The DBQ Project: Inquiry, Dialogue, and Evidence-Based Writing
Grades 6-12
Tuesday, 13 November 2018
November 13
, January 29
November 13, 2018
Registration for this PD Conference is now officially CLOSED. If you would like to register, there may still be a few spaces available for additional participants. Please contact Liza Scallet (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) as soon as possible if you wish to reserve a space.
For over a decade, The DBQ Project has promoted rigorous reading and writing instruction for all students, not just those in advanced classes. Using document-based questions as a method of instruction enables all students to master high-level skills. This two-part workshop will provide a solid understanding of the DBQ Project 6-Step Method, which builds on students’ curiosity and increases their confidence to answer compelling, authentic questions. During the first session, participants will analyze and norm student work using the DBQ Project Rubric, as well as explore best practices that motivate and empower students to use close reading skills to analyze documents and write strong, evidence-based essays. The follow-up workshop will focus on assessing student work and coaching students to produce higher-quality work. Participants ​will be asked to select and implement a unit of study that aligns to their curriculum, and then bring to the second session a high, medium, and low sample of student work for norming. Between the first and second workshop, participants will be given the opportunity to participate in several webinars which will help them plan the teaching of the DBQ they have selected. The second workshop will focus on the struggles teachers face in getting students to closely read documents, make claims, and analyze and interpret sources, thus providing participants with a deep dive into the coaching of critical thinking and writing.
6-12 Classroom Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Leaders, and School Administrators
Conference runs from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration and breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m.
Lunch will be served at noon.
Free parking and free internet access will be provided.
All registered participants will receive an email with event details in the week before the conference is held.
The conference fee is $289 for each participant who is member of a school division which is a member of VaSCL.
The registration fee for participants from Non-Member school divisions is $389.
Registration fees include breakfast and lunch, as well as parking and internet access.
The registration deadline is Friday, October 12, 2018.
In the registration form (below), required fields are indicated with a red asterisk. Mistakes made in completing the form will be highlighted in red.
Once you have submitted the registration, the person or people whom you have designated to receive a confirmation email should see that email (with registration information included) within 24 hours.
Pre-Payment is not required for participation.
After the conference has been held, an invoice will be emailed to the person identified in Billing Information on the Conference Registration Form for each participant.
Notification of cancellation must be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., VaSCL Coordinator, at least FIVE BUSINESS DAYS before the event is held . . . or the registration fees will be billed in full.
If a Purchase Order Number is provided on the Conference Registration Form for a participant, the invoice from VaSCL will reference that Purchase Order Number.
If you wish to be invoiced BEFORE the date of the event or if you have any other questions about payment, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you have questions or concerns, or would like to receive more information about this conference, please contact our Administrative Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..