Here’s Susan taking a short break from signing…

On October 7–8 Susan Smartt provided an exciting two-day Next STEPS workshop to more than 50 teachers and administrators in the gymnasium at the North Elementary School in Moutain Home, Idaho. Along with plenty of practical “hands-on” activities to take back to the classroom, teachers participated in fun learning activities to use during small group instructional time and other strategies to use for student learning center activities.

Next Steps in Literacy Instruction is a perfect book to use with RTI, as it guides teachers to link the indicators on today’s popular assessments with proven intervention practice for struggling readers. One teacher was “caught” during the break, leaning back in her chair reading Next STEPS. When approached she commented, “this book is so awesome!”

Working with flash cards…

Teachers had the opportunity to practice strategies by teaching their partner specific learning strategies for retaining sight words.

New learning resources and books were shared with the Mountain Home teachers. They were also given a strand of Mardi Gras beads each time one of the 5 Components of Reading was introduced.

And the Winner of the Word Wizards Contest is…

Next STEPS Training Workshops are now being scheduled starting in January, 2011. E-mail us for rates.

The typical fee is $3,500 per day, which includes all travel expenses. Next STEPS workshops are scheduled for two consecutive days.

Payment for training fees is due at the time training is provided. All participants are required to have a Next STEPS book for the training. Books can be purchased at a discounted rate through Brookes Publishing.

Call (410) 337-9580 or visit www.brookespublishing.com for full details.

Welcome to Twin Falls

Welcome, if this is your first time to visit the Next Steps Reading BLOG, (or even if it’s not you first visit, so glad you’re here) it’s an exciting time to be a Next Stepper. I’m heading out for three days of Next STEPS work in Idaho — YEA, Idaho! That state is really leading the charge in literacy reform. (I’ll tell you all about their dynamic reading leader Jenny Fisk another time.)

Canyon Ridge High School
June 28 & 29, 2010
Twin Falls, Idaho

Twin Falls — Here I Come! I’m so excited! This will be my second Next STEPS training in Twin Falls. I was there last summer and had such a great time with the teachers, it was decided to have a second workshop this summer. So as you are sleeping at 5:00 AM tomorrow, I will be arriving at the Nashville airport, boarding a plan for the first leg of my journey to Twin (as the city is affectionally called). I’m looking forward to a small, “intimate” gathering of 67 teachers and administrators for 2 days of learning, sharing new ideas to take back to classrooms, and lots of laughter (and some surprises)!

On Wednesday morning, I will have the opportunity to work with a small group of students for a filming project in Boise that we plan to use in our on-line Next STEPS training course. In this intervention group, I will have a chance to model activities and lesson plans we talk about in our Next STEPS workshops so it should be so much fun. Just keep your fingers crossed for me that none of the young children has the flu or some form of an intestinal bug that causes an abrupt interruption… you know what I’m thinking, just thinking of the worst that could happen … Now you would think that way too. Yes, you would!

Stay tuned. Next time you join us, I hope to have video clips from our work days in Twin and casual snapshots of some of you Next Steppers showing your better side as you practice new learning activities for struggling readers.

Get ready to send (write) notes (BLOG) telling me what you think of the Next STEPS workshop — What was helpful, what you learned, what you can use in your classroom, what needs more clarification or any questions you may have. Next Steps Reading BLOG is an interactive reading community for all of us to continue the discussion after the workshop. Can’t wait to see you in Twin on Monday.

Susan

Be the first in your school to own the book that links the data to small group instruction and interventions for DIBELS Next!

Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction will be a valuable resource for teachers and school administrators who have been using DIBELS, 6th edition, or those transitioning to the 7th edition within the next year.

Tell your friends. Request a summer or fall workshop for the new DIBELS Next Training, the Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction training or both!

For more information, contact Susan at info@nextstepsreading.com or call 615-943-8780

When we originally designed the site, we were operating in a vacuum. Most of our time and attention was focused on finishing the book and getting it printed, so the web site was a bit on the back burner. Now that the book as been out there a few months (the feedback has been tremendous, thank you) it was time to rethink the site.

Hope you like the new design!