Professional Development In August Williams School hosted professional development sessions for 120 staff members of both Cornerstone schools, Threadgill and Williams. The sessions were modeled after the Cornerstone Summer Institute in Philadelphia. The two days of professional development was entitled, "If you can see it, you can do it." Greenwood coaches, principals, and critical friend hosted the sessions along with Lu Lewis. Sara Schwabacher served as the documenter and photographer. Sessions were offered on environment, book frenzy, journal writing, crafting, school change, a make and take, and book clubs. A leadership meeting was also held with parents from both schools to focus on literacy projects for their grants. Segments of the "Strategies That Work" videos provided by Cornerstone were use for some of the sessions as well as the video "Who Moved My Cheese."
Launching Interactive Writing in the Kindergarten Tuesday, November 19th was a beautiful morning. It was neither hot nor cold outside and the sun was shining brightly from a cloudless sky. It was just perfect weather for a walk outside with a kindergarten class. Mr. Taylor invited Mrs. Christian, a kindergarten teacher, and her class on a short excursion outside. The children were asked to pay attention to the things they saw, heard, and did during their outing. Upon returning to the classroom, the children were gathered around the large easel holding a writing tablet. The children were then invited to recall the events of their outing. They were told to see themselves as writers as Mr. Taylor recorded their thoughts on the tablet. As their events were recorded, the children were asked to notice the capital letters and punctuation used as sentences were written. The children then reread their sentences and their story as a class. Later the
children and their teacher completed an interactive writing exercise
and invited Mr. Taylor to visit to listen to them read their
story and tell of their experience.
Book Studies Underway In order to determine interest in books to be studied for the new year, Mrs. Ford, the critical friend, met with teachers by grade teams. Each team scanned the books available to them for study. The books chosen by the K-6th grade staff were In the Company of Children, Reading with Meaning, and Strategies That Work. The grade teams will decide on their own how to approach the studies with suggestions being given by Mrs. Ford. Weekly, a summary of various chapters will be held during regular staff development time. Teachers are encouraged to tell how they have implemented the practices and bring student work samples of the practices to the meetings.
A Christmas Story
A
free RIF book was the ticket to attend He was dressed
all in red from his head to his toes. Christmas
carols were sung as the reading came to an end (This literacy celebration was attended by over 200 parents and children. It was the first of several planned to issue books by the Reading Is Fundamental program.)
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