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Words Matter Professional: Building Vocabulary & Word Knowledge

Something to think about…

Discuss: What are the key ideas you would like to get from these training sessions?

What will you take back to your organization from the training?

Library

Every child deserves the opportunity to see themselves in a book, and to see beyond themselves through one, too. Our diverse book collection is designed to help young people find stories that reflect their identities, families, cultures, experiences, and communities, while also inviting them to explore people, places, and perspectives beyond their everyday lives.

A great book can open a window to another world, hold up a mirror to a child’s own experience, and give their imagination permission to go anywhere. Our collection includes a wide range of diverse characters, cultures, genres, and experiences, giving readers opportunities to discover, wonder, question, and dream.

As we curate our collection, we do our best to align resources with Sora while also honoring one of the most important parts of literacy: reader choice. We want students to have access to books that support their reading development while also encouraging them to follow their interests, explore new worlds, and discover the joy of choosing a book simply because they want to read it. 

Because when children can choose what they read, they don’t just find a book, they may find themselves, a new world, or a lifelong love of reading.

Next steps: Click on the picture to visit our K-4 & 5-8 library. 

Books that you have worked with your students on:

Genres or books they have expressed interest in:

Why Use Graphic Organizers in OST?

Graphic organizers are powerful visual tools that help students see their thinking while making literacy more accessible and engaging across a variety of out-of-school-time activities.

Whether students are reading a story, solving a STEM challenge, creating art, analyzing a sports strategy, or reflecting on a project, graphic organizers give them a simple way to organize ideas, make connections, use vocabulary, and communicate what they know.

They also provide educators with an easy way to check for understanding, encourage discussion, and support different learning styles without turning the activity into a traditional classroom lesson.

Which Graphic Organizer Should I Use?

Graphic Organizer Collection

Types of Graphic Organizer

Character Relationship (1 )

Character Relationship (2 )

Physiognomy Character

Comparing two things

Venn Diagram 

Comparison Matrix

Comprehension

Story Maps

Main Idea

Sequence

Plot Diagram

Question/Answer

Vocabulary & Language

Frayer Model

Word Web

Concept Map

Vocabulary Organizer

Critical Thinking

Cause & Effect

Problem/
Solution

Evidence Tracker

Compare/ Contrast

Student Reflection & Engagement

KWL

Prediction Chart

Reflection Organizer

Exit Ticket

Peer to Peer

The OST tool kit helps build the infrastructure that helps schools and out-of-school time arca

This toolkit  grew out of conversations with the field.  CPRL convened a design sprint called Momentum & Action for a Fully Literate School-Age Population in NYC, which brought together leaders from schools, out-of-school time organizations, and city agencies to think about literacy coherence across the day.

From there, we continued the work through cross-sector collaboration and interviews with practitioners. Those conversations surfaced practical strategies that are now reflected in the vignette spotlights included in the toolkit.  The toolkit itself was developed in partnership with DYCD, ExpandED Schools, NYC Public Schools, and the Office of Community Schools.

So what you’re seeing today is really co-designed with the field, built from the experiences of leaders who are already doing this work.

Include 3–5 questions that encourage deeper thinking.

Instead of:
“Did you like it?”

Try:

“What makes you think that?”
“What evidence supports your idea?”
“How would you change the outcome?”

How will you support different learners?

Student Engagement

Identify how students will have:

   Voice

   Choice

   Movement

   Collaboration  

               Leadership

 Reflection / Wrap-Up

Give students a chance to think about their learning.

 Assessment / Evidence of Learning

How will you know students met the goal?

Extension / Next Step

How can the activity continue?

A Simple  Lesson Plan Framework

CONNECT → EXPLORE → DISCUSS → CREATE → REFLECT

• CONNECT: Build interest and activate knowledge
• EXPLORE: Students engage in the experience
• DISCUSS: Students talk, question, and use vocabulary
• CREATE: Students produce, perform, solve, or communicate
• REFLECT: Students explain what they learned

Planning Through a Literacy Lens  

Designing Lessons with Literacy at the Center  

Every activity can become a literacy opportunity. In this training, participants will learn how to intentionally embed literacy into games, creative arts, STEM, sports, leadership, and enrichment activities without making programs feel like the traditional school day. Educators will explore practical ways to strengthen vocabulary, oral language, comprehension, writing, and critical thinking while maintaining the engaging spirit of out-of-school time.  

Participants will leave with tools and strategies to create lessons that naturally reinforce literacy while supporting student voice, collaboration, and authentic learning experiences.  

(Click to see the full Training Calender)

Planning with Purpose  

Building High-Quality Lessons for Out-of-School Time  

Strong programming begins with intentional planning. This training introduces participants to the fundamentals of lesson planning for out-of-school time settings. Educators will learn how to design engaging lessons that balance student choice, creativity, youth development, and meaningful learning outcomes. Participants will explore how to create lesson plans that are organized, engaging, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners. 

(Click to see the full Training Calender)

Assessment in OST does not have to mean a test or worksheet. Assessment tools help educators notice what students understand, what they can do, and where they may need additional support. The best tools are quick, purposeful, and connected to the activity.

Ask Yourself

What do I want to know about my students, and what is the quickest, most meaningful way to find out? 

Examples of Assessment Tools (Click on the Head for the template)

Literacy Compass

The Literacy Compass to explore your program’s current strengths, identify potential literacy opportunities, and find resources that may best fit your needs.

Observation Checklist

Use while students are participating to track skills such as engagement, collaboration, vocabulary use, or discussion.

Exit Ticket

A quick end-of-activity check:

• One thing I learned…
• One thing that surprised me…
• One question I still have…

Rubric

Use clear criteria to assess projects, presentations, writing, or performances.

Student Self  Reflection

Students explain what they learned, what challenged them, and what they would do differently.

Discussion Assessment

Listen for students using vocabulary, explaining ideas, asking questions, and supporting their thinking.

Student Work Samples

Review journals, graphic organizers, writing, artwork, projects, or presentations for evidence of learning.

Quick Check / Poll

Use questions, thumbs up/down, digital polls, or games to quickly check understanding.

Goal Tracker

Students track progress toward a personal or literacy goal

Instructor Assessment

An instructor assessment is a tool educators use to understand what students know, can do, and need next. It can be formal or informal and does not have to be a test.

Instructions: 

First: Engage with the scenario: a month or so into Hanna’s work on the gala, Jami reaches out to share feedback. 

Then: Consider the reflection questions below. 

After: Share your thoughts and reactions with the group. 

Name of Game

Purpose of Game

Four Corners

Encourage movement, opinion forming, evidence use, and respectful debate.

Headline Remix Interactive Game

Practice summarizing, creative transformation, and argumentation using current events (age appropriate).

Pass The Story

Build narrative skills, creativity, sequencing, and collaboration.

Think-Pair-Share

Promote quick processing, accountable talk, and inclusive participation.

Who Said It?

Build close-reading, inference, and textual-evidence skills by identifying speakers/characters and explaining why their words matter.

Here are 10 effective teaching and facilitation techniques that are especially useful for professional development, adult learning, and out-of-school time (OST) settings. These techniques encourage participation, collaboration, and active learning rather than passive listening.

Teaching/Facilitation Technique

Description 

Show and Tell

Participants select an item, idea, or piece of work to share with the group, briefly explain why it is meaningful, and respond to questions from their peers. Encourages confidence, communication, active listening, and meaningful connections.

Think–Pair–Share

Participants think independently about a question, discuss their ideas with a partner, and then share with the larger group. Encourages reflection and participation from everyone.

Gallery Walk

Participants move around the room to review posters, charts, or discussion prompts, adding comments or responding with sticky notes. Great for collaborative learning and reflection. 

Modeling

Demonstrate a strategy or activity exactly as you would facilitate it with students before asking participants to try it themselves.

Learning Stations (Rotations)

Set up multiple stations where participants rotate through different activities or topics. Keeps learners engaged and allows for hands-on exploration.

Case Study/Scenario-Based Learning

Present a realistic situation or challenge and have participants work together to analyze it and develop solutions.

Fishbowl Discussion

A small group discusses a topic while the rest of the participants observe. Observers then reflect, ask questions, or switch into the discussion.

Jigsaw Learning

Divide participants into “expert” groups to learn one topic, then reorganize them so each person teaches their topic to a new group. Promotes collaboration and shared expertise

Role-Playing & Simulations

Participants act out scenarios to practice communication, facilitation, problem-solving, or instructional strategies in a safe environment.

Reflection & Debrief

After an activity, guide participants through structured reflection using questions like “What?”, “So What?”, and “Now What?” to deepen learning and encourage application.

Interactive Games & Challenges

Use literacy games, problem-solving activities, escape rooms, quizzes, or team challenges to reinforce learning while maintaining high engagement