Writing Reboot: Teaching Writing When Students Struggle to Read 

Writing Reboot: Teaching Writing When Students Struggle to Read 

Teaching writing in middle and high school can feel impossible when students have serious gaps in spelling, decoding, and reading comprehension. This workshop is designed for teachers who want to support adolescent writers—but aren’t sure where to begin. We’ll explore high-leverage, research-based strategies that make writing accessible for students with foundational literacy needs. From sentence level scaffolds and guided modeling to vocabulary supports, this session offers realistic, classroom-ready tools that work across content areas. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or new to writing instruction, you'll leave with ideas you can use tomorrow.

Workshop Details:

• Date: November 20, 2025

• Time: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm EST

• Location: SIEC, 1102 Tree Lane Drive, Jasper, IN 47546

• Fee: SIEC Member - $175/Non-member $245

• Other Details:

  • Please bring a laptop computer so online resources can be accessed.

  • A catered lunch will be provided.

  • Participants will receive Professional Growth Points.

  • Deadline to register is 2 weeks before each workshop.

  • See the embedded registration form below.

Presenter: Dr. Jenny French

Dr. French held roles including elementary teacher, middle

school language arts teacher, secondary literacy coach,

university associate professor, curriculum director, and

assistant superintendent of schools. Her research background

has produced a notable publication, Help! My Students Write

Like They Text, and the development the online reading

intervention program: ThinkCERCA's Foundational Reading &

Linguistics. Her current work focuses on the Science of

Reading for struggling adolescents, Implementation Science

and curriculum coaching for school leaders.