Leading for Literacy: What Every School Leader Needs to Knowis an inspiring and practical resource for all school leaders-teacher leaders, literacy coaches, school administrators, and district-level leaders. Filled with useful "look-for" tools for observing literacy teaching and reflecting upon the culture and systems of your school, Leading for Literacyhelps school leaders understand key principles of effective literacy teaching and create equitable communities of learning for all students. Leading for Literacyprovides guidance for creating a culture of collaborative professionalism, facilitating conversations about effective practice, and making high-impact decisions based on evidence and the values identified by the school team. An important resource for every school leader aiming to scale up excellence, Leading for Literacyhelps leaders create effective systems for improving the literacy outcomes of all students. With OVER 30 TOOLS to support your work, discover how to... Beginning of the book - 1. Harness the foundations of inspirational school leadership 2. Build effective teams that deliver high outcomes for all students 3. Create a common vision and shared values to create a healthy, collaborative school culture Middle of the book - 4. Implement evidence-based instructional practices 5. Observe and document student progress effectively 6. Teach English learners strategically 7. Design effective systems for intervention 8. Create high-quality book collections End of the book - 9. Harness responsibilities and opportunities as a school leader 10. Create new leadership opportunities 11. Nurture coaches and teacher leaders as important agents of change 12. Sustain and scale up systemic improvements in your district or school

This authoritative text and practitioner resource has now been extensively revised and expanded with 70% new material covering new topics and standards in literacy leadership. Prominent experts present research-based methods for improving instruction, assessment, and professional learning experiences in PreK–12. The distinct roles of teachers, reading/literacy specialists, literacy coaches, special educators, and principals are explored, with an emphasis on fostering a culture of collaboration. Chapters highlight the standards that apply to each component of a schoolwide literacy program, give examples of what they look like in schools, and share implications for classroom practice and professional learning. Pedagogical features include guiding questions, case examples, vignettes, engagement activities, and annotated resources for further learning. New to This Edition *Now copublished with the International Literacy Association (ILA) and grounded in ILA's updated Standards 2017; expanded grade range includes PreK. *Chapters on new topics: writing instruction, sustaining schoolwide improvements, and collaborative leadership. *New chapters on core topics: the principal’s role, assessment, middle and high school literacy programs, special education, and culturally responsive instruction. *Vignettes from leaders in diverse roles, “Think About This” questions for discussion/reflection, and end-of-chapter annotated resources.

Literacy Leadership in Changing Schools will help literacy leaders improve teachers’ professional development in grades K–6. The authors use literacy basics to suggest concrete approaches that leaders and coaches can use to help teachers improve their instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Based on firsthand experiences, research, and a school-university-community collaborative (Changing Suburbs Institute in New York), this practical book homes in on what literacy leaders need to do in today’s rapidly changing schools. With vignettes, strategies, and guidelines, each chapter is devoted to one essential component of serving as an effective literacy leader. Throughout, the book addresses typical issues leaders and teachers face, such as high-stakes testing, increasing failure rates, rigorous teacher and principal evaluations, family engagement, shrinking resources, and teachers’ inexperience with instructing diverse students. “Today’s educators are faced with the challenge of meeting the increased expectations associated with a high quality education for all children. The contributors provide an excellent resource of relevant information along with a wealth of concrete suggestions for meeting that challenge through effective leadership and ongoing, embedded professional development. The result is a road map for enriched learning experiences for the professionals involved and ultimately for the students they teach.” —Dorothy S. Strickland, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education Emerita, Rutgers “This book encourages and supports leaders as they create bold, thoughtful and empowering pathways for professional development. It is a recipe that has the power to highlight the joy of professional growth and learning for leaders, teachers and students alike. To me, that is truly fabulous.” —Jennifer Scoggin, Director of LitLife, Connecticut “The authors address important aspects of the decision-making process, namely how to really know someone or something well before making a choice. Too many of our educational choices are based on outdated or misinformation and this book clearly shows school leaders how to obtain accurate information when creating a cohesive literacy model. This book also takes complex aspects of literacy professional development, such as standards and instructional techniques and breaks them down in clear and applicable ways so that decisions can not just be made but also be implemented.” —Gravity Goldberg, Literacy Consultant, Director, Gravity Goldberg LLC

Clear, on-the-ground guidance for Reading Apprenticeship implementation Leading for Literacy provides tools and real-life examples to expand the benefits of a literacy approach that sparks students' engaged reading and thinking across disciplines, from middle school through community college. A companion to the landmark Reading for Understanding, this book guides teachers, leaders, and administrators through the nuts, bolts, benefits, and stumbling blocks of creating Reading Apprenticeship communities that extend a culture of literacy beyond individual classrooms. This book explains how to generate authentic buy-in from teachers and administrators, use the Reading Apprenticeship Framework to turn reform overload into reform coherence, and create literacy teams, professional learning communities, and Reading Apprenticeship communities of practice that sustain an institutional focus on a student-centered, strengths-based culture of literacy. Key insights from Reading Apprenticeship practitioners across the country address how to get started, build momentum, assess progress, and build partnerships and networks across schools, districts, campuses, and regions. Persistently low levels of adolescent literacy continue to short-change students, contribute to discredited high school diplomas, and cause millions of students to drop out of high school and community college. Forty percent or more of community college students require remedial reading courses as college freshman. The researchers at WestEd's Strategic Literacy Initiative developed the Reading Apprenticeship Framework to provide educators with a proven path to improving literacy for all students, and this book provides clear guidance on bringing the framework to life. How to integrate Reading Apprenticeship with existing reform efforts How to use formative assessment to promote teacher and student growth How to coach and empower teachers How to cultivate literacy leadership How to provide long-term support for a strong content-literacy program Nationwide classroom testing has shown Reading Apprenticeship to promote not only literacy and content knowledge, but also motivation and positive academic identity—leading to better student outcomes that reach beyond the classroom walls. Leading for Literacy lays out compelling ways to spread the benefits of Reading Apprenticeship, with practical guidance and real-world insight.

Literacy educators seldom view themselves as leaders beyond the classroom. In recent years, however, teacher leadership has received increased attention in schools and school districts and at the state and national levels. This book will guide you in improving your literacy leadership skills so you can ultimately enhance your professional practice. Author Donald McAndrew first reviews the major theory and research on leadership while focusing on leadership in schools and literacy education to familiarize you with the specific theory, research, and practice of leaders. He then presents six strategies used by successful leaders to do the peoplework at the heart of leadership: Create and communicate a vision. Be a model. Experiment with new ideas and take risks. Nurture competence, trust, and collaboration. Encourage the heart. Transform yourself through reflection and learning. You will learn the importance of each strategy, its connection to theory and research, and additional methods for putting each strategy to work. peoplework skills as you interact with students, parents, and colleagues to promote the importance of literacy development. Use this book to become a literacy leader and improve the vision of literacy in your classroom, school, and community.

Simple steps that principals and other school leaders can take to foster literacy in the middle and secondary grades.

"This is a must read for all school personnel interested in creating a literacy plan for their school that will work!! The authors capture the step-by-step process in this field book for successful implementation." -Dr. Dale Moxley, Director of 6-12 Curriculum & Instruction Lake County Schools, FL A proven literacy system is the key to successful readers, writers and learners! Do you recognize the connection between students who read and students who are truly learning? Do your students need literacy help before they can perform higher-level writing and content-learning activities? Are you looking for a reliable approach to improve literacy in your classroom, school, or district? This fieldbook sets forth a plan for improving literacy for students from kindergarten through high school. The K-12 Literacy Leadership Fieldbook demonstrates a proven process for creating a fail-safe approach to literacy that results in measurable improvement. Blending leadership strategy with in-depth literacy knowledge, Taylor and Gunter show educators how to improve literacy through: Using software and technology integration to enhance curriculum and instruction Collaborating to set expectations for daily practice and a common language to drive instruction Using data to determine what works and what doesn′t in your literacy program Developing a fail-safe literacy point of view throughout your school Students who enjoy reading become better writers, more involved learners, and joyful readers, proving that success in literacy is essential for success in learning!