Literacy is… “the ability to identify, understand,

interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Promoting Student Success: Targeting Students’ Literacy Needs in the Science and Math Content Areas

Presented by: Karen Eder, Science TeacherLisa MacArtney, Science TeacherBarb Mazzolini, Reading Specialist

Amy Stoops, Reading Specialist

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be

able to understand the purpose of Downers Grove

South’s Literacy Liaison Model. understand how the Literacy Liaison Model

benefits students. understand how Professional Learning

Communities paired with Literacy Liaisons utilize data to drive curricular changes.

gain practical examples of resources and strategies to use in the science and math content areas.

Science and Math

Reading

Coach

Student

Success

Downers Grove South High School Literacy Liaison Model

DGS Background Subgroups failed to make AYP in Reading

Needs Resources

DGS Literacy Liaison Model Objectives RAISE AWARENESS IMPROVE INSTRUCTION INCREASE COLLABORATION PROVIDE LITERACY TRAINING CREATE CONTENT AREA LITERACY

RESOURCES ENCOURAGE COLLABORATIVE REFLECTION

Content Area Liaison

• Teacher (any level of experience)• Flexible and willing to try new strategies

Qualifications

• 1 year commitment to the program• weekly meetings• literacy lunches

Requirements

• Meet the identified needs of the students• Best practice share• Transition to departmental resource

Responsibilities

Content Area Liaison Recruitment Departmental Presentations Department Chair Recommendations Volunteer Basis Generate Buy-In

State Standards Educate (Tovani) Rigor Article Time Management Literacy = Making Content Accessible for Students

Literacy Coach

• Reading Specialist

Qualifications

• Flexible• Trustworthy

Qualities

• Meet the identified needs of the students.• Coach the teacher to meet the needs of the

students.

Responsibilities

The Role of the Literacy CoachDuring Weekly Meeting: During Class Time:

Identifying objectives for a unit

Analyzing textbook structure

Co-creating lessons & units Locating resources Co-creating

activities/handouts that will help students access material

Identifying students’ current strengths and weaknesses

Co-creating interventions Sharing research-based

strategies Co-creating assessments Refining assessments Co-evaluating student work Data analysis 

Guest teach Demonstration lessons Model teaching Working with small groups in

the classroom Observation of students in

classroom Observation of teacher in

classroom Testing of students in

classroom

DGS Liaison & Literacy Coach Pairing 2009- 2010 School Year

Literacy Coach assigned to 5-7 Content Area Liaisons

23 Content Area Liaisons

Department Representation: Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Applied

Arts and Technology, PE/ Drivers Education/ Health

DGS Liaison & Literacy Coach Pairing 2010- 2011 School Year

Literacy Coach assigned to 7-10 Content Area Liaisons

26 First Year Content Area Liaisons

18 Second Year Content Area Liaisons

Department Representation: Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Applied

Arts and Technology, PE/ Drivers Education/ Health, Math, English, Special Education

Literacy Program Pitfalls Not a substitute “Co”!!! Not there to grade papers Not an administrator!!! All is kept private Trust building Everyone at a different pace

“Literacy Lunches”

Lead by Content Area Literacy LiaisonsBest Practice Share

Example: Making Inferences, Drawing Conclusions, Lymphoma by Peyton.wmv

Shared Leadership: Literacy Coaches and Content Area

Liaisons Literacy Instruction and Best Practice Share

Examples: Lit Circles, Connect Two

Lead by Literacy Coaches

Literacy InstructionDo I Really Have to Teach Reading?: Content Comprehension, Grades 6-

12 by Cris Tovani

Pairing a Science Content Professional Learning Community and a Reading

SpecialistA success story…

Science Literacy PLC Identified District 99 need for increased literacy reading skills

PLC Assignments SMART Goal Development

Stated, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Timebound

Baseline Exam Designed by reading specialist & science

department members Designed to assess reading fluency and

comprehension

Pre-Test Data Analysis Identified Student Needs

Narrowed Focus Making Inferences Questioning Drawing Conclusions Fluency Ratings

Led to adjustment of SMART GOAL

Science Literacy PLC in Action:Supporting Student Learning

Coaching• Literacy

Instruction• Lesson

Development

Modeling• PLC Meetings• Classroom

Visits

Collaboration

• Continued Lesson Development & Implementation

• Best Practice Share

• Evaluation• Improvemen

t

Science Literacy PLCs & Literacy Liaisons in Action: Supporting Student Learning Lit Circles Vocabulary Exercises

Pick Two Direct Instruction Lessons

Making Inferences Cartoons Labs Text

Drawing Conclusions Think Aloud Timed Reading Passages

LIT CIRCLES FOR SCIENCE Roles

Awesome Artist Science Word Nerd Super Summarizer Examples Expert Captain Connector Discussion Director

Model

Gradual release

VOCABULARY Picture Notes Concept Mapping Frayer Model Authentic Discussions Word Walls Vocabulary Rating Scales Connect Two

MAKING INFERENCES & DRAWING CONCLUSIONS Using Cartoons

MAKING INFERENCES & DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Science Cartoons at http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com/index.php

MAKING INFERENCES & DRAWING CONCLUSIONSLab Modifications

Conclusions Hypothetical Situations

USING THE SCIENCE TEXTBOOKTextbook Walk“Think Aloud”External Text SourcesSetting the Purpose

PQRST P2ARCS

QUESTIONING STRATEGIESQAR

Formulate genuine questions as you read.

Explain problem solving process. Summarize problems Categorize questions Model questions after examples.

Math Literacy Coaching First year Working with two math teachers On one vertical PLC 1st teacher focusing on Vocabulary 2nd teacher focusing on Active Learning and

Story Problems

Math Teachers

Vocabulary Active Learning Word Walls Vocabulary Cards Connect Two ABC Brainstorming 3-Column Chart Probable Passage Ultimate Challenge Station Review

Speed Dating Station Review Math Cube Story Problem Grids Math Notes

Math Resources Literacy Strategies for Improving Mathematics

Instruction by Joan M. Kenney But I’m Not A Reading Teacher: Strategies for

Literacy Instruction in the Content Areas by Amy Benjamin

Writing Strategies for Mathematics by Trisha Brummer and Sarah Kartchner Clark

http:\\tinyurl.com/beyondcalcs

Science Literacy PLC in Action:Supporting Student Learning

Coaching• Literacy

Instruction• Lesson

Development

Modeling• PLC Meetings• Classroom

Visits

Collaboration

• Continued Lesson Development & Implementation

• Best Practice Share

• Evaluation• Improvemen

t

How will we know when students have learned what we expect them to learn? 591 Students

Overall Improvement 74.28% of test takers showed gains in their overall

score

Increase in Mastery 11.5% growth in the number of students

demonstrating mastery of the assessment

Inference & Drawing Conclusion Questions 21.67% growth on all targeted questions

Literacy Rates PRE TEST 121 students did not complete the exam

(20.47%)Avg. number of questions

unanswered = 9

POST TEST 36 students did not complete the exam(6.09%) Avg. number of questions

unanswered = 2

To Take Away Common Language

Adaptable Strategies

Making Content Accessible

Additional Support Karen Eder keder@csd99.org Lisa MacArtney lmacartney@csd99.org Barb Mazzolini bmazzolini@csd99.org Amy Stoops astoops@csd99.org

Content

TeacherReadin

g Coach

Student

Success

Wenger, Etienne. (1998). “Cultivating Communities of Practice: Learning as a Social System.”

Eaker, R., DuFour, R., & DuFour, R. (2002). Getting Started: Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities. Bloominton, IN: National Educational Service