How to Teach Reading in Grades 6–12 (Fast!)—
Even If No One Taught You How
3-DAY LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP
June 16-18, 2025
9:00AM to Noon ET
This 3-day intensive gives you a crash course in the Science of Reading—tailored specifically for secondary classrooms. No theory overload. No shame. Just practical, research-based strategies you can use immediately — even if you’ve never taught reading in your life.
We’ll cover:
Day 1: What reading is and how the adolescent brain processes it
Day 2: How to teach phonics and fluency (yes, even in high school!)
Day 3: The connection between vocabulary, writing, and comprehension
Plus: How to increase reading comprehension in any content area
Whether you're a science teacher, a seasoned literacy coach, or a principal looking to lead stronger reading instruction—this course is for you.
A certificate of completion will be emailed to each participant at the conclusion of the workshop.
$199
Contact us for discounts for groups of 5+.
Want to use a purchase order? Reach out for registration instructions.
Sessions will be held on Zoom. Enrolled educators need an active email address, internet connection, and a device with video and sound capabilities. Most operating systems and browsers are supported; for the best experience, the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Chromium Edge is recommended.
Taught by Dr. Jenny French |
Taught by Dr. Jenny French |
Dr. Jenny French brings her experience as a teacher, literacy coach, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent to schools all over the country.
As a sought-after school improvement consultant, Dr. Jenny French is delighted to share her wealth of experience.
Jen’s career has encompassed all facets of education: elementary classroom teacher, middle school language arts teacher, secondary literacy coach, university associate professor, curriculum director, assistant superintendent of schools, and board member of the International Dyslexia Association.
Workshop Agenda
3 Days, 3 Hours Each
Day 1: The Adolescent Brain + The Science of Reading
Big Idea: Teens read differently—and we need to teach accordingly.
Goals: Understand the basics of reading science, and how adolescent brains process written language.
Agenda:
9:00–9:20 → Welcome + Introductions
9:20–9:50 → What Is Reading, Really? (Simple breakdown of decoding + meaning-making)
9:50–10:30 → The Adolescent Brain + Cognitive Load
10:30–10:45 → Break
10:45–11:30 → How the Science of Reading Applies to Secondary Classrooms
11:30–12:00 → Identifying Reading Challenges in Older Students
Day 2: Scarborough’s Rope, Word Recognition + Comprehension
Big Idea: Foundational skills still matter—phonics, fluency, and comprehension are all connected.
Goals: Understand and teach both strands of the rope at the secondary level.
Agenda:
9:00–9:15 → Warm-up: “Which part of the rope is fraying?”
9:15–10:00 → Word Recognition: Phonological Awareness, Decoding—What’s Appropriate for Older Students?
10:00–10:15 → Break
10:15–11:00 → Fluency Building and Age-respectful Texts
11:00–11:45 → Language Comprehension: Background Knowledge
11:45–12:00 → Q&A + Reflection Activity
Day 3: Vocabulary + Writing = Deeper Comprehension
Big Idea: To read deeply, students need to write and speak deeply, too.
Goals: Learn how to embed vocabulary instruction and writing tasks to build comprehension.
Agenda:
9:00–9:15 → Warm-up: What Makes a Word "Worth Teaching"?
9:15–10:00 → Explicit Vocabulary Instruction That Sticks (Morphology, Tiers, Context)
10:00–10:15 → Break
10:15–10:45 → Writing to Read: Using Quickwrites, Graphic Responses, and Written Discussions
10:45–11:30 → Content-Area Connections: Embedding Literacy into All Subjects
11:30–12:00 → Final Tools, Exit Ticket, and Certification Info