Superintendent's Monthly Message

February 2008

Arising out of the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Achievement (2005), the Western School Board is pleased to have initiated a significant support for early elementary students and their teachers - the engagement of two Literacy Coaches (originally, one person in 2006-07 with a second person added in 2007-08 - and, hopefully, a third person next year). These professional, experienced, skilled educators provide direct assistance at the ‘grassroots’ of our school system - the classrooms. Working with fellow teachers to identify and find creative solutions to classroom needs or sharing ideas and strategies among teachers within or among schools, the coaches have provided extraordinary support and assistance to many of our schools over these past two years and continue to extend their work with additional schools each passing year. This monthly report features an overview of their work.

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Why literacy coaching? Literacy coaching positions were established as a means of promoting literacy success based on research and practise that determined literacy coaching as being the most effective way to guide teachers in refining their craft as they work toward increasing student learning. Early intervention is key to the success of a child’s reading and writing progress, thus the coaches in the district work mainly with primary (early elementary) teachers.

What is a literacy coach? A literacy coach is a teacher-leader who has the responsibility to promote and enhance literacy instruction, working with colleagues in a team-building and collaborative manner.

What does a literacy coach do?
A coach:
• advises and assists teachers
• promotes the reading and writing process in the classroom
• stays abreast of current scientifically based reading research and best teaching practices
• designs and provides professional development
• works with school literacy teams
• works closely with administrators and curriculum specialists
• maintains a professional library
• engages parents and the community in literacy programs
• models lessons for teachers

Who are the coaches?
In the 2006-07 school year, Charlene Clark was hired as the first literacy coach for the Western School Board. . The following year, Audrey Buchanan was hired.

Where are the coaches?
Last year there were four schools involved with coaching; Alberton, Ellerslie, Parkside, and Miscouche. This year, while still maintaining last year’s schools, four new ones were added; Greenfield, Athena, Tignish, and O’Leary.

What initiatives are the coaches involved in?
School:
• Establishing Primary Literacy Teams
• Helping schools find funding for literacy initiatives (ie. Guardian Book Drive, Spring Into Reading, Family Literacy Grants)
• Facilitating Parent Support Programs for striving readers
• Providing in-services in writing with ongoing onsite support
• Identifying appropriate materials and resources for classroom student use

Board:
• Developing in-services for Western School Board Grade 1 and 2 teachers on Running Records and Guided Reading
• Establishing Grade 1 sharing meetings to foster professional growth among the group

Department:
• Planning and facilitating principal training around literacy instruction
• Giving support and advice for curriculum initiatives
• Helping develop consistency within the province around expectations in reading and writing instruction and competencies

A coach’s primary role is in support of the classroom teacher. Working collaboratively with principals, board and department, the literacy coaches help teachers make sense and bring clarity to the complexity of reading and writing instruction. Providing and sharing information on different instructional strategies, finding appropriate resources, and actually demonstrating techniques are but a few of the activities that fill each day!

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[SUPERINTENDENT’S NOTE: Based on unsolicited comments from our schools and many of the classroom teachers who are working with the Literacy Coaches, this initiative - the provision of in-class support - is likely one of the best support systems we have had the good fortune to put in place for our young readers and writers.]

Dale Sabean
Superintendent of Education