Literacy Lab- English & Language Arts Professional Development

Professional development takes many forms. Again this year, Liza Lauter, K-12 English Language Arts Teacher Leader, facilitated literacy learning labs for ELA educators to enhance instructional practices. The learning labs were focused on elementary reading instruction. However, this approach to learning together was also incorporated with middle school and high school ELA staff, who also had an opportunity to participate in learning labs. 

Lauter explained, “The structure of a literacy lab usually involves grade-level teams gathering together for about 90 minutes of learning. This includes a learning segment, time in a classroom to model or practice what's been taught, and time to debrief and plan forward. We also had individual coaching sessions built into some of the days.” By the end of the school year, elementary teachers will have experienced 40 different literacy learning labs across the four elementary schools, five per grade band (K-2 and 3-5) per building. This learning opportunity is made possible with Title II Professional Learning funds and has been met with appreciation by many of our BHS teaching staff. Jenny Rossi, Way Elementary Program Consultant, commented, “It’s great that the district invests in professional development, we are all lifelong learners.” 

An example of a topic explored during a recent lab was using student data to plan responsive small groups to meet readers where they are and move them forward. Teams worked across a wide range of small groups formed to support readers, including phonics, decodable texts, unit-specific strategy groups, comprehension, and fluency. K-2 teachers worked to refine interactive read-aloud and shared writing practices. In grades 3-5, teachers studied students' writing about reading, interactive read-aloud, and strategies to lift the level of talk in book clubs.