$29.00 USD

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Using Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to Build Meaning, Precision, and Power in Student Writing

Strong writing is built on strong noun groups.

In this workshop, discover how Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) reveals the role noun groups play in meaning-making—helping students add detail, precision, and clarity to their writing across content areas.

You’ll learn how to bring noun group instruction straight into your classroom by:

  • Identifying and analyzing noun groups in mentor texts

  • Teaching students how to expand noun groups with purpose

  • Supporting comprehension and writing through explicit language instruction

  • Giving feedback that helps students strengthen ideas—not just sentences

👉 Walk away with practical tools you can use immediately and a deeper understanding of how noun groups support reading, writing, and academic language development.

✔ Replay included
✔ Downloadable handouts
✔ Classroom-ready strategies

This workshop is ideal for classroom teachers, ELD/ESL educators, and instructional coaches supporting multilingual learners and academic writing.

FLP - Developing Language with Read Alouds

A 60-Minute Pre-Recorded Workshop with Dr. Ruslana Westerlund, co-author of the WIDA 2020 ELD Standards

What does a read-aloud look like when it’s intentionally planned for language development?

In this one-hour professional learning session, Dr. Ruslana Westerlund models a functional language approach to read-alouds with 3rd–4th grade students using her favorite children’s book, My Papi Has a Motorcycle.

You’ll see how explicit attention to language choices helps students build imagery, meaning, and narrative control—without disrupting the joy of the story.

What You’ll Learn

Participants will:

  • Identify and discuss expanded noun groups and verb groups in a mentor text

  • Understand how these language features build imagery and meaning in narrative writing

  • Practice using noun groups and verb groups in their own narration

  • See a real-world example of SFL applied during a read-aloud

Why This Workshop Matters

Read-alouds are powerful—but only when language is made visible.

This session helps educators move beyond comprehension questions and into intentional language instruction that supports multilingual learners and strengthens writing.