This 5-day course will focus on recognizing students with expressive language deficits, developing practical teaching strategies and classroom techniques, and promoting individual student success through direct instruction of writing and oral expression skills. An overview of the expressive language profile will be discussed, exploring both academic and social implications. Additionally, there will be a focus on supporting executive function for these students. Participants should expect to leave with practical, easy-to-replicate lesson plans and activities, strategies that support expressive language in their classroom (both verbal and written), and a better understanding of how to work with students who have expressive language deficits.
Topics include: overview of language-based learning disabilities (LBLD) and specific weaknesses in expressive language; practical case studies; strategies for guiding students through the initial brainstorming process; scaffolding for oral and written expression; thematic units as a platform for expressive language development, samples of student work and lesson plans for implementation in the classroom.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Understand the profile of a student with an expressive language deficit
- Discuss the importance of thematic units as a platform for skill development
- Create lessons and activities that set students of this profile up for success
- Become familiar with and practice using cueing strategies
- Develop strategies to help students with an expressive language profile reach their full academic and social potential
Level
This course is appropriate for educators at all levels (elementary, middle, secondary).
Materials
Required: Please purchase your own copy of From Talking to Writing: Strategies for Supporting Narrative and Expository Writing before the course begins.
Additional materials will be provided on-site.
Graduate Credit
Graduate credit is offered through Fitchburg State University and is included in the course fee. Once you register for graduate credit through Fitchburg, the grad credit portion of the course fee ($295) is non-refundable. Details about the graduate credit including timelines to register and refund policies will be embedded in the “Course Welcome” module of the course.
Additional Course Logistics
- Delivery mode: In-person.
- Attendance: Live, on the date and time listed in the course information section.