Teaching Reading in Small Groups: Honing our Teaching Practices, for Teachers and Literacy Coaches Institute

Grades: K-5  Dates: February 9-10, 2026 Times: 8:30pm - 3:00pm  Venue: San Jose, CA area Instructors: Amanda Hartman and Alexandra Roman Price: $500

Who Should Attend: Teachers, Paraprofessionals and Tutors, Coaches, and other Literacy Leaders

Program Description Teachers College Advancing Literacy is excited to bring this two-day institute, designed for teachers, paraprofessionals and tutors, coaches, and literacy leaders, to Northern California. This institute offers a unique opportunity to study the teaching of reading in real classrooms, with real students.

Participants will explore how to align reading instruction with current research and the science of learning. Together, we will study how to support foundational reading skills, as well as strategies to help students to develop and use new vocabulary, make inferences and interpret texts more deeply.

Throughout the institute, we will examine the role of formative assessment, the selection of student reading materials, and effective coaching methods that foster student independence. Participants will learn how to integrate identity, motivation, and purpose into small group instruction—key elements that make reading instruction more meaningful and impactful.

Small group instruction has the power to connect students, spark curiosity, and inspire them to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. Regardless of your curriculum, students benefit from the practice and feedback that well-structured small groups provide.

Join us as we study ways to structure effective small groups, teach with clarity and efficiency, and use responsive, real-time scaffolding informed by a variety of reading assessments.

Learning Objectives

• Enhance instructional strategies grounded in research to improve reading outcomes in small group settings.

• Develop skills to guide and support grade-level teams in implementing effective reading instruction collaboratively.

• Engage in live classroom demonstrations, practice teaching, and receive targeted feedback from Advancing Literacy staff developers as well as colleagues. 

• Explore evidence-based approaches to develop a range of foundational reading skills in students.

• Discuss and study reading assessments to think about next steps for students. 

• Build a framework for collaborative study and reflection to bring research-based practices back to your school community.