RLTA STUDY GROUPS
Rochelle Lee Teacher Award Study Groups are school-based professional learning communities. Study groups develop a goal to guide their learning throughout the school year, and meet monthly to discuss instruction and push their practice to reach their goal. Study Groups allow teachers to have a school-wide impact on student literacy instruction. The application is open from mid-December through mid-March. Awardees are announced late April of each year.
BENEFITS OF STUDY GROUPS
- Awardees receive a classroom library grant of $425 per study group member plus the purchase of the group’s professional text.
- Increased knowledge of professional literature and current researched based literacy best practices.
- Leadership opportunities and professional development facilitation experience.
- A professional collaborative forum.
- Literacy coaching provided three times per year.
Download Study Group FAQs
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A STUDY GROUP
- Four to eight teachers from the same school interested in pursuing a self-selected literacy focus.
- Study Group Leaders who are new to RLTA program will receive additional coaching.
- There may be more than one Study Group at a school.
Impacting Student Literacy Instruction
The goal of RLTA Study Groups is to empower teachers to become classroom, school, and district-wide literacy leaders. By focusing program design on the needs and goals of educators, WITS provides relevant, effective professional development and networking opportunities that support long-term literacy goals. WITS is proud of the work of the Study Group leaders and members, and we are excited to share some of our Study Group Projects below.
STUDY GROUP PROJECTS
Coles Model for Excellence School: Fostering Students' Love of Reading
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Deborah Banks
Study Group Members: Shirley Bester, Susan Flood, Natali Parenti
Goal
Fostering students' love of reading by implementing a variety of literacy strategies that center on engagement.Text
The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide To Developing Skilled Readers by Jennifer SerravalloLearn More
Edison Park Elementary School: Creating Socially Conscious Professional Development
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Nichol Somers
Study Group Members: Christine Pace, Kelly Hayes, Lorraine Nunez, Carrie Stern, Lee Marcheschi
Goal
Creating socially conscious professional development by conducting a multi-day PD where social comprehension strategies are introduced, modeled, and practiced among the staff.Text
Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. AhmedLearn More
Frederick Funston Elementary School: Refining Biliteracy Practices
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Meg Tanabe
Study Group Members: Lynaris Rosado, Jovana Madrigal, Gaby Torrenegra, Claudia Munoz, Celina Mosher
Goal
Collaborate to clarify which biliteracy practices we use in each grade level, in each language, with what frequency, and in response to student levels of achievement.Text
Biliteracy from the Start: Literacy Squared in Action by Kathy Escamilla, Susan Hopewell, Sandra Butvilofsky, Wendy Sparrow, Lucinda Soltero-González, Manuel EscamillaLearn More
Henry D. Lloyd Elementary School: Social-Emotional Learning Strategies
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Alejandra De La Peña
Study Group Members: Vorlak Phillips, Esmeralda Rios, Mary Villa
Goal
Increase students’ literacy and social-emotional skills by one level on Teaching Strategies Gold by spring.Text
Purposeful Play: A Teacher’s Guide to Igniting Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day by Kristine Mraz, Alison Porcelli, Cheryl TylerLearn More
McClellan Elementary School: Strategies for Improving Comprehension
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Laura WojciechowskiStudy Group Members: Vorlak Phillips, Esmeralda Rios, Mary Villa
Goal
By the end of the year, struggling readers will be able to demonstrate an improvement in comprehension by selecting a comprehension strategy from a choice board and applying it independently.Text
Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding, Engagement, and Building Knowledge by Stephanie Harvey and Anne GoudvisLearn More
Mount Vernon Elementary School: Engaging Independent Reading
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Mrs. RunaasStudy Group Members: Mrs. O’Neal, Ms. Ma, Ms. Pender-Bey
Goal
Improving and engaging independent reading in students through strategic teacher and student-led reading conferences.Text
Trusting Readers: Powerful Practices for Independent Reading by Jennifer Scoggin, Hannah SchneewindLearn More
Carson Elementary School: Discussing Behavioral Patterns
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Lilyana FloresStudy Group Members: Jesse Bostic, Virginia Lopez, Amber Newsom, Rogelia Pena
Goal
Measure pre and post-student surveys and implement at least one strategy or approach from the book in our classroom as well as target tiered students based on their SEL needs.Text
The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching By Patricia A. JenningsLearn More
National Teacher’s Academy: Building Critical Consciousness
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Laura Gluckman
Study Group Members: Jessica Kibblewhite, Melissa Hausser
Goal
Examine our own curricula in order to make changes and include our students in the process through the co-creation of lessons and the development of a toolkit by building critical consciousness.Text
Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto GermánLearn More
Mary G. Peterson Elementary School: Centering Student Identity
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Megan Fair
Study Group Members: Catherine Jarvis, Megan Wales, Sarah Van Wolvelear, Emily Gandolfi
Goal
Empower students as storytellers whose voices should and need to be heard through centering student identity.Text
The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose ChavezLearn More
Charles H. Wacker Elementary School: Increasing the Joy of Reading
Group Members
Study Group Leader: LaConya McKinneyStudy Group Members: Caroline Cunningham, Crystal Carmichael, Danielle Washington, Isabella Morales
Goal
Foster students’ love of reading by providing them with an appropriate text and numerous activities that engage them and make reading funText
Understanding Texts & Readers: Responsive Comprehension Instruction with Leveled Texts by Jennifer SerravalloLearn More
Prescott Elementary School: Heightening Student Identity
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Melissa DippelStudy Group Members: Begona Cowan, Nick Giacobbe, Tayler Showalter, Nessy Moos
Goal
Increase student discussion skills and connection to school academics and the importance of heightening student identity.Text
Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. AhmedLearn More
Newton Bateman Elementary School: Implementing the Math Workshop Model
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Maritza VazquezStudy Group Members: Priscilla Rowe, Selene Rivas, Samantha Gage
Goal
Provide the structure and procedures in order to successfully implement the math workshop model.Learn More
Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy: A Balanced Literacy Program
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Laura MinerStudy Group Members: America Cannon, Allie Parker, Meghan Walsh
Goal
Students will increase more than a year in Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (F&P) and increase their ability to show their understanding of instructional-level texts through writing.Text
This Is Balanced Literary, Grades K-6 by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Nancy AkhavanLearn More
Hibbard Elementary School: Building a Community for Learning
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Bridget Heneghan
Study Group Members: Emily Barnowsky, Jin Dokko, Jessica Hodges, Sora Lim, Stephanie Michl
Goal
Provide students with the skills to become independent learners by understanding how culture impacts our students’ ability to learn.Learn More
National Teachers Academy: Culturally Responsive Practices
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Carrie Both
Study Group Members: Taree Jones, Kara Silverglat, Hannah Kreindler, Miray Karabulut
Goal
Reflect on culturally responsive practices, resources, and curriculum.Learn More
Ogden Elementary School: Increasing Students’ Writing Skills
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Sue StoneStudy Group Members: Debbie Sheriff, David Ablao, Joseph Pekarek, Brianna Duniec, Sarah Chang, Kim Albrecht
Goal
Increase students’ writing skills as well as their self-awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as writers in a post-pandemic learning loss world.Text
Understanding Texts & Readers: Responsive Comprehension Instruction with Leveled Texts by Jennifer SerravalloLearn More
Sidney Sawyer Elementary School: Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Abbi EichhornStudy Group Members: Niamh Burke, Margaret Steber
Goal
Getting equity for students through teaching practices.Learn More
Walt Disney Magnet School: Integrating the Arts
Group Members
Study Group Leader: Caroline Mahon
Study Group Members: Lauren Ayala, Katrinka Knerr, Melissa Albarran, MB Ginn
Goal
Enhance literacy instruction through integrating the arts.Text
Integrating the Arts Across the Content Areas by Lisa Donovan and Louise PascaleLearn More
Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy: Student-directed inquiry
Group Members
Study Group Leaders: Damaris Cami, Christina Korbakis
Study Group Members: Susan Bohman, Guadalupe Hernandez-Lopez, Marlene Tapia-Garcia, Stella Cambel
Goal
Engage together in reading, implementing, and reflecting on best practice student-directed inquiry.Text
The Curious Classroom: 10 Structures for Teaching with Student-Directed Inquiry by Harvey “Smokey” DanielsLearn More
