Reflections on Literacy

This learning package supports administrators or literacy lead teachers in facilitating and fostering professional dialogue and reflection on key literacy topics within their schools. It is designed to encourage collective and individual exploration of beliefs and understandings in literacy and to provide opportunities to examine teaching practices and to consider what needs to be done to ensure high levels of success for all students. Reflections on literacy (available separately or as part of the instruction package) is a compilation of short articles, each focusing on a key literary topic as identified by literacy leaders across Canada. It includes a brief review of recent research underpinning each topic and outlines broad implications for classroom practice. Topics include: National and international trends, Engaging the literacy learner, The four resources of the literate learner, Differentiating literacy instruction, Scaffolding the literacy learner, Assessment for learning, Metacognition, Teaching for comprehension, The role of talk, Vocabulary, Fluency Critical literacy, Media literacy, Wide Reading, Writing. Literacy Talk is a facilitator's guide that includes guidelines for running sessions in an easy-to-use Before/During/After format, with suggestions for next steps, and an extensive question bank and line masters to facilitate sessions. The guide supports 3 flexible approaches: 1. A systematic walk-through of each topic from the Reflections on Literacy document -- 2. The selection of specific topics based on an analysis of your school's literacy improvement plans -- 3. A discussion-group format prompted by a Staff Survey. A DVD featuring Dr. Frank Serafini in three 15-minute segments that include prompts for staff discussion, serving as an effective introduction to the instruction package. 1. Professional Learning Communities -- 2. Professional Learning -- 3. A Vision for Literacy.