The Literacy Workshop

The Literacy WorkshopThe Literacy WorkshopThe Literacy Workshop

The Literacy Workshop

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Bright futures start with literacy!

Bright futures start with literacy!Bright futures start with literacy!
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“I BELIEVE THAT TODAY’S READERS WILL BE TOMORROW’S LEADERS!”

OUR MISSION

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

We will build a community in which all learners are respected, encouraged, and empowered to embrace learning, as well as to strive to achieve their personal best in order to thrive as they take on their world as avid readers, strong writers, and deep thinkers.

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

Hello, my name is Kristen and I am the founder of The Literacy Workshop. Over the years I have taught pre-school, run my own after-school program, worked in Independent Learning Centers for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as for students with special needs in an elementary school setting. One of my proudest moments was when I taught

Hello, my name is Kristen and I am the founder of The Literacy Workshop. Over the years I have taught pre-school, run my own after-school program, worked in Independent Learning Centers for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as for students with special needs in an elementary school setting. One of my proudest moments was when I taught ESL for the Arcadia Unified School District. It was a joy to work with upper elementary students to improve not only their language skills, but their overall literacy knowledge.


I’m super excited to announce that I have become recertified in TEFL/ESL, and will be offering an enrichment program to upper elementary level . This program will help them build and expand upon their literacy skills. Bright futures start with literacy, which means helping learners become avid readers, expand their vocabulary, develop strong writing skills, and evolve into deep thinkers that will serve them well on their educational journey.


You see, I truly believe that today’s reader will become tomorrow’s leader. What’s more is that I am of the mindset that the ever important reading, writing, and critical thinking building blocks I teach will set them up for success throughout their school careers and beyond. I am beyond thrilled to offer a space for learners to brighten their future with The Literacy Workshop!

OUR GOAL

OUR HISTORY & EXPERTISE

OUR GOAL

Literacy was once known as the ability to read and write. In today’s world, we have a much broader understanding of what literacy truly entails. It’s about becoming an advanced reader and being able to make sense of pieces of literature in a variety of genres, as well as to effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, and opinions while engag

Literacy was once known as the ability to read and write. In today’s world, we have a much broader understanding of what literacy truly entails. It’s about becoming an advanced reader and being able to make sense of pieces of literature in a variety of genres, as well as to effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, and opinions while engaged in discussions, which means also having an open mind, along with attentive listening skills. In addition, it is important to be able to clearly and concisely convey the same in writing.


Our goal is to guide learners as they develop these essential qualities that will allow them to take on their world as avid readers, strong writers, and deep thinkers, which will set them up for success throughout their school career and beyond.

MEET YOUR LITERACY COACH

KRISTEN SINDEBAND—OWNER & LITERACY COACH

Hi, my name is Kristen Sindeband, and I am pleased to meet you. I live here in sunny Southern California with my spouse, Taran. We have 4 beautiful fur babies, along with one handsome gray, outdoor kitty that we’ve adopted. We just love them to pieces! When we have some spare time, we really enjoy spending it with our family and friends, as well as exploring the outdoors, and the beauty that our national parks and gardens have to offer!


Teaching is my thing! I am very patient, fair, and open-minded. I encourage my students to ask questions, take risks and overcome the fear of making mistakes as this is part of the learning process. My goal as a literacy coach is to improve your learner’s literacy skills!


I have experience teaching students from a wide range of  ages (pre-school to upper elementary) and backgrounds. I love to motivate my students and make learning a challenging, and enjoyable experience. I always aim to make my classes comfortable and give my students the opportunity to express themselves and have more talk time, so they can build confidence and improve their literacy skills. I try to make my lessons practical, as well as encouraging each learner to be involved.


As a teacher I value my students and appreciate their trust. I believe that building rapport and providing a comfortable but challenging enough environment for their growth is my main responsibility. I am really focused on building as much confidence with my students as I can, and genuinely believe that helping them develop strong literacy skills is the way to do that.


My aim is to make my classes as fun and inclusive as possible. If you have any questions about my lessons, please ask me – I’d be happy to answer. I enjoy being a teacher because I truly enjoy helping students grow into becoming avid readers, strong writers, and deep thinkers. Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs a person could do, especially when I get to see all of the amazing progress my students make!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Parents/Guardians, you are your children’s “first” and most important teacher. They need time with you to build confidence and self-esteem. You are in the best position for creating a safe and loving family environment that lays the foundation for life-long learning and emotional well-being.


Talk with your children and communicate feelings.  When you communicate with your children, children learn: how to use language, how to communicate effectively, and how to have a conversation with others. Believe it or not, these skills contribute to becoming well-rounded, successful learners!

Active listening, and oral language development are the first step in literacy development. Before children learn to speak, they need the opportunity to listen to you talk in order to learn the rhythm of the language. It’s through listening and using language that children begin to learn.

Communicate with your children. Talk to your children regularly to let them hear the rhythm of the language. Some good ways to get your children to use language are to encourage your children to join in: 

  • listening to stories
  • rhymes
  • singing songs
  • finger plays
  • storytelling

  • Read to them, and read to them often. Make it a routine!
  • Ask your children questions about the story as you read together.
  • Let them see you reading. Have magazines and books in your home.
  • Share books. Perhaps you can read a mystery with your child and try to figure out the clues together.
  • Turn the closed captioning on for your children to read.
  • Is a new movie coming out? Read the book together first, then talk about which you each liked better. Be sure to discuss the similarities and differences between the two.
  • Visit your public library on a regular basis.
  • Point out the print that is all around you.  Look at street signs, grocery store labels and posters.
  • Help your children create their own library at home with books and magazines for them to read both with you, and independently.
  • Cook together and have them read the recipe that you’re making.

  • Choose a book from the library or from your home.  It’s even better if you let your children choose.
  • Read, read, read. If your child is a reader, then take turns reading aloud, or tell the story by looking at the pictures. Just don’t stop reading to them!
  • Talk about what’s happening in the story. Ask them questions as you read together.
  • Help your children with difficult words. You can do this by modeling how to use the context it’s in to infer the word’s meaning, or how to look up the definition. Then challenge them to use their new word in a sentence. Have fun, make a game out of it. Try having them make a silly sentence.
  • Praise, motivate, and encourage your children to read!

Allow, and encourage your children to watch, or help you:

  • fill in forms.
  • write birthday cards.
  • write letters and notes.
  • write shopping lists.
  • write to-do lists.
  • Start early! Ask your children to draw a picture that goes with what you are writing, or even to scribble and draw. Pretending to write is okay, this is the beginning stage of writing. Let me say it again, start early!

Make sure you always have reading and writing materials available: 

  • books and magazines
  • a library card
  • audiobooks 
  • a place to read
  • lots of paper
  • pens, pencils, crayons and markers
  • scissors and glue
  • old envelopes or greeting cards for kids to copy
  • little blank books for children to create their stories
  • journals to write about trips, special events, and daily life
  • a box to store their writing materials and tools of the trade

  • Games make learning fun!
  • Board and card games help children to match pictures and words. This is a very important reading skill.
  • Board games teach visual skills. They can help your child recognize symbols, signs, letters, understand maps, and so on.
  • Games, such as Scrabble and Bananagrams, encourage your children to read.
  • Believe it or not, games help teach your children important social skills.
  • Reading helps children to understand the past, explore the world, visit new places, plan for their future, develop empathy and make good choices, make connections, have fun, enrich their vocabulary, and exercise their mind!
  • Establishing a reading routine is an easy way to introduce and discuss big topics with your children, have fun with them, and monitor their progress. Remember, you are their first teacher!
  • Helping to create shopping lists, and write other notes or cards, shows children that writing is purposeful.

There are several ways parents can encourage their child to think critically, including:

  • Encouraging curiosity and asking questions
  • Encouraging open-mindedness and considering multiple perspective
  • Providing opportunities for problem-solving and decision-making
  • Encouraging discussion and debate
  • Encouraging reflection and analysis of information.

Yes, parents should continue to read to their older children as it has numerous benefits, including improving literacy skills, strengthening the parent-child bond, and fostering a love of reading and learning.

Kids should read because it helps improve their language skills, develops their imagination and creativity, expands their knowledge and vocabulary, and enhances their cognitive and social-emotional development. Reading also helps children build empathy and understanding of different cultures and perspectives, and can be a great source of entertainment and relaxation.

Writing can help kiddos develop their communication skills, creativity, critical thinking abilities, and even improve their academic performance. It can also serve as a therapeutic tool to help them process their thoughts and emotions. Additionally, writing  can be a fun and rewarding activity that can help kids explore their interest and express themselves in unique ways.

Encouraging kids to think critically. Helps them develop problem-solving skills, make informed decisions, and better understand the world around them. It also helps them become more independent and confident individuals who are able to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and express their own opinions effectively. Critically thinking is also an essential skill for success in many areas of life, including academics, career, and personal relationships.

Kids should join literature circles because it encourages active reading, critical thinking, and collaboration with peers. It also helps to develop communication skills and deepen understanding of the text. Additionally, literature circles foster a love for reading and provide a safe space for sharing ideas and opinions.

A literature circle is a structured discussion group where participants have specific roles and responsibilities for analyzing a particular book, while a book club is a more informal gathering where members read a book and then discuss it together. Literature circles are often used in educational settings to promote critical thinking and deeper understanding of a book, while book clubs are more focused on enjoyment and social interaction.

  1. Literacy skills are essential for academic success: Children who develop strong literacy skills early on are more likely to succeed in school and beyond.
  2. Literacy skills are linked to cognitive development: Reading and writing help children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  3. Literacy skills are important for social and emotional development: Children who read and write have a better understanding of their own emotions and are better able to communicate with others.
  4. Literacy skills are essential for future career success: Strong reading and writing skills are important for not only academics, but for almost every job and career out there.
  5. Literacy skills are linked to lifelong learning: Children who develop a love of reading and writing are more likely to continue learning throughout their lives.

  1. Encourages reading: Literature circles encourage children to read more and explore different genres of literature.
  2. Boosts comprehension: Children can discuss the plot, characters, themes, and other literary elements in the book, which improves their comprehension skills.
  3. Develops critical thinking skills: Literature Circles help children to think critically and analyze the book’s message and its relevance to their lives.
  4. Enhances communication skills: Children can discuss their thoughts and ideas about th ebook with their peers, which improves their communication skills.
  5. Builds social skills: Literature circles provide a supportive environment for children to interact with their peers and build friendships.
  6. Promotes teamwork: Children work together in literature circles, which encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  7. Fosters creativity: Children can express their creativity by creating artwork or writing their own stories inspired by the book they read in literature circle. 

Phonics is a method of teaching a learner how to read and write that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds. It helps learners decode words by understanding how letters combine to form sounds.

Phonics is crucial because it equips children with the skills to sound out words, which promotes reading fluency and comprehension. Mastery of phonics can lead to improved literacy skills.

Phonics instruction typically begins in preschool or kindergarten, around ages 4-6 years old, but can vary depending on individual readiness and the educational program that they are participating in. Honestly, the earlier the better. In general, I'd say start when you think that your child is ready. You are your child's first, and most important teacher. Take advantage of that, and introduce them to early literacy by reading to them, talking to them, and through play. That will really give them a headstart!

Effective strategies include systematic phonics programs, interactive games, phonemic awareness activities, and using multisensory approaches to engage different learning styles. Play is a highly effective tool. Make learning fun!

Parents can support their child's phonics learning by reading regularly with them, practicing letter sound relationships through games and activities, and providing a variety of reading materials to encourage a lot of practice. Remember, reptitition is key!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time for children to no more than 1-2 hours per day for children ages 2-5, and setting consistent limits on the amount of time children ages 6 and older spend using media in their day. There is a lot of fantastic,  educational programming available for kids to learn from that is both fun and entertaining. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to determine what is best for their child based on their individual needs and specific circumstances.

Yes, kids should be allowed to use computers as they can provide educational and entertainment opportunities, develop technological skills, and prepare them for future careers. However, it is important for parents to monitor their children’s online activities and ensure they are accessing appropriate content.

Contact Us

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Every student has unique needs for support. Tell us more about what you are hoping a literacy coach can do for your learner, and  we will  start working on a plan together to improve their literacy.

The Literacy Workshop

kristen@theliteracyworkshop.com (626)216-8004

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