The breakout star of Wednesday’s Presidential Inauguration festivities was Amanda Gorman, who read her poem “The Hill We Climb.” Educators worked fast to create and share classroom teaching resources. Gorman … Read More
Dr. Jill Biden to continue teaching alongside FLOTUS responsibilities, a historic first
Dr. Jill Biden will continue to teach English full-time at Northern Virginia Community College, making her the first woman to have a civilian full-time job in addition to her responsibilities … Read More
Exciting Changes to the Rochelle Lee Teacher Award Program
The Rochelle Lee Teacher Award, a competitive award which focuses on literacy professional development for Chicago Public School teachers, is making changes for the 2021-22 cohort. Since the program’s inception … Read More
Communities of Readers – Celebrating National Reading Group Month
Here at WITS, we pride ourselves in creating communities of readers among students, mentors, teachers, and even WITS staff and leadership. In honor of National Reading Group Month, we are … Read More
First Time as a BRI Facilitator
This past August, I was fortunate enough to co-facilitate a session of the Rochelle Lee Teacher Award (RLTA) program’s Becoming Readers Institute. Unlike other RLTA sessions, the Becoming Readers Institute (BRI) is not designed to explicitly teach transferable skills or strategies … Read More
Engaging Students and Families
School: Hibbard Elementary Text: The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching by Patricia A. Jennings Group Members: Courtney Carlstrom, Bridget Heneghan, Lucia Herrera, Jessica Hodges, Stephanie Michl, Study Group Leader Goal: To engage students and … Read More
Building Inclusion
School: Brentano Math & Science Academy Text: Everyday SEL in Elementary School by Carla Tantillo Philbert Group Members: Stephanie Arce, Hannah Dreher-Siefkes, Kelly Dugan, Daisy Lopez, Vy Nguyen, Study Group Leader; Nicole Sandoval, Katherine Schuler … Read More
Enhancing Comprehension
School: Nightingale Elementary Text: Understanding Texts & Readers: Responsive Comprehension Instruction with Leveled Texts by Jennifer Serravallo Group Members: Emily Cozzie, Diana Del Real, Study Group Leader; Alma Ramos, Elizabeth Thibeau Goal: To enhance comprehension through small group instruction. … Read More
Developing Schedules and Lesson Plan Structure
Rufus M. Hitch Elementary School Text: Teaching Reading in Small Groups: Differentiated Instruction for Building Strategic, Independent Readers by Jennifer Serravallo Group Members: Amanda Paso, Study Group Leaders; Lily Kanefield, Joanne Schmidt, Jane Park, Katie Bremner Goal: To develop … Read More
RLTA Facilitators: Class of 2020
This year, the Rochelle Lee Teacher Award Summer Institute is taking place 100% online. The 19 workshops, 6 sessions of Becoming Readers Institute (BRI), 5 sessions of RLTA Orientation RLTAO), … Read More
