Engaging Writing About Reading: Building Thinking, Independence, and Test-Ready Writers
Strengthen students’ comprehension, thinking, and writing through purposeful writing about reading.
How do we help students write stronger responses to text that supports deeper comprehension? This one-day session focuses on writing about reading as a thinking practice that supports comprehension, engagement, and builds students’ confidence with on-demand writing.
Leadership & Coaching
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
In this interactive session, you will explore high-impact writing experiences to use before, during, and after reading, including quick jots, evidence-based responses, and analytical writing. Together, we will examine how these intentional writing routines help students clarify ideas, cite evidence with confidence, and explain their thinking—skills that are critical for classroom learning and assessment success.
Topics:
- Examine how writing drives deeper comprehension and meaning making
- Explore a range of writing prompts that grows and extends student thinking
- Connect engaging writing about reading to success with on-demand and test writing
- Make intentional choices about writing tasks based on text complexity and instructional purpose
You will leave with concrete classroom examples, and ready-to-use strategies they can implement immediately to strengthen instruction and student outcomes.
Linda Murphy, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Linda has worked in school districts in New York in a variety of roles and settings. Prior to her joining the center at Lesley University, Linda held positions as a principal of an intermediate school, a Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, a district trainer for Literacy Collaborative Intermediate, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and a classroom teacher. Linda holds licenses in Elementary Education and School District Administration.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Wednesday, March 11, 2026 and you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Registration Deadline
The registration deadline is 5pm on March 17, 2025.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.
In-Person or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu.
In-person participants are required to follow the Lesley safety protocols.
On-Site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers
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