November 2019: School Administrator
Leading for Literacy
This issue touts beat-the-odds practices developed by Lucy Calkins of Teachers College for advancing writing and reading.
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Additional Articles
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Strides in Reading: Classroom Libraries for Every ReaderIn one New Jersey district, students learn how to choose books at their independent and instructional reading levels.
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The Value of a Holistic Approach to Reading and WritingLeading reform requires clear, concise communication and adequate support and follow through to staff across the organization.
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Investment in Teaching Literacy Begins With CoachesDeeper, real-time learning described in a medical journal detailed benefits that teachers could experience right in their classrooms while working with their students.
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Leading Literacy Across the DisciplinesDistricts in Maryland and Michigan start small with a WestEd program to build content-area learning in the upper grades
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In Pursuit of Achievement for English LearnersWhat a diverse school district does to generate higher literacy among non-English speakers and low-income students
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Ramping Up Equity for Our English LearnersNavigating Difference is cultural-competency professional development that helps individuals to effectively engage with people from diverse cultures and develop welcoming school environments.
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Fastest-Rising ChallengeWhat issue has taken on greater importance than any other as viewed by superintendents?
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Snooping at a ScreenWhat to do about a principal who “inadvertently” spots a critical memo about her on the screen inside her supervisor’s vacant office?
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3 Responses When Posts Get Mean-SpiritedA superintendent's suggestions for dealing with the nasty side of social media messaging.
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Climate Audits, When Wisely Conducted
A useful way to better understand the pulse of the district — assuming the consultant can filter the “noise.”
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Limits on Political ElectioneeringThe diligence required to follow your state’s laws governing campaign advocacy by public officials.
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Helping Our Littlest Ones Soar
A National Superintendent of the Year honoree pushes for greater attention to the preschool years.
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Thriving Through the Troubling 5 Percent
The author loves being a superintendent — it’s just dealing with those aspects no one likes to talk much about that frames her perspective.
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Preparing Kids to Lead the WorldTODAY’S 1ST GRADERS will be the Class of 2030. Will we have prepared them well for the world they will inherit?
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Paving New Avenues for Career TrainingTaking alternate schooling paths to awaiting skilled jobs.
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Partnering for Progress in TalladegaA superintendent operating in the fast lane for improvement in Talladega.
Staff
Editor's Note
Reading, Writing and Fun
WE TURN OUR FOCUS periodically at School Administrator to the always-vital subject of literacy — and more particularly to the work inherent in raising the writing and reading skills of all students. The role of school leadership in this mighty quest figures prominently in our editorial coverage.
In this issue, we are fortunate to include the work of a prominent literacy authority, Lucy Calkins, a professor at Columbia University’s Teachers College, whose grade-level teaching units are used widely in K-12 classrooms. Her attention here focuses on the reading and writing framework that she developed. It’s complemented by separate on-the-ground perspectives by a pair of superintendents, Nancy Lubarsky and Jeremy Palotti, whom Calkins and her staff have worked with.
You’ll also find stories about some pacesetting efforts to raise literacy levels in school districts located on both coasts. Betsy Webb addresses the all-hands-on-deck philosophy behind teaching literacy in Bangor, Maine, while Mary Sieu describes instruction and support for English language learners and children of poverty in her Los Angeles-area district.
Finally, we can’t resist pointing you to several of the relevant editorial cartoons appearing this month in Leadership Lite — a fitting coda to our focus on literacy.
Jay P. Goldman
Editor, School Administrator
703-875-0745
jgoldman@aasa.org
@JPGoldman
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