Overview of Literacy in the Tewksbury Public Schools

Co-Chair Planning Team:Loreen BradleyRosamond DorranceDr. Eileen OsborneGeorge PaulBrenda Regan, CAGSJohn WeirDr. Cynthia Basteri

Literacy Plan Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Tewksbury Public Schools to become a model of literacy, with a student based literacy program that ensures that all students exit the district with the literacy skills required in the 21st century.

Literacy Plan Goal

The ability to read and comprehend is the basis for all student learning and student achievement. Therefore, the Tewksbury Public Schools community undertakes the following goal: By 2017, 95% of students will read at or above grade level.

Literacy Plan Objectives

Sixteen Action Objectives:

Nine objectives have been addressed and are in place

Two Major Objectives were completed this year

Literacy Tool Box– Fry and Dolch Word Lists– Literacy Checklist– Keys to Literacy

Templates– Six Traits Writing:

• Ideas• Organizations• Voice• Word Choice• Sentence Fluency• Conventions

Literacy Checklist Grades K - 12

Top 10 Common Core Standards for each grade level

“Students in Grade _______ should be able to …”

Next Steps

Seven objectives still must be addressed, some of which will be dealt with in the 2013-2014 school year

“By the Fall of 2014, the district will research and implement a PreK-12 literacy assessment system, in conjunction with RTI, including screening, progress monitoring and diagnostic tests.”

K-12 Assessments

• Currently in Tewksbury, Pearson’s Reading Level Indicator up to grade 8 for initial assessment is done twice per year; DIBLES is done at the K-2 levels; Story Town Benchmarking is done in the elementary grades; at the high school there is no formal assessment currently in place.

• DESE competitive grant application narrative is being drafted to address this shortfall ($30,000).

Professional Development & Training

• Expand the keys to Literacy “Key Writing Routine” Professional Development Program via a Tewksbury DESE Literacy Partnership Grant for $20,553

• Three full days of Professional Development

• Expand participation to include content area teachers in History/Social Studies, Science, Technical Subjects, Applied and Fine Arts, and Health and Wellness

Disseminate Tool Box and Checklist

• Place Literacy Tool Box and Literacy Checklist folders on every teacher’s desktop in the district