Whole District Literacy
Reading Leader Institute, Elementary
Research shows conclusively that the greatest impediment to sustained change is the lack of consistent and effective implementation support. This institute equips district administrators, site administrators, and leadership teams with a solid understanding of the issues for leadership focused on program implementation. This includes practice with resources used to analyze data, observe classroom teaching, monitor implementation over time, and plan intervention with teachers and students. It also includes research readings that focus on addressing pressing issues of equity and the achievement gap. This institute can support any research-based program a district/school has adopted.
Daily Content Coverage:
- Day 1 focuses on the scientific research on reading, Richard Elmore’s work on distributed leadership, and the link between national/state standards and leadership.
- Day 2 highlights models of success from the office of the Secretary of Education and introduces implementation resources. These resources include a rubric to measure the six steps of success, classroom observation protocols, grade-level meeting resources, and assessment analysis templates.
- Day 3 addresses equity issues and focuses on differentiated instruction, especially challenges faced by English-language learners and by older struggling readers. Leaders are equipped with a framework that addresses the different needs of students and teachers involved in a fully implemented research-based program. A study by the Dana Center on equity issues in achievement serves as a springboard for reflective conversations.
For optimum results, leaders need additional hands-on practice observing in their own schools, calibrating observations, analyzing their own data, and making plans for strategic intervention. For district clients, CORE District Technical Assistance or Leader Practicum provides this opportunity. (For individual school clients, this work takes place during regular site visits by the CORE Consultant.)
Participant Outcomes:
- Understand the leadership issues that impact program implementation.
- Use data to identify what is working and who needs intervention.
- Create an intervention plan to keep the program on track to reach achievement goals.
- Implement grade-level meetings as tools to support achievement growth.
Levels: K–6
Audience: Superintendents, district administrators, and school principals
Format: Three full days
Over $180 worth of professional materials: A Participant Resource Notebook containing research studies, classroom observation forms, implementation resources, forms for grade-level meetings, and materials for understanding and analysis of assessments. Program Resource Packets are provided for selected textbooks. Several professional reference books are included.
Location: On-site for a group of leaders or off-site at a regional location for individual participants. Click here to see current regional dates.
Adolescent Literacy Leader Institute
Research shows conclusively that the greatest impediment to sustained change is the lack of consistent and effective implementation support. This institute equips district administrators, site administrators, and leadership teams with a solid understanding of the issues for leadership focused on program implementation. At the secondary level, organizational and scheduling challenges are often serious impediments to implementing effective reading programs for all students. This institute includes practice with resources used to analyze data, observe classroom teaching, monitor implementation over time, and plan intervention with teachers and students, as well as options for scheduling. It also includes research readings that focus on the pressing issues of equity and the achievement gap.
Daily Content Coverage:
- Day 1 focuses on the scientific research on reading, particularly on issues for older struggling readers, the regional vision, the leadership role in program selection and implementation, diagnosing the school’s needs, and the challenges faced by secondary schools.
- Day 2 provides instruction and practice with the use of assessment data to improve student and teacher performance. It focuses on differentiated instruction for diverse learners—especially the challenges faced by secondary English learners and struggling readers. The selection and use of intervention texts to meet diverse needs is presented.
- Day 3 analyzes implementation success stories. It provides implementation resources, including a rubric to measure the six steps of success, a degrees of implementation packet, and classroom observation protocols. A framework that addresses the different needs of students and teachers involved in a fully implemented research-based program is presented.
For optimum results, leaders need additional hands-on practice observing in their own schools, calibrating observations, analyzing their own data, and making plans for strategic intervention. For district clients, CORE District Technical Assistance or Leader Practicum provides this opportunity. (For individual school clients, this work takes place during regular site visits by the CORE Consultant.)
Participant Outcomes:
- Prepare the leadership team to understand their roles in supporting full implementation.
- Prepare leaders to lead powerful instructional changes for significant academic improvement.
- Describe a support system for reading, including intervention and content teachers.
- Demonstrate the use of assessment data to target assistance for teachers and students and plan instructional interventions.
Levels: 6–12
Audience: Superintendents, district administrators, site administrators, and leadership teams, with coaches as determined by the client
Format: Three full days
Over $125 worth of professional materials: A Participant Resource Notebook containing research studies, classroom observation forms, forms for grade-level and department meetings, and materials for understanding and analysis of assessments. Program Resource Packets are provided for selected textbooks. Two professional references are included.
Location: On-site for a group of leaders or off-site at a regional location for individual participants. Click here to see current regional dates.
Response to Instruction and Intervention Institute
This newest CORE institute is designed to lay the foundation for the implementation of a Response to Intervention or Response to Instruction system for K–12. Based on years of research and informed by the research of Dr. Mark Shinn, schools and districts will learn how to design a three-tiered model with appropriate prevention and intervention materials, assessment, and processes to ensure regular education and special education services meet the needs of students. The RtI model replaces the outmoded “wait to fail” method of identifying students for special education services after it is too late. Participants at the three-day institute will learn what comprises the three tiers, what types of assessments are necessary to make this model work, how to determine core, supplemental and intervention materials, and guidelines for establishing a problem-solving approach and setting up teams. Through case studies participants will apply the techniques and processes they learn each day.
Following this institute, CORE offers expert technical assistance on site to design and implement your own RtI system. Download the flyer or call CORE at 888-249-6155 for more information.