DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 231
October 26, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Development
of the Chief
Council of |
The
Virginia Department of Education is pleased to have been a partner in the
development of the Chief Council of State School Officers (CCSSO) Adolescent
Literacy Toolkit. Developed by CCSSO and multiple partners,
this toolkit can be used as a resource to develop the skills and knowledge of
content-area high school teachers to implement adolescent literacy best
practices and strategies in their classrooms.
The
adolescent toolkit is available on CCSSOs website
at: http://www.ccsso.org/projects/secondary%5Fschool%5Fredesign/Adolescent%5FLiteracy%5FToolkit/
Tools
on the site include sample lesson plans for content-area teachers and a
literacy resource guide. This guide is aimed
at helping high school teachers learn how to use literacy strategies as an
essential means to help students master core
content. The toolkit provides concrete
suggestions for supporting all students as they progress from learning to read,
the focus of elementary school, to the reading-to-learn focus of high school
core content classes. The guide also
includes a framework for effective lesson plans and a template to assist with
planning content-area lessons that incorporate before, during, and after
reading strategies.
For
more information please contact Tracy Robertson, English coordinator, Office of
Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Tracy.Robertson@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 371-7585.
BKCJr/TR/yba