2022 Teach Rhymes With Beach Summer Conference Sample Sessions

Taking “Count” out of “Accountability.” Just as students have to be held accountable, so do teachers. But can teachers demonstrate accountability to new standards, district and department goals, and student growth, without drowning in paperwork? The answer is yes!

The Non-Negotiables: Defining What Matters in Reading Instruction. What happens when teachers on the team can’t agree: “How important is Shakespeare?” “Is poetry ‘fluff’?” “Can I choose my own novels, and should students read the whole novel?” Model lessons and strategies will help teachers define and implement parameters and requirements that facilitate student achievement, while still allowing for teacher personality and autonomy.

The Non-Negotiables: Defining What Matters in Grammar and Writing Instruction. “What’s the best way to teach grammar?” “How important is structure in paragraphs, or essays?” “What about creative writing?” “How many essays should students write per grading period?” Model lessons and strategies will help teachers define and implement parameters and requirements that facilitate student achievement.

The Reading-Writing Connection. More and more educators (and STAAR) are echoing what I wrote in my first book twelve years ago: Students need to read like a writer, and write for a reader. Reading and writing are inherently entwined and are most naturally taught together. These sample lessons and mentor texts show you how.

The Five P’s of Powerful Leadership. Leadership is stewardship; and the best leaders raise the level of commitment and performance of the entire team. This inspiring session demonstrates practical ways classroom teachers, teacher-leaders, and administrators can create buy-in and elevate their students, department, team, campus, or entire district to the next level!

Yes, You Can: The College-Readiness Factor. What skills qualify students as “college-ready”; and how do we prepare students in all grades for a life they may not even dream of yet? This session demonstrates ways to maintain and increase rigor for all students through establishing expectations, pacing and engagement; scaffolding assignments; & instilling academic behaviors.

Blueprint for Success: How to Live, Lead, and Teach by Design. Great teaching – and spectacular living– is not about hope! You can design a life, a department, and a classroom that you can love! Learn how to live and lead by design and create balance in every area of life – physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, relationally, financially, and at work!

Q & A session with Melanie: Bring your questions about transitioning from classroom teacher to teacher-leader to consultant; writing and publishing; career and classroom highlights, joys, and trials; faith; classroom and department management; balance; being an introvert in a world that won’t stop talking; avoiding burn-out; navigating change; and so much more!

Plus: After five years of Classroom Instructional Coaching, Melanie lists the five common crises in most English classes, and models one lesson that addresses all five!