Genre Study: Teaching With Fiction and Nonfiction Books in a Readers' Workshop, Grades K–8
With literacy expert and author, Irene Fountas, and Lesley University faculty
July 15–18, 2013 (Monday–Thursday)
8:00 am–3:45 pm (7:30 am on day one)
Engage in an in-depth genre study of realism, fantasy, and informational texts. Plan how to support genre teaching and learning in all areas of readers' workshop using mentor texts, focused minilessons, and guided reading to build students' understanding. Explore writing about reading and consider its place in your classroom as a tool for students to expand their understanding of genre and content. Engage in close reading of texts to think deeply about author's craft, purpose, structure, and themes and ideas. Consider how understanding genres, writing about reading, and close study can help all students, including English language learners and those who have difficulty learning, become more competent readers to meet or exceed the expectations of the Common Core State Standards. Earn 24 professional development hours in the area of literacy teaching.
This is a process-oriented, hands-on literacy professional development event. You
will leave this institute with a genre study plan that you created.
Topics will include:
- Building genre knowledge
- Modeling the six steps of a genre study
- Moving from genre study to whole-group teaching with reading minilessons
- Writing about reading in a reader's notebook
- Engaging in an analysis of fiction and nonfiction texts
- Using the fiction and nonfiction prompting guides to foster deep thinking
- Using close reading with fiction and nonfiction texts
- Focusing on genre in guided reading lessons
- Developing a plan for genre study in your classroom
Keynotes and breakout sessions customized for the grade levels you teach:
- Primary: Grades K–2
- Intermediate: Grades 3–6
- Middle School: Grades 5–8
Materials Included in Registration Fees
You will receive the Genre Study Suite Bundle and a Primary or Advanced Reader's Notebook by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, and other materials, when you arrive for the institute. If you already own these materials, feel free to pass them along to a friend or colleague in your school.
- Genre Study: Teaching With Fiction and Nonfiction Books
- Genre Quick Guide, Grades K–8+
- Genre Prompting Guide for Fiction
- Genre Prompting Guide for Nonfiction, Poetry, and Test Taking
- Primary or Advanced Reader's Notebook, depending on the grade levels you teach
- Other materials, to be determined
Registration Fees
You may take this institute for noncredit or earn two or three graduate credits.
- Noncredit, paper registration: $685; price includes materials
- Noncredit, online registration: $670; price includes materials
- Receive two or three graduate credits by completing an assignment, and paying an extra fee
- Credit Rate and Fees: $900 per graduate credit, plus a $30 registration fee and a $90 materials fee
- Discounts: Lesley University offers a 10% discount off of the graduate credit rates for Lesley Alumni, Cambridge, Massachusetts residents, teachers working in Cambridge Public Schools, and senior citizens 55 and older. Inquire about discounts with Student Accounts when you register for credit. The Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative offers a 10% discount off of the noncredit rate for those who work in an active Literacy Collaborative school and for Literacy Collaborative District Trainers. Learn how to receive the Literacy Collaborative Network Discount [pdf].
Register For Noncredit
Register For Graduate Credit
- After you complete your online registration or fill out a paper registration form for the Center for Reading Recovery (see above), you must then register for credit with the Office of the University Registrar
- New Students: Submit a completed credit registration form, which you can find through the Office of the University Registrar. Select "forms for students and alumni." Indicate the course number you are taking and the number of credits (two or three) on the form.
- Primary Literacy Institute: EEDUC 6020.30
- Intermediate/Middle Institute: EEDUC 6030.30
- Mail the credit registration form to Office of the University Registrar, Lesley University, 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 or fax it to 617.349.8717. You may also drop it off in person at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138.
- Returning Students: Register via LOIS beginning on March 18, 2013
- Office of the University Registrar: 617.349.8740 or 800.999.1959; registrar@lesley.edu
- Pay for the institute via your LOIS account or the Office of Student Accounts. New students must pay for the institute at the Student Accounts Office with a check or credit card. If you would like to pay in person, the Office is also located at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138. Returning students can pay via their LOIS account under the "Pay My Bill" link.
- Office of Student Accounts: 617.349.8760; studentaccounts@lesley.edu
Course Syllabus and Grading Rubric
The official course syllabus [pdf] contains graduate credit assignments, policies, and information on disability services. Learn how your assignment will be evaluated with this grading rubric.