Our Methods
We believe that every learner can lead. It’s the driver behind our work. Every interaction with a student, a teacher, a principal, a parent, a professional text, a video, a classroom, a children’s book, or piece of student work gives us a never-ending laboratory of learning. Here are some of the methods we use to engage learners:
- Starting with Science
We ground our teaching and learning in science about how students learn to read and write, as well as the research behind what supports teachers most in their development as practitioners.
- Thinking About Our Thinking
We teach teachers how to bring their best reading, writing, and thinking to the surface, so that their students can see it in action.
- Learning in a Labsite
Our work is grounded in real kids, so we bring teachers together in classrooms, where we can study an instructional component in action.
- Studying in Teams
We teach teams how to grow their practice together through unit planning, video observation, professional reading, and analysis of student work.
- Observing Teacher Practice
We support our teachers by observing an element of their practice we’ve been studying together. Teachers determine the focus and drive the process — we’re there to gather evidence and debrief the experience together.
- Reflecting + Growing
Our goal is for teachers to own the learning process. Through our self-assessment tools and other reflective protocols, we guide teachers to set goals for their practice, work toward those goals, and reflect on their successes and challenges.
Learning + Leading: A Chicago Literacy Group Session in Action
