Professional Learning

Administrator Series: Leading in the Era of College and Career Ready Standards

To create a vision of effective literacy instruction, leaders must have a common understanding of evidence-based practices and classroom strategies. Attention will focus on critical elements of literacy instruction consistent with the rigorous content and application of knowledge through the College and Career Ready Standards. Administrators will be provided with tools and resources to support standards implementation. Effective leadership at the district and school level is a critical component of standards implementation and will ultimately impact the levels of student achievement.

Translating the South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Standards for English Language Arts 2015 into Practice

How do you translate the new South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for English Language Arts 2015 into practice? How can teachers modify and enhance teaching to meet the rigors of 21st century learning? This professional learning session is designed to extend understanding and support the effective implementation of the South Carolina College- and Career Ready Standards. A focal point of these sessions will be the connections between the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate and the ELA standards. In addition, teachers will investigate how to effectively instruct students of various backgrounds, readiness and skill levels, and interests.

Text Dependent Analysis Implications for the K-2 Classroom: Thinking Deeply About Text

The SC Ready writing prompt is a TDA item that requires students to read a text or passage and draw upon that text for written responses. So, what is the role of K-2 teachers in supporting and preparing students for SC READY beginning in third grade? Reading closely and effective writing instruction cannot wait until the upper grades. It needs to find its place in kindergarten and the years just beyond if we mean to build the habits of mind that will lead all students to deep understanding of text. This does not imply a watered-down version of the kind of instruction provided to upper grade students. There are some important distinguishing features that align with the developmental needs of young readers and writers. If we want to create readers and writers who are independent thinkers, we need to explicitly teach how to approach a text to uncover its multiple layers of meaning. Teachers will explore strategies for reading for meaning and learn ways to design appropriate instruction that teaches students to become active, critical, curious, and strategic readers and writers. College and career readiness begins in the primary grades. With the right tools, we can begin to build deep reading and effective writing skills even with our youngest children.

Text Dependent Analysis Implications for the 3-8 Classroom: Thinking Deeply About Text

The SC Ready writing prompt is a TDA item that requires students to read a text or passage and draw upon that text for written responses. So, what is the role of elementary and middle school teachers in supporting and preparing students for SC READY? Reading closely and effective writing instruction cannot wait until the upper grades. If we want to create readers and writers who are independent thinkers, we need to explicitly teach how to approach a text to uncover its multiple layers of meaning. Teachers will explore strategies for reading for meaning and learn ways to design appropriate instruction that teaches students to become active, critical, curious, and strategic readers and writers.

Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts, Grades 3-12

Do your students often struggle with difficult novels and other challenging texts? Do they primarily comprehend at a surface level? Do you feel that you are doing more work teaching the novel than they are reading it? This session will show how students can be taught to successfully read a broad range of challenging and difficult texts with deeper levels of comprehension. Teachers will examine strategies for preparing students to read challenging texts at the deepest levels possible. Participants will experience literacy engagements and debrief in terms of teaching and learning in order to lift the level of instruction in their classrooms.

Meeting Students Where They Are: Differentiating Instruction (K-12)

Differentiated instruction does not happen by accident. It requires planning, commitment, and acknowledgment of the fact that diverse abilities, experiences, and interests have a tremendous impact on student learning. Strategies for successfully implementing differentiated instruction will be shared. Participants will learn how to create environments where students are engaged in meaningful learning activities, which challenge and meet the unique needs of each individual student.

Nurturing the Writer: Effective Writing Structures and Strategies

These sessions are designed to familiarize teachers with the structure, content, and concepts included in the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for English Language Arts 2015 for writing. The structure of the standards provides critical learning progressions and emphasizes skills a writer will need to know to create a variety of text types. Separate sessions for implementing effective writing structures and strategies may be offered.

  • Implementing Writing Workshop to Teach Informational Writing
  • Implementing Writing Workshop to Teach Narrative Writing
  • Implementing Writing Workshop to Teach Argument Writing
  • Teaching Information and Opinion Writing in the Primary Grades
  • The Essential Act of Teaching: Conferring with Young Writers (K-2 and 3-5)

Disciplinary Literacy: Why it Matters!

The Disciplinary Literacy series is designed for 6-12 teachers implementing the literacy standards through their disciplines. These sessions focus on the critical elements of effective literacy instruction, using literacy as a tool for learning content. Teachers see how to harness the power of SC-CCRS and practical strategies for achieving literacy standards in the disciplines. Reading is critical to building knowledge in history/social studies, science and technical subjects. If teachers want students to learn complex content in their discipline they often have to help students become better readers and writers. Literacy strategies transfer learning across disciplines—thus enhancing their ability to become learners who make connections. Content area teachers will see how these standards complement the specific content demands of the disciplines, not replace them.

Curriculum Mapping: Systemic Curriculum Design and Units of Study

The need for a cohesive curriculum that intentionally connects standards, instruction, and assessment has never been more critical than it is today. Rigorous Curriculum Design is a model for designing curriculum so that it represents a rigorous set of comprehensive units of study aligned with state standards. During this professional learning series, participants will learn how to design a grade- or course-specific curricular unit of study from start to finish. The architecture of a minilesson and effective planning strategies may be included.

This process lays the foundational steps for designing a connected K-12 curriculum. Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to create rigorous curricular units of study for more meaningful learning and rigorous, engaging lessons.

Intensive Support for Implementing a Comprehensive Literacy Program

For districts and schools seeking to implement a comprehensive literacy program, Literacy for Learning, LLC can provide intensive professional learning, follow-up, and technical assistance. Our associates can design and deliver services to support your school or district.