April Smith, the founder of Performing in Education®, is a literacy coach who offers both virtual and in-person professional development for schools and other organizations. She assists educators and school leaders in implementing evidence-based writing instruction, leveraging her wealth of classroom experience and research-supported strategies. As a county Teacher of the Year award winner and the author of Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block, April is passionate about creating writing environments that encourage student engagement and growth. She has a special interest in teaching students with dyslexia and is committed to making writing instruction more effective and accessible for all students.
Past Session Topics
The Science of Writing Instruction
This session explored the latest research on writing instruction, emphasizing the key components necessary to help students become proficient writers. April Smith delved into evidence-based strategies that focused on explicit instruction, writing across the curriculum, and the integration of grammar and sentence structure within the writing process. Participants learned how to apply these research-backed practices in their classrooms to support diverse learners, including those with dyslexia.
How Writing Supports The Science of Reading (SoR)
This session highlighted the symbiotic relationship between writing and reading instruction, rooted in the Science of Reading (SoR). April Smith guided participants through the ways writing could reinforce phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, and comprehension skills. Educators left with practical strategies to integrate writing into their reading instruction, ensuring that both reading and writing skills were developed in tandem.
Strategies for Teaching Writing to Dyslexic Learners
In this specialized session, April Smith shared her expertise on teaching writing to students with dyslexia. Participants explored multisensory techniques, explicit writing instruction, and scaffolded approaches that supported dyslexic learners. April provided actionable tips for creating an inclusive writing environment that empowered students with dyslexia to express themselves confidently and effectively.
Building a Student-Centered Writing Block
This session focused on the framework from April Smith’s book Simplify Your Writing Instruction: A Framework For a Student-Centered Writing Block. Educators learned how to design a writing block that prioritized student choice, engagement, and growth. April shared strategies for differentiating instruction, integrating technology, and fostering a classroom culture where students took ownership of their writing.
Writing Across the Curriculum: Integrating Writing into Every Subject
In this session, April Smith emphasized the importance of writing across all subject areas to deepen students’ understanding and communication skills. Participants discovered how to incorporate writing tasks into subjects like science, social studies, and math, making writing a natural and essential part of every lesson. April shared practical examples and tools to help educators seamlessly integrate writing into their existing curriculum.
April may be available to speak at your event. Please contact us to discuss how she can help support your school or organization.
