on-demand workshop
During this on-demand virtual workshop, Texas educators from grades 3-12 learn ready-to-use strategies to improve reading comprehension along with short and extended constructed responses aligned with ELA TEKS standards.
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Three reasons to watch this course

1

Success requires confidence and familiarity.

The revised STAAR test includes various question formats that often trip up students on test day. Knowing these potential pitfalls, teachers can prepare their students to confidently navigate these unique question types on STAAR.

2

Success on the STAAR test is only part of the goal.

The ultimate goal isn’t passing the STAAR test— it’s mastering the TEKS standards. While this workshop specifically addresses facets of the state test, it’s only because STAAR is the tool used to assess mastery of ELA TEKS standards. The bigger goal of this workshop is to create strong readers and writers whose skills go beyond standardized assessments.

3

Success on the STAAR RLA test requires explicit instruction.

The secret in preparing students for the STAAR test is not simply to assign more reading, ask more complex questions, and assess with more prompts. Rather, it comes down to sharpening the teacher’s capacity to provide direct and explicit reading and writing instruction so that students are equipped with the most essential literacy skills.

A virtual workshop just for Texas educators

To get kids ready for STAAR, teachers must start immediately, plan intentionally, and teach explicitly using TEKS resources. This on-demand workshop will provide the tools teachers need to do just that.

PART 1: Target the depth of thinking that students must execute when reading any text.
  • Concretely explain the inference process needed to answer standards-based comprehension questions about complex texts.
  • Learn STAAR test-taking tips to attack unique technology-enhanced questions like the multi-part and multi-select.
PART 2: Understand the importance of teaching students how to communicate their thinking in test-specific writing formats.
  • Define the ingredients required within short constructed responses on the STAAR test.
  • Propel students beyond simply stating evidence to explaining it— from generating a basic response to a polished one.
PART 3: Advance students beyond making single-text inferences to generating multi-text syntheses.
  • Identify a step-by-step process for reading and annotating multiple texts in one sitting.
  • Dissect how readers integrate ideas learned from multiple sources to generate a new thought or synthesis.
PART 4: Ramp up expectations to include reading multiple texts and composing an extended constructed response—all in one sitting.
  • Provide explicit instruction on academic vocabulary to support students in decoding and responding to prompts.
  • Show students how to leverage their short-constructed response skills to compose longer informative, argumentative, and correspondence responses.

Who should enroll?

  • Grades 3-12 RLA Teachers
  • Grades 6-12 Content-Area Teachers
  • Literacy Coaches/Coordinators
  • Title I Teachers/Directors
  • ELL Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • High-Ability Teachers
  • Campus Administrators
After participating, you will be able to:
Get answers to questions like:
  • Target the thinking that students must execute when reading any text.
  • Reveal to students that their thinking must also be communicated in writing.
  • Advance students beyond making single-text inferences to generating multi-text syntheses.
  • Raise the rigor to reading multiple texts and composing extended constructed responses — all in one sitting.
  • At the beginning of the school year, which RLA TEKS skills should I teach first?
  • How should I prioritize my yearlong planning and ensure my instruction goes in a logical order?
  • How do I adjust the skill scaffold for early ELLs or those who are below grade level?
  • Beyond the TEKS curriculum, what can be done in the content areas to cultivate critical reading and writing skills?

WHAT YOU GET

On-Demand Videos

Relevant & engaging presentations

Downloadable Handout

Full-color
note-taking guide

Secret Site

Lifetime access to
digital resources

TEA-Approved PD Credit

5.25 hours of Texas-approved CPE credit

PRICING & GROUP RATES

$169/person

Group of 15 or more?

Email us or call (888) 376-0448
for custom pricing.

WHAT OTHER
EDUCATORS SAY

This workshop provided the “how and why” of instruction that prepares students for assessments in a way that others I’ve attended failed to achieve.
TIFFANY MCQUAIG-WALLACE
Literacy Curriculum Specialist, Spring ISD – Houston, TX
The presentation was energetic, even in a virtual setting! We’ve definitely added a few new strategies to our toolbox. Great overall strategies and information!
JEFFREY PILCHER 
Coordinator ELA - Secondary,
Garland ISD – Garland, TX
[Kristina Smekens] was outstanding compared to other workshops I’ve attended in the past. I can see why this workshop was recommended to me!
ROSS GREEN
Instructional Coach, Cleburne ISD – Cleburne, TX
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Meet the PRESENTER

Kristina Smekens

Nationally recognized literacy consultant, author, and founder of Smekens Education
A celebrated educator, author, and literacy consultant, Kristina Smekens has built a reputation for using enthusiasm, humor, and common sense to equip K-12 educators with simple and effective strategies for teaching reading and writing.

As president and lead consultant for Smekens Education, Kristina is constantly developing new strategies to help teachers meet the demands of today’s College and Career-Ready Standards. She shares those strategies with teachers across the United States and beyond through on-site professional development, seminars, and an always-growing pool of print, digital, and video resources.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you offer a group discount?

Yes! Groups of 2-14 receive a $10 discount. Or provide campus-wide access to every teacher for $2,500.

Can I earn CPE Credits?

With prior approval from the attendee’s school district, participants may receive credit for 5.25 hours of Texas-approved CPE credit for participating in this on-demand workshop. A certificate will be provided upon completion, which can be used to verify attendance. Visit our Continuing Education Credit page for more information about how this workshop fulfills Texas continuing education requirements.

Can I earn graduate-level units for this workshop?

Through a partnership with University of the Pacific, workshop attendees are eligible to pursue one, two, or three nationally-accredited graduate-level semester credits/units after this virtual event. The cost of graduate-level credit ($62 per credit/unit) is separate from the cost of attending a workshop. For more information, please contact us.

Can I share my workshop with colleagues?

Sorry, sharing your personalized link to watch the workshop is not allowed. Our Terms of Use specify that one registration fee allows access for just one person. However, we are happy to offer group discounts. Give us a call at (888) 376-0448 to get the details.

What if I'm unhappy with the workshop?

We would never want you to be unhappy! That’s why every online workshop comes with a 100% money back guarantee. We are convinced the simple and effective strategies will transform the way you teach so we stand behind this workshop with full confidence. If you aren’t satisfied, contact me within the first ten days of your purchase, and I will give you a refund immediately. There are no additional forms to fill out, and there will be no delay. Just call (888) 376-0448 and ask for Brady or email me directly. We believe so strongly in this online workshop that we give you our personal promise of a speedy, hassle-free, no-questions-asked, total and complete refund.