Multiple Ways of Knowing:

Deepen Comprehension and Analysis with Literary Lenses (7-12)

Presented by Dr. Erin Tinti

Who Should Attend?

Secondary ELA teachers Grades 7-12 w/ emphasis on 9-12, coaches, anyone interested!

At a Glance:

The secondary ELA teacher is the “guide” to the literary journey in an English classroom. However, what happens when student engagement with text begins to fade and love of reading becomes elusive? This workshop focuses on building self-efficacy in students as a way to deepen reading comprehension and analysis, thus piquing interest and engagement through the use of contemporary literary theories.

The value of using what we will refer to as Literary Lenses in the secondary ELA classroom is that students actively create the forums of shared inquiry using these theories, embracing the socially constructed nature of knowledge. The workshop will focus on how literary lenses can be used to explore any text, deepen student conversations in literature circles, and bring insight to independent reading.

As teachers, we introduce the Literary Lenses and create a classroom of discourse for interpretation, critical analysis, and multiple ways of knowing no matter the texts. Together we will learn how to use contemporary literary theory in the secondary classroom and how to encourage the use of literary lenses with adolescent readers.

Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

✅ Use contemporary literary theory with adolescent readers

✅ Define “text” and learn how to create meaningful text sets

✅ Create learning opportunities in the ELA classroom centered around multiple ways of knowing. Example: independent reading, literature circles, and more.

✅Assess learning in student-centered, asset-based ways

✅ Clearly define what it means to “read” and “know” for students

✅ Explicitly move beyond New Criticism and deepen pedagogical content knowledge

Date and Time: November 18, 2025  9am-3:30pm

Location: CVEDC Classroom includes a light breakfast and lunch.

Cost: CVEDC Member: $200 Non-Member: $250

Bio: Erin Tinti, Ed.D, currently is the Director at Champlain Valley Educator Development Center, but prior to joining CVEDC she was a high school ELA teacher for 13 years and a curriculum and instruction coordinator for 3 years. She earned her masters degree in Teaching English Language Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2015 and most recently completed her doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Vermont. Her areas of focus are teaching writing, teacher self-efficacy, curriculum design for student engagement, and aesthetic education.