Literacy Project
College of Education

The Literacy Project at Roosevelt University  

The Fifth Phase

2008-2009

What is the Literacy Project?

The Literacy Project of Roosevelt University is a part of the Advanced Reading Development Demonstration Project (ARDDP), a collaboration between the Chicago Public Schools and six university partners to improve literacy instruction. The overall purpose of ARDDP is to improve the performance of Chicago Public Schools students in literacy.

Our Beliefs

About learning

• Literacy is emergent, evolving and social
• Students construct their own knowledge
• Students learn to read best with real book sand stories
• Literacy develops best in a climate that fosters risk-taking through authentic reading real books and writing
  

About Teaching

• Teachers honor the strengths and heritages of the students before them
• Through daily and ongoing observation and assessment of students, teachers adjust instruction and materials to support individual needs and interests
• Teachers help children develop vocabulary and cognitive strategies as they speak, listen, write and read
• Teachers model as well as facilitate reading and writing, gradually releasing students to be responsible for their own learning
  

Our Goals

• Develop the literacy expertise of principals and literacy coordinators
• Develop a school-wide professional development model emphasizing classroom-based literacy assessment and best practice instruction
• Stimulate school-wide curriculum development aligned with the Chicago Reading Initiative framework, International Reading Association and state standards
• Develop parent and community partnerships
  

Our Approach

The Roosevelt University faculty team:

• Presents quality, in-depth professional development in the classroom through demonstrations and coaching
• Offers graduate courses towards a reading masters degree
• Supports the comprehensive assessment and evaluation of a literacy program
  

Work plan:

• Collaborate and coordinate all professional development with AIO and ARC
• Cross-site grade level forums
• Regular instruction and support for literacy teachers, principals and literacy teams at the schools
• Training of the Illinois Snapshot for Early Learning of fluency, running records and writing rubrics
• Instruction for English Language Learners through the Sheltered Instructional Approach
• Support for new teachers and teachers changing grades or subjects, for balanced literacy
• Winter Retreat in January
• Digital storytelling to document progress
  

The Literacy Project Staff:

• Dr. Becky McTague, Director
• Dr. Margaret Policastro, Associate Director
• Ayesha Khan, Administration

• Jennifer Savone, Videography

Consultants

• Ms. Barbara Abrams

• Ms. Kristin Lems

• Ms. Diane Mazeski
• Dr. Margaret Richek
• Ms. Melissa Marquino Peterson
• Dr. Margo Criscuola