Literacy Leadership Team

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Meeting Minutes:
1.

Members Present: Kristi Bayer, Jenna Filipowicz, Amy Jo Harrell, Cecilia Hess, Eric
Jaworski, Brian Loehn, Alissa McCullough, Abby Sullivan

2. Review
Reminder to join the Edmodo group and review of the minutes from the last meeting.
3. Invitation
Eric invited members to join his 2B class on various dates in November to see his own use
of literacy in the classroom with his Cultitertulia experience for students.
4. Activity
Members were asked to complete a Think, Pair, Share activity with the information from
the Learning Walks they have completed since the last meeting. Groups discussed
positive use of literacy strategies that are currently being implemented so as to identify
strengths and weaknesses for our building.
5. Share Out
Groups shared their discussions with the entire group, and members commented on the
positive activities that teachers are using. Also, the group began to identify teachers who
have a strong command of literacy strategies.
6. Goal Setting
Eric has spoken with Dr. Askew to request time during faculty meetings to share effective
literacy strategies with the faculty as a whole. Teachers would be from various
departments and would present for less than 10 minutes, probably two per faculty
meeting. Members are asked to return to the next meeting prepared to identify a pocket
of excellence within their department. Members will need to give the name of the
teacher and will need to ensure that the teacher is willing to present at a faculty meeting.
There was discussion regarding the applicability of a discipline specific strategy being
shared universally. Expert presenters are encouraged to present strategies that can be
more universally applied. Also, we discussed follow up at department meetings. Once an
expert has presented at the faculty meeting, lit leadership team members can follow up
during department meetings to give examples of use for the strategy with their own
discipline.
7.

Action Item List Review

The group reviewed the action items that were listed at the previous meeting to evaluate
whether changes should be made (additions/deletions).
Items postponed:
It was decided that training for SchoolNet, reviewing SOL, SRI, etc. scores, and the DEAR
(drop everything and read) initiative should be moved to the end of the year agenda. This
way teachers can begin the year next year with information regarding struggling readers
and admin can use the info to build appropriate Its Academic blocks for the DEAR
program.

Items for action:

a. The group suggested that Kristi would contact Tasha Hurst to ask for literacy activity be
included with the IA program for Workshop Wednesday to help build literacy
competency for students.
b. The lit leadership team will begin creating a folder comprised of writing rubrics for
school-wide use. Teachers will be able to access the writing rubrics as models in
creating assessments for their classes.
8. Other discussion
The group also talked about obstacles that teachers and students face that complicates or
inhibits literacy growth. Technology was a large part of the hindrance. It was mentioned
that copiers will become increasingly more difficult to access as they are not being
replaced. This will leave some departments without a copier forcing teachers to travel too
far in the building to make copies in a timely fashion when needed. Also, the clunkiness
of SharePoint was discussed. Submissions by students may be best using one platform
but dissemination if info to students works best on another. There does not seem to be a
seamless software platform for multiple purposes.
Lack of physical textbooks was discussed. While all students have an electronic textbook
code, without their own personal electronic device, the access for the student is limited.
At least with a physical book, they could access the information as needed. Without a
device, they have to seek out resources before they can even read the material. Many
students ask to visit the library solely to access a physical textbook. If e-books are going
to remain, it will continue to be an issue until each student has their own device for
access. Group noted that this obstacle was outside of our scope of ability to remedy.
Additionally, the use of writing for student portfolios across disciplines was discussed.
While students are shown how to create folders and maintain their work from all four years
of HS for English by their English teachers, students do not have training on maintaining
their work for other classes. Amy Jo will speak with Leah regarding how to include training
for incoming freshmen on how to maintain their work electronically so they have work
from which to pull for ALL discipline when they are seniors and they create writing
portfolios.
9. Professional Leave/Workshop
Eric told the group that monies were available to provide professional leave for team
members. We discussed a workshop with Robin Hoffman. It was decided that January
timeframe would be best so that we have clear direction, and Robin can provide targeted
help for us.
10.Homework for team
All members should return the next meeting with two items of information:
a. Name(s) of department member who is willing to present a literacy strategy at a
faculty meeting
b. Examples of newsletter items related to literacy that teachers in your department
include in a parent newsletter or other parent communication method.