Strengthening Learning Through Small Group Instruction
Meet the needs of all students through flexible, responsive small-group teaching.
In this two-day workshop, you’ll learn flexible, practical ways to plan and deliver small-group instruction that can be used with your literacy curriculum. You’ll examine how to group students, learn generative instructional routines, and how to use AI to simplify planning and differentiation.
- Classroom Teachers K–6
- Interventionists/Specialists
In this two-day workshop, you will learn practical, manageable ways to use small-group instruction to meet diverse student needs using your high-quality instructional materials. We’ll explore when small groups are most effective, how to form dynamic groups, and how to select texts and tasks that support precise, targeted teaching for fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge, foundational skills, and reading response. Participants will also learn how AI tools can streamline planning and generate differentiated materials. You will leave with tools to support small group teaching, ensuring it is a powerful and sustainable part of your classroom instruction.
Topics include:
- Flexible ways to use small group instruction to meet student needs
- Using AI to support differentiated instruction
- When to use small group instruction
- Planning for small groups
- Selecting the right kind of text for precise teaching
- Dynamic grouping
- Progress monitoring small group instruction
You will earn 10 clock hours for this workshop.
Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer
Nikki worked as a literacy coach and teacher in public school for many years before joining the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership as an Intermediate Trainer. She has experience as a primary and intermediate classroom teacher and literacy instructional coach at the intermediate level. Over the years, she has worked with students, educators, and administrators to improve literacy outcomes.
Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director of Reading Recovery and Early Interventions
Wendy Vaulton is the Associate Director for Reading Recovery and Early Interventions at Lesley University’s Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership. Wendy serves as the Center’s Reading Recovery trainer, supporting teacher leaders in five states. She has experience as an educational researcher, professional developer, and teacher of Reading Recovery. Wendy’s recent research interests include the capacity of improvement science to support systematic, data-informed decision-making for all levels of educational improvement.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Thursday, February 19, 2026 and you will be charged a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Registration Deadline
The registration deadline is 5pm EST on February 25, 2026.
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 at Lesley University 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 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.
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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