11 December final thought - when deciding to join LTQLP it was in response to a sense of inadequacy that I had been experiencing as a new instructional lead in an elementary setting. The myriad of supports offered through early ed, kindergarten and division is fantastic but for me, overwhelming. Beyond blind trust, how can I ensure each child is directly attended to and accommodated for? Mine has been a steep learning curve and attending these sessions and conversations have been a godsend. I have made commitments with my school and through the connections made here I am now much more competent at my job...much more to learn but it now seems possible.

james

In order to lead others you need to be clear about what you believe...

So what are your 'a-ha' moments of quality literacy instruction?  Have you achieved clarity around your beliefs? How will you continue to champion quality literacy instruction?

In session #3 we looked more closely at selected aspects in the Quality Literacy Instruction section of the QLPT. 

•  In which aspects do you still have questions?
•  How will learning more about the aspects of quality literacy instruction affect your literacy programming in your classroom OR as you lead literacy programming/instruction?

Something to think about :  For our final session on Thursday Dec. 11,  you will be asked to share with your colleagues what impact the QLPT has had in your role.  

Discussions around Literacy happen in schools, homes, coffee shops, and countless other locals. Qualifying Literacy with Quality deepens those conversations and allows for new thinking and, I trust, will lead to improved literacy instruction. Thank you for a reliable and thorough tool that schools can use to establish a reliable base line as they seek to improve literacy instruction. This tool has helped me to establish an action plan to improve literacy instruction in my own practice and to guide our work school wide. Thank you!!

The fear of ...Literacy?

After the November session I realized that what I thought traditionally as "Literacy" is so much more.  I believed that as a junior high science teacher, and now admin, that I really didn't know what I was doing when it came to literacy programming in my school.  I knew I read a lot and weaved (thank Melissa) that into my teaching but was that enough?  But as a group we saw literacy as more than just reading and writing - it is listening, viewing and representing....in short, it is understanding.  So after 3 sessions, I know I still need some work, but I think i'm doing OK!  I even took a stab at doing Guided Reading with a group of Grade 1 students this week.  It's a small step but it is a step in the right direction.

One of the things that has really stuck with me after the first session was what the atmosphere of a school looks like as you enter it...is it evident that literacy is alive in our school?  Now, every time I walk around the school, I can see all things we need to do to make our school literacy focused.

Session #2 - Exploring the QLPT document

In this second session we walked and talk through the QLPT document in its entirety.  I observed networking among each other already starting.  

Our blog this time asks for you to consider the following:

• In which areas would you like to see continued focus for growth?  
• Was there a  category that you  naturally gravitate to? If so, why? 
• Which area do you need to strengthen your understanding

Thank you for openly sharing, questioning and discussing with one another. 

Yours in blogging,

Mary