District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT) April 2024

The District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT)  has met four times during the past three months: January 25th, February 15th, February 29th and March 21st. In the previous Assistant Superintendent’s Blog, I outlined what the focus of our first two DLLT meetings were.   The following information outlines the work we conducted during our February 29th and March 21st meetings.

February 29th  DLLT Meeting
At our meeting on February 29th, each of the six subgroups shared out with the entire group the programs they reviewed. Each subgroup had a specific program to review, those programs included: Wit and Wisdom, EL Education, Wonders, Into Reading, My View, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA).  The Pros and Cons of the six programs were shared with the entire group.  We were all able to hear about the programs, which was extremely helpful.  From there, our group was able to whittle down the programs from six to three.  We then turned our focus on three programs:  Into Reading, My View and CKLA.

We were led through the review tool by Hill for Literacy.  The tool was comprehensive-each of the three programs we are reviewing will each be held up to a review tool, that is composed of several larger categories, with specific criteria listed under each category.  The larger categories consist of: Phonological Awareness Instruction, Phonics Instruction, Fluency Instruction, Vocabulary Instruction, Comprehension, Writing Instruction, Instructional Design, Assessment, Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education, Motivation and Engagement, Listening and Speaking.

Each member of our DLLT was assigned to be a reviewer in one of three groups:  Red Group which focuses on phonological awareness, phonics, and culturally responsive and sustaining education.  Yellow Group, which focuses on fluency, vocabulary, motivation and engagement, listening and speaking.  Lastly, the Blue Group, which looks at instructional design, comprehension, assessment, and writing. 

At the end of this particular meeting, we focused on the first program we would review which was, Into Reading.  The groups got together, reviewed the resources for this program, and began their work.

March 21st  DLLT Meeting

After having a few weeks to review Into Reading, the three groups met and discussed their review of Into Reading.  We discussed our ratings, and entered them into the larger rubric/database that we’ve been using to capture our impressions of the programs. 

The entire DLLT broke into four groups, where we shared our insights and learnings about the process, and identified stumbling blocks and brainstormed solutions and then shared them out to the entire group.  

At this point in our meeting we began to focus on the next program that we needed to review which is My View.  We watched an introductory video on the program, and reviewed the rubric again, and also how to access the resources for this specific program.  

Our next meeting is on April 11th, where we will meet again, and share our findings regarding My View.

The members of the DLLT are spending a great deal of time and effort reviewing the programs!   This work is greatly appreciated! 

District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT) March 2024

The District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT) has met twice during the past three weeks, once on January 25th and again on February 15th. 

January 25th DLLT Meeting

During the meeting on January 25th the DLLT started off our meeting with team introductions (approximately 30 members), and establishing meeting norms. We also discussed the BPS District Literacy Plan, and developed our own ideas around a shared vision for the work of the DLLT. 

Most importantly, at this initial meeting, we established why were were looking at implementing  a new K-5 literacy program in Bedford, which included discussing our focus on Goal 4: Core Curriculum and Instruction from our BPS District Literacy Plan, which outlines consistency in Tier I, and differentiated literacy instruction, and a clear scope and sequence for literacy too.

The Hill for Literacy, which is the group that we have consulted with and are orking with during all of our DLLT meetings, outlined information regarding the Science of Reading, and High-Quality Instructional Materials.  We also discussed the programs that we would review during the next few meetings, and the criteria we would use to narrow down our review to potentially three literacy programs to review extensively.

At this point in our meeting we broke into six smaller groups, and we spent the remainder of our meeting reviewing the following programs (each group was assigned one of the following programs to review), and noting various elements of each of the following programs:  

-Core Knowledge Language Arts

-EL Education

-Into Reading

-My View

-Wit and Wisdom

-Wonders

February 25th DLLT Meeting

At the February 15th DLLT meeting, we continued our initial review of the six programs, by working in our small groups, reviewing the materials, and discussing information and populating our shared document.  We also discussed the process related to narrowing down our choices from six programs to three, which we will do soon, and then conduct a more in depth investigation of each of the three programs, with every member of the DLLT reviewing each of the remaining three programs.  

As our progress continues, there will be more updates provided.  At this point both teachers and administrators are completing Science of Reading modules, and the DLLT continues to meet and will meet several times throughout the next three months, culminating with a recommendation to the school committee for the purchase of a K-5 Literacy program on May 28th.

Photos from our DLLT work at the Lane School, where DLLT members reviewed program materials, and discussed the core program review process.                   

District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT) January 2024

 During the fall and early winter a lot has happened in the world of literacy for Bedford Public Schools.  This past November, we were able to present an update to the school committee circling back to the update provided on literacy in June 2023. 

In particular, the school committee was updated on how Goal 4:  Core Curriculum and Instruction (Action Step 1:  Consistency in core, Tier I literacy instruction will be created at all grade levels.  Action Step 2:  Core, Tier I literacy instruction will be differentiated at all grade levels.  Action Step 5:  A clear scope and sequence for reading and writing in the content areas will be created, using a common template for curriculum mapping.) would be addressed this year in our district.  We were able to outline a very specific plan, to address Goal 4.  This includes:

• Forming a District Administrative Team (DAT) to work with Hill for Literacy which is a group that is consulting with us to address this goal.  The DAT is composed of a small group of district leaders.

• Forming the District Literacy Leadership Team (DLLT). This is a group of  30 parents, administrators and teachers who are meeting several times over the next few months to do a core program review, with the consultation of Hill for Literacy.  This group will look at several High Quality Instructional Material (HQMI) based programs, and select one to recommend for purchase this spring, to utilize fully in all classrooms K-5 starting in September 2024.  

• Both teachers and administrators (primarily K-5) will all participate in a 10-Module course in the Science of Reading provided by Hill for Literacy, to be completed by August 31, 2024.  

The District Literacy Leadership TEam (DLLT) met for the first time, last night, January 25th, at the Lane School.  Even though the meeting began at 3:45 p.m. and went until 5:45 p.m., after a very busy day for all of the participants-the energy in the room was positive, and energetic.  The members of the DLLT were very engaged in learning about the process that they would undertake to make the core program selection.  As we worked through the process timeline, and activities as a preview-we also participated in capturing what our vision collectively is for excellent literacy teaching.  We also engaged in group work in reviewing programs, and evaluating systematically, as led by Hill for Literacy on our impressions of various programs based on important criteria for  HQIM program.  

The hard work and total engagement was clearly observable while the groups were working yesterday afternoon.  They dug in immediately, were earnest, and diligent in their work-with the students at the very core of everything they were thinking about and discussing.  As the spring progresses updates will be posted here on the Assistant Superintendent’s blog, and also updates will be provided at school committee meetings.

Oftentimes, big undertakings like selecting a curriculum program can seem daunting, overwhelming, and difficult-this was not the case yesterday, the feeling was of excitement, optimism, and collaboration.

Sincerely,

Tricia Clifford, Ed.D

Assistant Superintendent of Schools