Apprenticing Students to Read and Write in the Disciplines

Reading and writing in the disciplines require more than basic skills. This session introduces an apprenticeship approach that helps students engage deeply with texts and communicate like disciplinary experts. 

This webinar introduces Reading Apprenticeship and Writing Apprenticeship, which take an integrated, research-based approach to disciplinary literacy. Participants will explore how instruction can center students’ thinking, build on their knowledge and experiences, and develop reading and writing practices specific to each discipline. Grounded in a framework that combines social, cognitive, personal, and knowledge-building dimensions, the approach supports students in making sense of complex texts through metacognitive conversation and structured routines such as Think Aloud. The session also highlights professional learning services that help educators design engaging, inquiry-based classrooms in which students read, write, and communicate like experts across subject areas. 

Who Should Attend

• District and site leaders 
• Instructional coaches and literacy specialists 
• Grades 6–12 classroom teachers 

Session Discussion Topics

• The apprenticeship approach  
• The integration of reading and writing 
• Instructional routines for making thinking visible during reading and writing 

Featured Speakers

Heather Howlett is Director of Reading Apprenticeship at WestEd. She leads national efforts to support educators in strengthening literacy instruction across disciplines. Howlett works closely with district and school leaders to design and implement sustained professional development that improves teaching and learning. With extensive experience in secondary classrooms and coaching, she brings a practical, educator-centered approach to helping teachers support diverse learners. 

Dr. Jenell Krishnan is Director of Writing Apprenticeship at WestEd. Krishnan supports teachers, literacy coaches, schools, and districts in teaching discipline-specific writing with a focus on real audiences and authentic purposes using research-based practices. Krishnan’s work is published in Scientific Studies of Reading, Reading and Writing, and the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. Her research is recognized by the American Educational Research Association.