Dates: 12/8/2025, 2/2/2026, 3/2/2026 Grades: 3-5 Venue: Online via Zoom Time: 9:00am - 2:30pm ET (with a 45 minute break for lunch) Presenter(s): Heather Burns
Course Overview:
This course demonstrates how teachers can maximize content area instruction to enhance students' vocabulary development and reading comprehension skills across content areas. Participants will learn effective strategies to teach academic vocabulary explicitly while supporting students in developing word-learning strategies they can apply independently. Teachers will explore research-based methods for teaching key concepts and guiding students to become active readers of content-area texts.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
Design content lessons that incorporate vocabulary instruction
Implement strategies to support knowledge building
Create opportunities for meaningful engagement with academic language
Develop tools to transform content instruction into literacy learning
Apply methods for maintaining focus on subject-area objectives
Upon completion of the course participants will receive a certificate of participation; and NY State educators are eligible to receive CTLE credits. If your school or district is interested in arranging for a group of 15 or more to attend one course (or more) together please contact us at advancingliteracy@tc.columbia.edu. For a full listing of all Focused Topic Courses see our Professional Development Services Brochure.