Workshops

The Key Comprehension
Routine: Primary Level (Grades 1-3)

Presented by Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
April 11, 12, 2012
To download a brochure click here
To download a registration form click here

The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Level is a professional development program for teaching comprehension to students in grades 1-3. The program uses existing content teaching materials (core reading programs, leveled readers and other reading material) to teach basic comprehension strategies. It can be used during core reading instruction and content subject instruction.

This two-day session will cover the following skills and strategies:
• Categorizing of objects, pictures, words
• Recognizing text structure and searching for main ideas
• Top-down topic webs
• Two-column notes
• Question generation and answering at various levels of thinking
• Oral and written summarizing

The Key Comprehension Routine is an evidence-based program that is considered Tier 1 instruction when used by classroom teachers with all students, and Tier 2 instruction when used as supplemental instruction for struggling learners.

The Presenter:
Presented by Elissa Arndt, Ph.D.
Elissa is a speech-language pathologist and reading specialist with experience providing instruction and intervention in language and literacy to students PreK- 8th grade in Massachusetts. She received her bachelor's degree from Gordon College, her master's degree from MGH Institute of Health Professions and her doctorate degree in Reading and Language Arts from Florida State University. Prior to working at Keys to Literacy, Elissa was a curriculum and intervention specialist at the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) at Florida State University. While at FCRR, Elissa provided support to districts in their implementation of Reading First, reviewed reading programs as part of the FCRR reports to help districts select research-based instructional programs, and assisted in the development and implementation of the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR) which is a K-12 literacy assessment designed to assist Florida teachers in their instruction and progress monitoring of student learning. Elissa also provided technical support to the FL Department of Education on literacy initiatives, grant reviews, and professional development. She serves as an adjunct faculty member in the graduate education department at Gordon College teaching graduate classes on reading foundations, adolescent literacy, instruction, assessment, and intervention. Elissa is a senior trainer at Keys to Literacy.