Back to Basics Update...

Julie Schwartzbauer contributed today's post. Click here to read more of Julie's thinking about her district's "Back to Basics" work.

Upon request from some coaching colleagues, I have decided to update you all regarding our Back to Basics Initiative in Appleton.  For those of you who may be reading this blog for the first time, please go back to learn more about the great things we are doing in Appleton.

This year started out with three Back to Basics goals in mind.  Those goals were to develop shared beliefs surrounding minilessons, conferring, and language workshop.  You might recall, we ended the year with developing shared beliefs about minilessons with our coaches and principals.  The intent was to roll out those shared beliefs to teachers during October and November of this year.  We wanted the month of September to focus on last years Back to Basics (B2B) components and getting new teachers up to speed.

That being said, as you all know, part of being a teacher and coach is about being responsive to the needs of those you work with.  Our coaches were becoming concerned with the expectations surrounding the three B2B components.  They were worried that it was too much roll-out information for one year.  We decided to move forward with minilessons and then spend the remainder of the year around conferring.  We would save language workshop for next year.

After taking language workshop off of our plate, there still remained teachers very interested in learning more about it.  In an attempt to satisfy that desire, we decided to create a mini professional development piece on language workshop.  Schools have been requesting this PD during late starts, lunches, and PLCs.  This PD is allowing us to build background and provide a framework for teachers regarding language workshop.

We have gone one step further, by planning for our 2016 Summer Literacy Institute to focus on language workshop.  Some of the sessions will include topics on grammar and mechanics, vocabulary, author's craft, and word study.  We are hoping that all of this professional development will prepare teachers to spend next year getting their feet wet in language workshop.