edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsThink Critically, Write Clearly: Tools for Deepening Student Thought
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
Presented by Seema Tejura, Founder and Managing Director, The Literacy Architects; Caitlin Deckard, Science of Reading Specialist, The Literacy Architects; and Nicole Nelson, National Curriculum Consultant, Learning A-Z
Sponsored by Learning A-Z
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Critical thinking is essential for students to become confident writers and for their overall success inside and outside the classroom. But how is critical thinking explicitly taught? In this edWebinar, Seema Tejura and Caitlin Deckard, education experts from The Literacy Architects, will break down the components of critical thinking and explore the prerequisite skills students need to bring this approach to their writing. They’ll dive into the writing process and its role in supporting metacognition and managing cognitive load, which are crucial for fostering deep thinking.
At the end of the edWebinar, Learning A-Z team members will demonstrate how Writing A-Z can support integrating writing and critical thinking in daily instruction. Educators will leave with the ideas and inspiration to empower students not only to become stronger writers but also to be able to think more critically and analytically across all disciplines.
This edWebinar will be of interest to PreK-5 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
About the Presenters
Seema Tejura has over 18 years of experience leading students, teachers, and leaders towards literacy success. She has served as chief academic officer, reading director, literacy coach, and reading specialist for urban school districts in Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. She founded The Literacy Architects in 2018 to bring knowledge about evidence-based reading instruction to educators across the country. Seema holds master’s degrees in the reading specialist and education leadership fields and is also a certified reading specialist, Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner, and Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP). The Literacy Architects offers virtual communities of practice to support teachers, leaders, and higher education professors in implementing structured literacy routines, and has delivered PD to organizations such as the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), District of Columbia Public Schools, and the Texas Public Charter School Association.
Caitlin Deckard is a Science of Reading Specialist at The Literacy Architects and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University. She has held various positions in rural and urban school districts, including elementary classroom teacher, literacy interventionist, gifted and talented teacher, RTI coordinator, strategic planning board member, and Title Services program coordinator. Caitlin prioritizes evidence-based best practices within the MTSS framework, while making research both accessible and approachable to educators. Her belief that literacy is a civil right and a prerequisite for survival and success within our society influences her work designing professional development and social media content for The Literacy Architects.
Nicole Nelson served 15 years as an elementary teacher and literacy coach in her local school district and was named TN PreK-4 Teacher of the Year for 2008. Nicole has also served as an Account Executive with Pearson, Renaissance, and Learning A-Z. While at Pearson, she also served as a Literacy Solutions Specialist and Curriculum Specialist. Nicole is currently a National Curriculum Consultant with Learning A-Z, where she supports districts across the nation in achieving their literacy goals. Nicole has shared her expertise through national, regional, and state conferences over the last 27 years.
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Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Learning A-Z delivers Science of Reading-aligned preK-6 classroom essentials that inspire curiosity, ensure comprehension, and instill the joy of learning in elementary students. From reading and writing to vocabulary and science, our award-winning digital solutions, including Foundations A-Z, Raz-Plus, and Writing A-Z, are used by over 12 million students across 170+ countries.
Our flexible, research-based supplemental solutions complement any elementary R/ELA curriculum, empowering teachers to tailor instruction and engaging students with effective practice opportunities in their dedicated Student Portal. With ready-made lesson plans and vast digital libraries covering diverse genres and topics, our solutions cater to individual needs and interests, building background knowledge and strengthening foundational literacy skills. Complement your core curriculum with more of the resources that teachers need and students love.
