Best Practices in "Being A Writer": Literacy Improvement Partnership Summer Institute

Date: July 26, 2017 – July 27, 2017
Location: Reno, NV

Lemmon Valley and Stead Elementary schools in Reno, NV were selected to partner with the Center for the Collaborative Classroom and the Regional Educational Laboratory West at WestEd around “Being a Writer” implementation and professional learning.

A two-day summer institute in June 2017 launched a year of collaboration. During the summer institute, teachers: became familiar with Collaborative Classroom’s “Being a Writer” pedagogy and lesson design and learned about research-based practices in writing instruction. Teachers also engaged in inquiry activities and practice looking at classroom data in grade-level teams.

During the following school year, teachers worked together in grade-level teams to teach the curriculum, reflect on their practice through inquiry, and try out new ideas in Professional Learning Communities. Details about additional professional learning activities throughout the year were shared at the institute.

Summer Institute topics included:

• Core principles and pedagogy of “Being a Writer”
• Research-based practices in writing instruction
• Unit and lesson design
• Unpacking a lesson
• Curricular supports for lesson planning
• Engaging in PLC inquiry groups
• Lesson planning for Unit 1

Audience

Teachers and curriculum leaders in selected Washoe County School District elementary schools