Course Description
This course explores how teachers can balance the benefits of whole-class novel study with student-centered teaching practices that honor choice and foster joyful, independent reading. Participants will examine their current teaching practices, learn strategies for selecting appropriate texts, develop differentiated instruction plans, and create structures that support all readers in engaging deeply with literature. Through reflection, collaboration, and practical application, teachers will design units that combine the community-building power of shared texts with the engagement and growth that comes from individualized instruction.
Audience
Grades 4-12 English teachers and administrators
About the Instructor
Stephanie Nephew brings over two decades of educational leadership and literacy expertise to this course. Currently serving as the Grades 4-8 Literacy Coordinator for Westborough Public Schools, she has previously worked as a middle school English teacher, middle school vice principal, K-5 principal, and in literacy curriculum roles across all grade levels. Her experience spans classroom teaching, curriculum development, and district-level leadership, giving her a comprehensive perspective on literacy instruction from elementary through high school.