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Speaker’s Bureau

Kendra Wagner

Member since 11/2009

Kendra Wagner grew up trying to avoid words, and dance instead. Her professor father and teacher researcher mother argued over crossword puzzle trivia. Her superintendent grandfather made up his own Scrabble rules – which he said belonged only to the state of Colorado – and always won. Her Baptist minister uncle made word-play jokes that were too abstract for a 12-year old Kendra to find the humor in. In high school she took up dance and music to escape the academia of her family. Two college degrees later she stumbled upon her own love for words while facilitating dance therapy sessions with male juvenile offenders. Their biggest secret was not that they had stolen multiple convertibles but that they could not read. The more she learned about these boys and the reading process, the more she discovered her calling: to teach literacy to all who struggled. Two more college degrees later Kendra has found herself firmly rooted in the world of words as a Reading Specialist, Academic Therapist, and Staff Development presenter in Literacy.

My Mission Statement

I intend to inspire and rewire the brains of children to enjoy learning, via my communication with parents and teachers. I show participants how deeply comprehending and richly writing can further learning of any subject area. Sharing my success stories about children while acknowledging the diligence required to be a homeschooler is interwoven into my presentations. Participants always learn something they can use the next day, and they learn about their own learning and brain, not just their child's.

Honorarium

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Past Engagements/Seminars

"Parenting a Struggling Reader" Edmonds School District - 3/2009

"Vocabulary - Research and Strategies" Edmonds School District - 3/2008

"Reading TO, WITH, and BY Your Child" Edmonds School District - 4/2007

"Pre-Reading Tips for Parents of Young Children" Mukilteo School District - 2/2007

"Metacognition - Thinking Strategies to Strengthen Your Child's Comprehension" Edmonds School District - 4/2006

"The Big 5 - Understanding the Essentials of Learning to Read" Everett School District - 2/2006

Presentations

Learning to Read: Decoding and Automaticity

Smooth reading depends on a host of skills, most of which should be "underground" and second nature to us. When learning to read, these skills are all in our awareness, and in order to have them become automatic, there are certain do's and don'ts about teaching children about words. Also, what to do to make words "stick" and what to do when child really struggles.

Non-Fiction Comprehension

How to turn dense texts into managable, material. How to do the right amount of pre, during, and post thinking strategies to get the most out of informational texts. Memory aids, vocabulary strategies, and self-talk tip will be shared.

Phonemic Awareness

Age 3- 6 The ability to manipulate the sounds in words, distinct from phonics. Why is it important? How can we nourish it? How can we make it fun?