Adolescent Literacy Rights

CASE Conference, 2009

Diane Lauer, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Thompson Schools

Angela Zehner, A.P., Prairie Middle School, Cherry Creek Schools

Suzanne Plaut, V.P. of Ed, Public Education & Business Coalition

How can secondary school leaders ignite a whole-school focus on adolescent literacy to foster intellectually stimulating learning environments and to create classroom cultures where thinking is valued, modeled, and refined across all content areas?

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

1. Be inspired with an expanded definition & compelling vision of adolescent literacy

2. Identify roadblocks for igniting a school-wide focus on adolescent literacy

3. Understand essential instructional frameworks to use with teachers across all content areas

4. Understand the unique role literacy plays in core content areas, and implications for differentiated professional development

5. Learn from administrators how to launch and sustain this work

OUTCOMES

Why adolescent literacy initiatives founder:

D x V x F > R

Which means that a faculty’s . . . D = Shared dissatisfaction with current

stateV = Shared vision of what’s desiredF = First steps and tools to get there

Must be greater than a faculty’s . . . R = Resistance to change

If D or V or F are zero, change won’t happen.

THE CHANGE EQUATION

(Gleicher, 1987)

D = Shared Dissatisfaction:- Students aren’t understanding text- Students aren’t developing independence- Teachers are working harder than students

V = Shared Vision:- The role of the thinking strategies- The value of metacognition- How to use literacy now, not just for college

F = First steps:- Full faculty: Common frameworks- By content area: differentiated literacy and differentiated professional development

CATALYZING CHANGE

Thompson School District (Diane Lauer) - Former principal, Conrad Ball M.S. Start with one interdisciplinary team Spread vision & practice building-wide Impact on student achievement- Now taking literacy work to district level

Cherry Creek Schools (Angela Zehner)- Former math teacher, Prairie M.S. Literacy as a means to my ends How to get content teachers on board- Now assistant principal, Prairie M.S. Use teacher observations as “coaching” Other strategies to spread impact

CASE STUDIES AND FIRST STEPS

“Gateway right” – crucial for accessing all other rights

The right to . . . • Think• Engage• Understand• Develop independence• Gain access• Exercise power

LITERACY IS A CIVIL RIGHT

• What insights are you left with?

• At your site, what assets can you build on in terms of teachers’ dissatisfaction (with students’ current literacy skills), vision (for what’s necessary & possible), and skill with getting students there?

•What next steps might you take to challenge and support teachers, teams, full faculties, or your district to ensure students’ literacy rights?

REFLECTION