Strand One
Creating Learning-Focused Classrooms and Schools
In this strand, you will discover the bridge between current learning theory and effective classroom practice. Our research-based and classroom-tested Pathways Learning Model offers a coherent framework for organizing lessons and units of study.
Target Audiences: Beginning and experienced classroom teachers, staff developers and instructional leaders
Workshops and seminars include:
Pathways to Understanding: Patterns and Practices in the Learning-Focused Classroom
Based on our book by the same title, this seminar series presents practical strategies and innovative ideas for designing learning-focused instruction. These classroom-tested methods are applicable to all grade levels and content areas. The Pathways Learning Model provides the framework for connecting theory with practice. Each session explores dozens of tools and powerful templates to ensure high engagement and high success for all students. Sample lessons from across the curriculum and detailed strategy descriptions make these effective teaching tools accessible to new and experienced teachers alike.
Topics Include:
Teaching for connection-making
Acquire practical strategies and tools for supporting student success organized by an accessible learning model that guides planning, instructional decision-making, assessment and reflection. Learn how to plan and deliver learning-focused lessons that engage students in high levels of meaning making.
Structuring Collaborative Student Groups
Experience and apply useful strategies and management tools organized by a continuum of interaction, that moves from simple to complex patterns of student-to-student and student-to-information engagement. Learn how to introduce and incorporate collaborative patterns within lesson designs and increase your student’s social learning skills.
Engaging and Extending Student Thinking
Develop teaching methods and strategies that focus and stretch students’ abilities to access, organize, analyze and apply information and ideas. Learn how to embed content specific thinking processes within lesson and unit designs.
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Pathways to Literacy: Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
This interactive seminar explores the fundamentals of literacy development. The sessions offer practical tools for increasing student success as readers and writers in the content areas. The workshop series explores classroom-tested strategies that work across content areas and grade levels. Each session provides opportunities for developing specific applications for personal classroom use.
Topics include:
Developing strategic readers and writers
Analyze the skills of confident and literate learners by examining the developmental stages of strategic thinking in learning to read and write. Learn methods for including and exercising reading and writing skills during content area instruction.
Processing information
Integrate literacy development with content area text to increase application of ideas and transfer of concepts and principles. Learn how to infuse lessons with literacy development strategies that help students make and express meaning.
Scaffolding student success
Increase student confidence and reduce frustration by developing and applying instructional scaffolds that support and stretch learners of all levels. Learn principles and models for designing reading and writing success for all learners.
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Getting Started, Getting Smarter: Practical Tools for Beginning Teachers
This seminar series is specially designed for teachers new to the profession. The sessions address the immediate concerns of novice teachers while building a foundation for thoughtful reflective practice across a teaching career. Based on the three-phase Pathways Learning Model, this seminar connects useful theory with classroom practices that engage students with important content, ideas and relationships.
Topics Include:
Managing productive learning environments
Develop essential skills for structuring classroom routines and patterns that promote positive behavior and high levels of student engagement. Learn how to manage time, materials and student interaction for greater learning and increased self-reliance.
Modeling strategic learning
Develop skills and strategies for analyzing and modeling effective problem-solving and decision making skills related to both content and social interactions within your classroom. Learn how to create instructional scaffolds that increase success for all students.
Mediating thinking
Refine your ability to mediate student thinking by applying a verbal and nonverbal toolkit that promotes and develops the thinking capacities of your students. Learn how to respond and inquire to promote greater classroom participation and deeper understanding.
Monitoring student learning
Acquire and apply a variety of formal and informal approaches for classroom-based assessment of student learning before, during and after instruction. Learn how to use classroom observation and student work products to determine progress and address learning needs.
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Thinking to Learn, Learning to Think
This seminar presents concepts, approaches and practical tools that develop students’ thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Each session offers classroom-tested strategies for teaching the skills and dispositions for higher level thinking with and about important content ideas and concepts.
Topics Include:
Planning cognitively rich instruction
Develop skills for analyzing the cognitive demands of content area instructional tasks. Learn to apply templates for embedding thinking processes within lesson and unit designs.
Using graphic organizers and visual tools
Explore and apply a wide variety of graphic organizers related to specific thinking processes. Learn methods for applying these powerful visual tools to guide, enhance and assess student thinking.
Facilitating and energizing class discussions
Refine your verbal and nonverbal toolkit for engaging student thinking and energizing classroom discussions. Learn ways to develop these discourse skills with your students.
Developing student metacognition
Explore the power of the metacognitive skills that drive higher levels of student performance in all aspects of learning. Learn content specific strategies and resources for building and extending student success.
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