Current Course Schedule

What Birding Teaches Us About Reading and Writing: Bolstering Joy and Wonder

Birders leave their homes with binoculars and a hope that they’ll see something beautiful. In much the same way, we can encourage kids to approach their literacy learning through the lens of “What joyful, amusing, unexpected thing will happen here?” Kids find what they look for, and switching on their ‘birder mindset’ invites them to capture flashes of delight as they read and write. Especially as kids’ attention spans wither and their engagement in their literacy learning declines, they urgently need strategies to approach their literacy work eyes and ears and attune to joy. This course introduces writing invitations, reading responses, and close reading strategies that can be easily adapted for students of all ages.
  • Course Number
    TEWS885N
  • Registration Options and Cost
    $195 4.0 CTLE or 0.4 CEU

Sections

Summer 2 2025

  • Section 1:
    Date(s)
    July 22 and 24 | Online
    Day and Time
    Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET
    Registration Deadline
    Jul 15, 2025
    Register
    • Lily Scott
      Lily Scott
      Lily Howard Scott, MSEd, is an educator and author (The Words That Shape Us, Scholastic 2025). Her work is centered around helping children navigate their inner lives, connect with each other, and take the risks that lead to meaningful learning. Scott presents regularly at national conferences, including NCTE's annual convention and CASEL's SEL Exchange. Her writing about the importance of a child-centric, holistic approach to teaching and learning has been published in Edutopia and The Washington Post, among other publications. For nearly 10 years, Lily taught elementary school in both public and independent settings. Howard Scott holds a MS in Elementary Education and Literacy from Bank Street College.