Literacy Collaborative

You Are Here: About

In this section:

• Our Purpose
• History
• Ten Essential Characteristics
• Five Elements of Reading
• Framework
• Standards
• Implementation & Training
• Success Stories
• Getting Started
• Training Sites
• Research FAQs

Ten Essential Characteristics

What is a Literacy Collaborative School?

1. Teachers in classrooms implement the range of research-based approaches that are included in a language and literacy framework, either at primary grades or at all grades of the elementary school. The framework includes instruction in reading, writing, language, and word study.
2. A high priority is placed on time for teaching and learning, with at least two-and-one-half hours designated for the language and literacy framework daily in all classrooms. One hour of uninterrupted time is available for reading and one hour for writing.
3. The school has a literacy coordinator who has successfully completed the initial training program at a Literacy Collaborative university or district-level training site.
4. The literacy coordinator is based in the school and provides professional development for teachers. The literacy coordinator also teaches children for part of the day.
5. There is a school-based leadership team that includes the principal, the literacy coordinator(s), teachers representing the grade levels involved, and other literacy professionals.
6. Teachers in the school participate in comprehensive training and are coached in their classrooms by the literacy coordinator.
7. After initial training, teachers participate in a variety of ongoing professional development opportunities, including but not limited to regular meetings, coaching, study groups, and action research.
8. Sufficient materials and supplies are provided to support literacy instruction, which may include a school book room that houses an extensive collection of leveled books for guided reading, as well as rich classroom collections of children’s literature.
9. Reading Recovery is provided as a safety net for first-graders who need extra, intensive tutoring in addition to good classroom instruction; other services are provided at various grade levels.
10. There is a home-school connection that includes home support activities and books to promote home reading.