LITERACY LAB SITE PROJECT OUTLINE 2008-2009
Literacy Support Systems is a well established consultant organization. We work to meet the individual needs of our clients. We believe the best work is side by side teaching in classrooms with teachers and coaches. In a consultant’s day, eight to ten teachers will be supported with current literacy practices. We hope to follow a six week course of study with each group, starting with setting up effective writing workshops, plan six week unit of study or follow existing units, demonstrate, coach and observe through the six week study. On going assessment of students’ progress, teacher’s understandings and professional readings are underpinnings of our learning. Periodic administrative meetings will enhance the process. The following is a possible outline for effective, long lasting growth and success in literacy practices. This lab site model works for a team of schools which supports creating a common vision across buildings as well as within a single building. We also provide mentor services for you brand new teachers.
To support teams of schools/or one school at a time:
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The focus of the work will be to support the writing workshop and implementing writing units of study as well as reading workshop.
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Lab sites have been chosen to start on pre-kg., Kg., first, second, and third grade levels. There will be voluntary staff for each site.
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Schools will work with a partner school for off site initial and ongoing training, intra and inter school visitations and on site supports.
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Training will include classroom teachers, coaches, assistant principals and principals. Other support staff will be included as needed.
Training will be held during the school day at school sites, off school sites, after school workshops, summer institutes and Saturday conferences.
To support Lab sites:
- The lab site classroom teacher will be given the appropriate supports to create a physical environment for successful literacy learning.
- Side by side coaching will be a core element of the on going learning.
- The coaches will be expected to consistently support lab site staff. They will work side by side with teachers at least twice a week.
- Coaches will meet off site once a month for half day training, on going assessment and evaluation.
- Cross grade weekly on site lab site staff meetings will be held for planning and assessment. Monthly cross school lab site staff meetings will be held off site to continue literacy training.
To support Administrators:
A goal of this project is to support administrators as academic leaders.
- Principals and assistant principals will meet off site as teams (a half day a month) to plan, assess and continue literacy learning to support classroom sites.
- Develop consistent and successful Principal Walks
- Region/Empowerment staff is invited to join the academic team. This is a positive step towards full success of the project.
- Principals will visit other sites
- Administrators and consultants will continually examine and develop assessment tools for their regular ongoing assessment. To support all teachers and students at school sites:
All teachers will work on their room environments including their libraries to include student accessibility and understanding of literature in writing and reading.
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As the lab site teachers and their partners become more knowledgeable and comfortable, additional teachers will be invited to work closely with the lab site teacher and coach over a planned six week course of study. Consultant included as needed and appropriate.
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Professional staff development will be planned and non lab site staff included when appropriate.
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Professional reading and writing study groups will be offered for all staff members across several buildings.
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Resource Room development or its upgrade will be a priority for all staff use. Special education, inclusion teachers and students, ELL and ESL population are included in all planning.
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Each learning unit shall last six weeks- plan with teachers, updated and celebrated when appropriate.
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Six week studies shall be rotated so all lab site teachers get direct support and indirect support
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Assessment is a key to success. Teachers will spend time to learn how to look at children’s’ writing and reading. They will learn how to identify what students are doing well and what needs to be taught next.
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Teacher will participate in mini courses that support their learning and understanding of how children learn and how they continue to grow their learning.
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All levels of student abilities are taken into account in planning and conferring.
Time and Budget needs:
NOTE: The time and budget needs vary, depending on the number of schools working together.
This process may be implemented for a single school. The time and budget would be adjusted for the needs of the school. The most successful change comes from consistent support which would, ideally, be 30 days a grade of onsite consultant support. This, however, varies from school to school. Our process not program takes time to grow. It is a 3-5 year process.
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The following is for a group of schools working together: There can be a two / three day June and two/ three day August-September Literacy off site Institutes. The Institutes will be attended by the teachers who have agreed to create lab sites and buddy teachers. All school coaches, reading teachers (if applicable), reading recovery teachers, AIS staff, and assistant principals will attend
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The above staff will meet once a month off site for on going assessment and planning.
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Coaches and assistant principals will meet an additional half day each month.
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Principals will meet half day monthly to meet the expectations of the project. They may be joined by Region/ Empowerment staff.
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Literacy Consultants (2) will meet with the teams off site at the Institutes, the two monthly meetings and Region meetings when appropriate. They will also work with the school teams on site at least four visits a month. After school workshops and Saturday conferences will be available when necessary and helpful.
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Time, materials and coverage are needed to meet each aspect of the project. This will vary from school to school.
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Lab site teachers will need some coverage with Literacy Consultant on site. Coach will need to be available when Literacy Consultant is on site.
Literacy Consultant will meet with Principal and Assistant Principals when on site. Literacy Consultant cost – To be determined by number of schools involved and days allocated to each school. E.g. - 25 off site days; 40 on site per school. For a single school; 65 to 100 on site days are required.
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