Working with the Literacy Faculty

LITERACY FACULTIES

“When a staff collaborates well, it is a wonderful model for students”

What are Literacy Faculties?

A Literacy Faculty refers to the group of project teachers who meet under the leadership of a coordinator to collaborate on literacy, classroom and/or issues and decide how to improve them.

What are the Objectives?
defining the goals and objectives they wish their students to achieve;

pre-planning, teaching and evaluating research based learning activities; and

seeking out opportunities to initiate collaborative efforts with colleagues.


How Is Collaboration Done?

Guided discussion
Presentations
Dissemination of literature
Feedback

How is it organized?

Teachers choose one of the areas of concern or interest that is relevant to the student.

Teacher becomes responsible for researching the area, gathering relevant information and sharing these.

They share through disseminating literature, handouts, samples, in house workshops, coaching sessions, demonstration lessons, etc.

A Literacy Faculty Co-ordinator must be selected.

Co-ordinator works with Principal when scheduling activities.

Liaises with the Reading Specialist

Co-ordinator must seek advice from
Reading Specialist whenever needed.


Coordinator keeps Reading Specialist informed of all activities which must be documented.

Co-ordinator and other faculty members to collaborate and produce intervention report at the end of each school year.


Literacy Faculty Meetings

How often should the Faculty meet?

Faculty makes the decision about the meeting. Weekly, bi-weekly, forth- nightly, monthly sessions.


Where?

A room in the school, library, staffroom, church. A place which is convenient and comfortable.




When?

Faculty members decide on a mutually convenient time.
What is the principal’s role?
The Literacy Faculty is a ‘Facilitating Team’. The Principal could assist by giving administrative support for Literacy Faculty activities. Time maybe made available through the following suggestions.


Meeting at lunch time
Meeting after school
Early release of students on a particular day
Late start of teaching on a particular day
Using parents volunteers to read/supervise while teachers meet
Scheduling timetable

What is the reading specialists role?

Assist faculty members to manage the change brought about by the implementation of the Interventions.

Support both Principals and Literacy Faculty by guiding the process of documenting these meetings to capture on-going decision-making.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS

Benefits to students include:
Improvement in student achievement
Improvement in behaviour and attitude


Benefits to teachers
A decrease in isolation
Stimulated creative expression and reflection
Delay in end of year burn out
Empowerment of teachers
Mature personal relationships