Literacy GAINS
Building individual and collective capacities to improve literacy learning and teaching in Ontario
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Literacy Updates:
- May 16, 2012
Literacy Assessment Matters
- A self-directed professional learning module, developed by York Region District School Board, is now available along with a facilitator's guide and supporting documents for download. It features networks of literacy coaches and history, geography, English teachers from two secondary schools engaged in a collaborative inquiry cycle. With a focus on literacy learning and reading assessment, this module may be used for independent or small group professional learning.
Click on <Literacy Assessment Matters> found under Professional Learning/Self-Directed in the left menu.
- A self-directed professional learning module, developed by York Region District School Board, is now available along with a facilitator's guide and supporting documents for download. It features networks of literacy coaches and history, geography, English teachers from two secondary schools engaged in a collaborative inquiry cycle. With a focus on literacy learning and reading assessment, this module may be used for independent or small group professional learning.
- May 13, 2012
Metacognition
- New materials are now available, a print resource and a video, highlighting how metacognition contributes to successful learning, and moves students towards independence, interdependence, and self-efficacy. Explore what metacognition is, why to teach it, and how to teach it, and view some classroom examples of how teachers promote metacognitive thinking in the classroom.
Click on <Metacognition> under Adolescent Literacy in the left menu.
- New materials are now available, a print resource and a video, highlighting how metacognition contributes to successful learning, and moves students towards independence, interdependence, and self-efficacy. Explore what metacognition is, why to teach it, and how to teach it, and view some classroom examples of how teachers promote metacognitive thinking in the classroom.
- April 4, 2012
Literacy Camp, August 7-10, 2012
- March 23, 2012
Science, Grade 8 Unit: "Water Systems"
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In this unit, students investigate the importance of sustainably managing water systems locally, regionally, nationally, and globally, and use their knowledge and skills to design a device or system that treats, manages, and/or alters the sustainable use of water.
This unit develops knowledge and skills required for scientific investigation: research and experimentation.
The lessons support the revised Ontario Science and Technology curriculum, 2008, highlight sound assessment practices, and integrate literacy strategies by demonstrating how to:
- integrate low-risk literacy strategies and activities in which students learn to take a critical stance (critical literacy)
- use a variety of learning activities
- explicitly teach a range of text types and media
- integrate comprehension strategies for listening, reading, and viewing
- highlight metacognition through students gradually assuming the role of scientists who observe; record what they see, hear, and do; and articulate what meaning they make of it
Click on <Science and Technology>found under Learning Materials / Subject-Specific Literacy in the left menu.
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In this unit, students investigate the importance of sustainably managing water systems locally, regionally, nationally, and globally, and use their knowledge and skills to design a device or system that treats, manages, and/or alters the sustainable use of water.
- February 28, 2012
Three new arts units posted -- Grade 9 Music, Grade 9 Dance, and Grade 10 Media Arts!
- These units support the Ontario curriculum (see The Arts, Grades 9-10) and demonstrate embedding of literacy strategies. In addition to classroom implementation, educators can use these units as sources of instructional ideas and springboards for professional dialogue and collaborative planning.
Click on <Subject Specific Literacy/The Arts> under Learning Materials in the left menu.
- February 24, 2012
Facilitating Professional Learning
- On Thursday February 16, 2012 professional learning leaders attended a face-to-face session about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in the role of professional learning facilitator.
Click on <Professional Learning/Professional Learning Sessions> in the left menu on the Literacy GAINS home page.
- On Thursday February 16, 2012 professional learning leaders attended a face-to-face session about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in the role of professional learning facilitator.
- December 6, 2011
Adobe Presenter Professional Learning Series: A Framework for Literacy Coaches
- This Adobe Presenter professional learning series is adapted from Adobe Connect sessions that were held in the spring of 2011. It has been designed for individual self-directed learning or small group facilitation and is based on the four cornerstones of the Framework for Literacy Coaches. There are four presentations for each of the cornerstones varying in length from 5 to 10 minutes.
Click on Professional Learning or Coaching in the left menu.
- This Adobe Presenter professional learning series is adapted from Adobe Connect sessions that were held in the spring of 2011. It has been designed for individual self-directed learning or small group facilitation and is based on the four cornerstones of the Framework for Literacy Coaches. There are four presentations for each of the cornerstones varying in length from 5 to 10 minutes.
- November 29, 2011 Two new units!
Grade 7 Music and Grade 8 Visual Arts are now posted!
- Both units support the Ontario curriculum (see The Arts, Grades 1-8, 2009) and demonstrate embedding of literacy strategies. In addition to classroom implementation, educators can use these units as sources of instructional ideas and springboards for professional dialogue and collaborative planning.
Click on Subject Specific Literacy under Learning Materials in the left menu.
- Both units support the Ontario curriculum (see The Arts, Grades 1-8, 2009) and demonstrate embedding of literacy strategies. In addition to classroom implementation, educators can use these units as sources of instructional ideas and springboards for professional dialogue and collaborative planning.
- November 21, 2011
Adobe Connect Series for Literacy Leaders and Coaches
Session Full
- Literacy leaders and coaches for grades 7-12 are invited to participate in a Literacy GAINS Adobe Connect series focusing on research related to adolescent literacy. The content of the sessions will connect to The Handbook of Adolescent Literacy Research by Leila Christenbury, Randy Bomer and Peter Smagorinsky. Each site will receive a copy of this resource.
Click here for dates, times and registration.
- Literacy leaders and coaches for grades 7-12 are invited to participate in a Literacy GAINS Adobe Connect series focusing on research related to adolescent literacy. The content of the sessions will connect to The Handbook of Adolescent Literacy Research by Leila Christenbury, Randy Bomer and Peter Smagorinsky. Each site will receive a copy of this resource.
- October 21, 2011
- Planning a Public Service Announcement is a media literacy lesson written for Grade 9 Applied English. However, this lesson is easily adaptable to Language/English, Grades 7-10. Media Literacy involves the skills required to understand, create, and critically interpret print, screen-based, and electronic texts. To learn more about media literacy, see the Media Literacy Guide.
Click on Subject Specific Literacy under Learning Materials in the left menu.
- Planning a Public Service Announcement is a media literacy lesson written for Grade 9 Applied English. However, this lesson is easily adaptable to Language/English, Grades 7-10. Media Literacy involves the skills required to understand, create, and critically interpret print, screen-based, and electronic texts. To learn more about media literacy, see the Media Literacy Guide.
- October 20, 2011
Adolescent Literacy Professional Learning: the Professional Learning Cycle and the Literacy Coach
- Face-to-face professional learning sessions for adolescent literacy were held in October 2011 across the province. Materials from these sessions are now available.
Click on Professional Learning in the left menu.
- Face-to-face professional learning sessions for adolescent literacy were held in October 2011 across the province. Materials from these sessions are now available.
- October 17, 2011
How to Access a Provincial Literacy Coach
- Provincial literacy leads are available to support literacy coaching for grades 7-12.
Click on Coaching in the left menu.
- Provincial literacy leads are available to support literacy coaching for grades 7-12.
- September 16, 2011
- Directors Want to Know is a newsletter highlighting how literacy GAINS supports the development, implementation and monitoring of Board and School Improvement Plans (BIPSA and SIPSA). The newsletter provides an update on leadership capacity building activities and professional learning resources available to boards. Student Success Leaders and other senior school board administrators will also find the resource helpful in their roles.
Click on Leading Change in the left menu.
- Directors Want to Know is a newsletter highlighting how literacy GAINS supports the development, implementation and monitoring of Board and School Improvement Plans (BIPSA and SIPSA). The newsletter provides an update on leadership capacity building activities and professional learning resources available to boards. Student Success Leaders and other senior school board administrators will also find the resource helpful in their roles.
- September 14, 2011
Student Success Improving Student Achievement in Literacy, Summer Program 2011
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The materials to support Improving Student Achievement in Literacy, 2011 Summer Program Module, are available for professional learning during the 2011-12 school year. The focus of this module is on how accountable talk supports students’ deeper understanding of subject content.
Click on "Student Success Literacy Summer Program 2011" under Professional Learning in the left menu.
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Registrations for Literacy CAMP 2012 are currently being accepted. To download the Camp poster, click <here>. |