Professional Learning Services
We’re here to co-construct strong, sustainable ecosystems that include curriculum agnostic literacy knowledge and the pedagogical tools to implement that knowledge.
Even with all we now know about how kids learn to read & write, too many children aren’t getting instruction that works for them and too many teachers aren’t getting the right tools, knowledge, and skills. We go beyond literacy and ‘science of reading’ to support engagement, behavior, and access for students with disabilities.
Words in the Wild professional development (PD) integrates data with deep relationships and scientific evidence with real-world application. Engaging facilitators build your team’s capacity by leveraging wonder to build expertise — just like we do with students.
Every child deserves the power, joy, and freedom of learning to read and write…
in an inclusive, effective, and positive learning environment.
Formats
Customize your package of staff workshops, ODLEs (on-demand learning experiences) instructional coaching, leadership consultation, and professional learning communities including our teaching fellowship.
Content
Scroll down for details on our core topics, including the foundations necessary to support strong literacy instruction: classroom and behavior ‘management’, neurodiversity, and curriculum mapping.
Featured Service:
The Positive and Engaged Learning Community
Asynchronous + live hybrid program
A proactive classroom management blueprint supported by a professional learning community
Be the teacher you want to be: lead calmer, more connected classrooms where students are actively engaged in learning.
Teachers get practical structures, and live, ongoing support on understanding, preventing, and addressing challenging behavior - without adding to administrator workload.
Students feel connected to their community and learn new ways to engage positively.
Administrators can support multiple teachers at once and teachers have both the flexibility of asynchronous work and the support of a live community.
Communities develop stronger relationships and fewer disciplinary issues
“The transformation IS in the small things”
- 2nd year teacher after implementing PELC
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Prevent and address challenging behavior and support positive engagement through schoolwide expectations, classroom routines, and child-centered relationships (grades K-8).
Making Time for Learning: Your classroom ‘management’ toolkit
Exhaustion to Empowerment: Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behavior With Dignity
Continuing Education Units (CEUs/ConEd/Credit Hours) available
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Get everyone on the same page (ha!) about the role of linguistic structures in both foundational skills and language comprehension, and making them fun and accessible regardless of curriculum (grades vary; mainly K-3 + intervention/learning support). Examples:
Intro to Morphology: Word Families and More
Stories & Structures: Base-Centric Instruction
How etymology, morphology, orthography, phonology work together to make meaning (SWI)
Do Letters ‘Make’ Sounds? Grapheme Phoneme Correspondence Routines
Phoneme (Sound) Walls
Introducing Word Science Across the Grades through Name Studies and Nature Journals
The Basics: Science of Reading Overview
Foundational Skills
Language Comprehension
ODLEs (on-demand learning experiences) + live implementation session in-person or remote HERE
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Build reading and writing skills across subjects so young historians, scientists, and mathematicians develop the skills necessary to express and expand their content knowledge (grades 3-8).
Morphology for Middle Grades
Nature Journaling + Word Investigations
A Virtuous Circle: Content and Vocabulary Knowledge Building
Comprehension Strategies*:
Main Idea Routine “Get the Gist”
Anticipation-Reaction Guides
Self-Generated Questions
*Companion resources (middle school focus) are available at no cost through CALI Reads.
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Our full service curriculum consultations bring clarity and cohesion to curriculum, freeing teachers to deliver high quality instruction without gaps or redundancies.
Curriculum Review/Audit
Curriculum Mapping
Vertical/Horizontal Alignment
We also offer workshops and coaching on the teaching foundations necessary to deliver a high quality curriculum (lesson design, universal design for learning, etc.).
Core Topics
“[Alexis & team] excel in designing effective systems and learning opportunities rooted in high-leverage instructional practices and sound coaching methods.”
See for yourself:
REFLECT
on a question from the Positive & Engaged Learning Community
“Where are you investing your energy? Setting kids up for success or reacting to challenging behavior?”
Behind the Scenes with Dr. Alexis Filippini
PLAY
with word word science! Watch our OLC webinar on fun and flexible morphology activities to introduce Structured Word Inquiry.
Start at 17:06 to jump right into our favorite launching lesson for word inquiry: Name Studies. Bring your markers and paper!
READ
about a district’s “train-the-trainers” project.
Feedback & Testimonials
“The morning was a delight -- I loved the mix of group work, small group conversation, physical movement, and visual aids.
This all fits so well with how we need to teach our students, so was another great example to staff about what works best with all types of learners.
It was great to see all of our staff deeply engaged in your presentation from beginning to end.
— Head of School (K-8)
“It’s incredibly rare to find people like you who have deep content knowledge in literacy and in adult learning.”
— District Administrator
“There was a part of me that was a little reluctant at first because I knew it meant more meetings but the sessions with [my coach] Erin have been one of my more memorable PD experiences in teaching that I can genuinely use..”
— Elementary Teacher
“Working with a [leadership] coach helped me to see the gifts I already bring to the table … at the same time, she was great about having me self-reflect about possible areas of growth in positive, professional manner.”
— Middle School Administrator
Clients include
