Have you ever wondered how teaching reading and writing together can enhance student learning? Reading and writing are deeply connected processes—when students read extensively, they develop stronger writing skills by being exposed to rich language, structure, and literary techniques. Join Michelle Dragalin for this timesaving, to the point session as we explore how reading and writing interlock to support student growth. Discover why these two skills should be taught in conjunction and learn how to design lessons that integrate key components of both. Get ready to transform your literacy instruction by harnessing the powerful connection between reading and writing! Michelle's expertise in curriculum and instruction will provide actionable strategies that help students strengthen their literacy skills, develop deeper comprehension, and improve their ability to express ideas effectively.

Looking for ways to ignite your students' creativity and support the generation of ideas in their writing? Writing is a very visible process as we watch words grow across a page. Brainstorming techniques, such as freewriting, mind mapping, and idea clustering, help students generate and organize their thoughts before diving into the writing process. Join Natalie Mitchell for this hands-on, interactive workshop as we explore strategies to make the writing process visible for children as a means for explicit teaching. Get ready to revolutionize your writing instruction and unlock the full potential of your students' literacy skills! Natalies’s expertise as a literacy consultant will equip you with the tools and resources you need to foster a culture of writing excellence in your classroom by incorporating scaffolds that support differentiated instruction. This is workshop two of three for the series titled “Explicit and Systemic Instruction in the Literacy Classroom.” Key Takeaways Explore the principles of explicit and systemic instruction in writing and how they can be applied to enhance students' writing skills across various genres and formats. Learn practical strategies for teaching the writing process, from prewriting and drafting to revising and editing, using explicit instruction and modeling to guide students through each stage. Discover how to integrate writing across the curriculum, incorporating writing tasks into content-area instruction to reinforce learning and deepen students' understanding of key concepts. Gain insights into the importance of providing feedback and opportunities for revision in the writing process, fostering a growth mindset and promoting continuous improvement in students' writing skills. Presented by Natalie Mitchell Natalie Mitchell is a literacy consultant who has worked as a staff development expert and literacy coach for over a decade. With her foundational roots in elementary education, she helps educators develop powerful teaching practices while growing a love for literacy in their classrooms. Natalie holds a master's degree in educational leadership, and she works alongside literacy coaches, campus leadership teams, and program directors to strengthen community and school culture.