beginning work as an adjunct lecturer at SUNY at Albany in the Women’s Studies department, where she also earned a B.A. and M.A. in the same field. In 2009, Leigh was accepted into the Teach for America NYC Corps, where Leigh taught middle school in Queens, New York and earned a Master of Science in Education at Fordham University. More recently, Leigh taught elementary school at Cortland Enlarged City School District, where she also served as an Instructional Coach focusing on Literacy Instruction. Leigh is also a National LETRS Professional Learning Facilitator, an independent contractor for the Cortland County Teacher Center, and a certified General Educator and Special Educator in grades 1-6.
Additional Content Area
Course Goals: This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to teach adolescent students systematically and effectively. Participants will investigate, reflect on, and enhance understanding of issues impacting adolescent literacy and evidence-based instructional practices to improve student outcomes.