Introducing a new writing process to your school or school district can be a huge undertaking—a significant change in the way your students will learn a critical skill. This isn’t possible without your teachers’ support; therefore, make your teachers’ first impression of Structure and Style® a positive one. Why does this matter? According to Todd Whitaker, a national authority on school leadership and teacher effectiveness, the first exposure to any new idea or program will launch its success or doom it to failure (21). IEW’s live, on-site Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) seminar is a powerful way to give your teachers a strong first exposure to the Structure and Style method.
What does the live seminar cover?
A two-day workshop for the sequential development of writing skills, the on-site Teaching Writing: Structure and Style presents nine structural models and twenty-eight stylistic techniques. Participants will have a hands-on experience that directly supports writing across the curriculum.
How does it work?
School administrators interested in professional development for their teachers are encouraged to contact their Educational Consultant or reach out to the IEW Schools Department at Schools@IEW.com or 800.856.5815. From there, you will be connected with IEW’s Implementation Coach, who will partner with you to coordinate logistics, tailor a plan aligned with your school’s goals and the needs of your teachers and students, and follow up after the training to answer questions and discuss next steps as your teachers begin implementing Structure and Style in their classrooms.
What are the benefits of live training?
- The Implementation Coach is a Master IEW Instructor, authorized by Andrew Pudewa to teach the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar.
- The training is interactive with time provided throughout the seminar for questions, discussion, and clarification. This results in a more active and engaging experience for teachers and administrators and builds a close working relationship between the IEW Implementation Coach and the school.
- Live training reinforces your teachers’ fidelity to the Structure and Style method. Our Implementation Coach explicitly demonstrates each structural model and stylistic technique and leads participants through the practicum assignments.
- Live training strengthens the vertical alignment between grade levels in your school. Teachers in every grade level contribute to and foster students’ growth along the pathway to excellent writing year after year.
What are the challenges to consider?
- Live professional development may be too expensive for those with a limited budget for training. However, private schools, charter schools, and small school districts may be able to access funding through their local school district or county office of education or seek grant money for professional development.
- The two-day seminar covers a lot of information. However, the training materials include an activation card for Forever Streaming videos of the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar, which allows every teacher access to any portion of the seminar they would like to review.
- There may not be enough time to complete all the seminar’s practicum assignments because of time constraints. The Implementation Coach will make suggestions for completing the assignments independently.
Once the live training is complete, administrators and school mentors—previously trained teachers with experience teaching the method—should guide and support teachers as they implement Structure and Style. By choosing live on-site training, an Implementation Coach and the Schools Department Team are your partners in these efforts, walking alongside you via email, phone, or Zoom as you implement IEW curriculum in your classrooms.
This powerful and inspiring seminar will transform the way you teach writing to students (and perhaps your own writing as well)! You'll learn how to incrementally teach students to write with clear structure and compelling style. Begin with the basics—key word outlines and then rewriting a paragraph—and continue all the way into research and essay writing. Learn how to nurture excellence in writing and thinking in students of any age. As an added benefit, teachers and administrators who complete the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style on-site live professional development or virtual workshop will receive a $75 coupon code to apply toward the IEW Accreditation Program.
No matter which teacher training option you choose, IEW’s Schools Department team is ready to help and support you. For more information about live professional development, contact our Schools Department Team at Schools@IEW.com or call 800.856.5815. If you are already working with one of our Educational Consultants, feel free to contact him or her directly.
Explore other blogs in the Teacher Training Method Options series.
- Video Training through Individual Streaming
- Video Training as a Group
- Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style Workshop
- Live On-Site Professional Development: Demonstration and Coaching Day
- Live On-Site Professional Development: Observation and Coaching Day
- Live On-Site Professional Development: Review and Refinement Day
Work Cited
Whitaker, Todd. Leading School Change: 9 Strategies to Bring Everybody on Board. Eye on Education, 2010.
by Jean Nichols
Originally posted on 6/20/2022
