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Learn More: The Importance of Literacy & Language

"Reading is more verbal than visual, students must negotiate the language."              
​Tim Shanahan 

The above quote by Tim Shanahan epitomizes why I began my research. It is not only about the act of reading, it is about understanding the language that is on the page.  Timothy Shanahan is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. He was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools, and is a former First grade teacher.  It is fair to say that I am a "Shana-FAN" as his research emphasizes the connections between reading and writing, literacy in the disciplines, and improvement of reading achievement.

Why focus so much on LITERACY?

1. Major antidote for poverty
2. Makes your life better!
3. Literate people have MORE choices
4. Making meaning ONE step at a time to then BUILD a story
5. Currency for ALL other learning

 Visible Learning for Literacy (Hattie, Fisher, Frey, 2015)

Within this website you will find the following:

HOW TO:

• Provide Language Supports for Students
• Scaffolds for Students to Access Text
• Reading Comprehension Tools to provide feedback 

LESSONS:

• Setting up an Effective Partner Share
• Language Supports for Discussion
• Five Finger Retell
• Incorporating Rewordify to support Reading Comprehension 

REFERENCES:

• Where to Find Worthy Complex Text
• Technology to support Fluency
• Technology to support Reading Comprehension
• Vetted Technology Resources for Classroom Use
• Great Reference Books and Academic Papers

ASSESSMENT:

• Retell as an Assessment:
  • Language
  • Comprehension
• Informal Assessment Rubric
• 5 Finger Retell Rubric

Standards Focused

My focus was on the CASS, specifically supporting the Reading Standard Domains; Literature and Informational Text. The Circles of ELA/Literacy and ELD Instruction included above outlines the increased rigor of thought and complexity of text; and intertwining of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.  Along with that comes the need for increased teacher professionalism and expertise to teach effectively, observe students carefully, and scaffold student learning. As we think about how to bring this all together it is important to be mindful of 21st century learning skills, and the TPACK (Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge) model gives teachers a framework to bring all of it together in a meaningful way.  The interconnection between these standards is one of the most powerful opportunities for us as teachers.

Technology Tools of the Trade

HOW-TOs

LESSONS

REFERENCES

ASSESSMENT