edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsEmpowering Evidence-Based Thinkers: Strategies for Test Success
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST
Presented by Kristina Smekens, President and Lead Consultant, Smekens Education
Sponsored by Smekens Education Solutions
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Get your students ready to tackle state tests with confidence! This strategy-packed session dives into the four most common mistakes students make when supporting their answers with evidence—and delivers practical, engaging lessons to overcome them. Attend this edWebinar to receive fresh ideas and ready-to-use resources to help students master textual evidence, whether it’s for multi-select questions, Part A/Part B formats, or short constructed responses.
Attendees will leave with:
- Clear indicators of an evidence-based classroom: Practical ways to encourage and identify evidence-supported answers from your students
- Tools to foster critical thinking: Strategies to move students beyond simply providing answers to articulating how they know an answer is correct
- Solutions for common evidence pitfalls: Troubleshooting techniques for addressing four common evidence errors students commit on state tests
- Engaging activities for immediate use: Hands-on methods like evidence sorting and ranking exercises to make learning both effective and engaging
- Confidence in guiding evidence-based discussions: Neutral, constructive approaches to steer student thinking without giving away the answers
Transform your classroom into an evidence-based powerhouse! This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
About the Presenter
Kristina Smekens has built a reputation for using enthusiasm, humor, and common sense to equip K-12 educators with practical, demystifying strategies for teaching reading and writing. As President and Lead Consultant for Smekens Education, she is a leader in developing new strategies to help teachers meet the demands of today’s College- and Career-Ready Standards. She and her associates share those strategies with teachers around the globe through on-site professional development, virtual and in-person seminars, and an always-growing pool of print, digital, and video resources. Kristina has authored more than 50 books, guides, and classroom tools designed to help teachers implement best-practice literacy strategies. The Comprehension Playbook; Launching the Writer’s Workshop: Grades K-2; and Launching the Writer’s Workshop: Grades 3-12 are among the most popular titles.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the ELA Today community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Smekens Education helps K-12 schools improve achievement in reading and writing by providing educators with practical and engaging professional learning. The team at Smekens specializes in inspiring teachers with simple, best-practice literacy strategies that can be implemented right away. Schools around the globe rely on Smekens to provide powerful PD, whether it occurs in-person, virtually, or on-demand.
