CHAPTER 12
Moving the Field Forward as Leaders and Literacy Advocates
Vignette
At all times, Pat is careful to dress and act in a professional manner. She is never seen wearing jeans or sweatshirts to school, except on rare occasions when a special event warrants such attire. To Pat, this is an important aspect of being "a professional." Another part of being a professional is modeling her enthusiasm for literacy to others.
Chapter Summary or Points to Remember
This chapter explored some other expanding and emerging roles of the reading specialist and literacy coach. Some of the challenges inherent in trying to define what it means to be a professional and a leader in social constructivist terms we discussed. John Brekke offered thoughts on leadership congruent with the collaborative models of problem solving and learning we advocate for the schools. Connie Erickson provided valuable, practical guidance on grant writing. Reading specialist and literacy coaches were given a list of professional organization and publications, and Mike Ford delivered a compelling argument for becoming locally active in advocacy initiatives for children, adults, and families. This chapter contains a variety of resources that are valuable to reading specialists and literacy coaches. They can be shared with colleagues. Finally Marty Ruddell issues a challenge for your future as a professional literacy leader --- as a reading specialist and literacy coach (page 260).
Critical Points Made in the Chapter
Continuing the Professional Journey
What does it mean to be a reading specialist? What does it mean to be a literacy coach? What doe it mean to be a professional? As individuals grow and change, they are forced to redefine their roles and their identities (page 241).
Mandates for high stakes testing and calls for alignment with national, state, and local standards require reading specialists and coaches to focus beyond their school and districts. This broadened perspective requires understanding the impact of external social and political forces on local instructional practices(page 241).
Today’s reading professional must, by necessity, form affiliations with networks of professionals and agencies that support the increased demands of the job. Instead of being able to answer all the questions – an impossible task – the reading specialist and/or literacy coach must know how to locate information and contact individuals with specialized expertise(page 242).
We’ve also included an overview of issues surrounding adult literacy and family literacy. In Chapter 9 we noted that schools have intensified their attention to workplace literacy, attempting to stem the tide of students leaving our schools unprepared to meet the literacy demands necessary for employment (page 242).
Mandates for high stakes testing and calls for alignment with national, state, and local standards require reading specialists and coaches to focus beyond their school and districts. This broadened perspective requires understanding the impact of external social and political forces on local instructional practices(page 241).
Today’s reading professional must, by necessity, form affiliations with networks of professionals and agencies that support the increased demands of the job. Instead of being able to answer all the questions – an impossible task – the reading specialist and/or literacy coach must know how to locate information and contact individuals with specialized expertise(page 242).
We’ve also included an overview of issues surrounding adult literacy and family literacy. In Chapter 9 we noted that schools have intensified their attention to workplace literacy, attempting to stem the tide of students leaving our schools unprepared to meet the literacy demands necessary for employment (page 242).
Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach as Leaders
Reading Specialists and coached are increasing their visibility as leaders. They are on the front lines, implanting the changes mandated by others, but also shaping the future by fostering changes from within (page 242).
On the Five Qualities of Effective Leaders by John L. Brekke
He lists the qualities of effective leadership
as:
· Strategic thinking
· People – relatedness
· Urgency and accountability
· Cultural attention
· Coaching
as:
· Strategic thinking
· People – relatedness
· Urgency and accountability
· Cultural attention
· Coaching
Involvement in Professional Organizations
As a reading specialist and literacy coach, you have the right to be served by professional organizations, but as a
professional, you also have the obligation to serve your chosen association(page 246).
We mention this not only because we want to reinforce or encourage your participation, but also because we have found that it’s virtually impossible to“burn out” when you’re involved with other professionals who remain committed to improving literacy (page 247).
professional, you also have the obligation to serve your chosen association(page 246).
We mention this not only because we want to reinforce or encourage your participation, but also because we have found that it’s virtually impossible to“burn out” when you’re involved with other professionals who remain committed to improving literacy (page 247).
Professional Organizations for Educators defined in the Chapter
· National Reading Conference (NRC)
· National Council of Teachers of English
(NCTE)
· American Library Association (ALA)
· ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development)
· National Middle School Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development)
· National Staff Development Council
(NSDC)
· Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Languages, Inc (TESOL)
· National Council of Teachers of English
(NCTE)
· American Library Association (ALA)
· ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development)
· National Middle School Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development)
· National Staff Development Council
(NSDC)
· Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Languages, Inc (TESOL)
Role of the Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in Supportive Classroom Research
The reading professional has the potential to be a catalyst in the process of fostering classroom research too, collaborating with a teacher or a group on research planning, and conducting research together. The process
might start during a casual conversation in which a teacher mentions a new project, strategy, or question. The reading specialist/literacy coach might reply, “What an interesting idea. What do you think about conducting classroom research together to investigate this?” (page 250)
might start during a casual conversation in which a teacher mentions a new project, strategy, or question. The reading specialist/literacy coach might reply, “What an interesting idea. What do you think about conducting classroom research together to investigate this?” (page 250)
Key Guidelines for effective local advocay efforts - by Michael Ford
· Pick your battles wisely
· Be able to anticipate what the opposing side is going to say and then prepare your response accordingly
· Network with others – Join local state organization that bring you into contact with materials and human resources
· Be able to anticipate what the opposing side is going to say and then prepare your response accordingly
· Network with others – Join local state organization that bring you into contact with materials and human resources
Adult Literacy and Family Literacy
Adult literacy is one of the few areas in which instruction is provided almost exclusively by volunteers. Despite the gains made in knowledge about effective methods of literacy instruction, training qualified volunteers remains a challenge. There appears to be strong momentum for increasing professional development in adult literacy education programs, just as there is in our schools (page 254 – 255).
What is family literacy, according to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). It’s a practical solution that addresses the root of devastating social problems: low literacy rates and poverty. The goal of family literacy programs is to develop literacy and life skills for every member of the family (page 257).
What is family literacy, according to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). It’s a practical solution that addresses the root of devastating social problems: low literacy rates and poverty. The goal of family literacy programs is to develop literacy and life skills for every member of the family (page 257).