Waco High School Restructuring Proposal
The New Coach at the High School: The Literacy CoachDenise
BellLiteracy CoachWaco HS, Waco ISDOn your slip of paper, write you
answer to the question: What does it mean to be literate?Writing
Technique: Silent Discussionliteracy noun 1. the quality or state
of being literate, especially the ability to read and write. 2.
possession of education3. a person's knowledge of a particular
subject or field
Focus QuestionsWhat prompted the development of the role of a
High School Literacy Coach?What challenges were faced when
implementing the Literacy Coach position?How does the Literacy
Coach help to improve campus performance?What future challenges do
we face in regards to Literacy?
What prompted the development of the role of the Literacy
Coach?Focus Question OneDiscipline 2008Table 2: Percentage of
students with at least one school infraction.
Infractions 1st Semester9th Grade66%10th Grade49%11th
Grade35%12th Grade15%Percentage of students who have been
suspended.
7Discipline 2008ISSOSS2008-20092008-20099th Grade78%50%10th
Grade38%31%11th Grade21%26%12th Grade7%9%Percentage of students who
have been placed at DAEP as of December 10th
8Discipline 2008DAEP Placements2008-20099th Grade12%10th
Grade7%11th Grade7%12th Grade1%Academics from 2004 to 2008Waco High
School AccountabilityFigure 1: Reading/ ELA 2004 - 2008
Waco High School AccountabilityFigure 2: Mathematics 2004 -
2008
Waco High School AccountabilityFigure 3: Science 2004 - 2008
Waco High School AccountabilityFigure 4: Social Studies 2004 -
2008
Waco High School AccountabilityFigure 5: AYP Graduation Rate
2004 - 2007
Scholastic Reading Data 2008Scholastic Inc.1616Scholastic
Inc.1717Scholastic Inc.1818What challenges were faced when
implementing the Literacy Coach position?Focus Question TwoThe Waco
HS Literacy Movement began in August 2009Challenges Administration
FacedFunding How do we pay for it?
Time When do we schedule teachers, students, meetings, etc.?
Motivation How do we get buy-in from staff?
Focus understanding of what the role would beChallenges to the
MovementStudent resistanceTeacher resistanceHigh schoolers with low
literacy levels have learned coping behaviors
Pushing students of ALL levels
Mindset of I passed TAKS so I read fine
Word calling behaviorsI am not a trained reading teacher.
Why didnt they learn this in elementary school?
Learned ability to teach around the reading when faced with
pressure to cover contentHow does the Literacy Coach help to
improve campus performance?Focus Question ThreeUsing the Vocabulary
4 Square, fill in each square for what you believe a Literacy Coach
is? Vocabulary Technique: Four Square analysisWhere to begin?Using
MRT training and understanding, I broke language skills into
multiple areas to explain to teachersI would research strategies
for teachers to use to improve each area.I compiled the
presentations based on our campuses capabilities (6 departments 30
minutes once a week for 6 7 weeks)
** See bibiliographyLiteracy Coaching at WHS Year One Plant the
SeedWhole campus training through departments on components of
being literate and strategies to strengthen literacy skillsWhole
faculty meetings - Focused on populations that historically have
high reading concerns and provided strongly comprehensive trainings
(LEP, Dyslexia, repeaters)Literacy Walks*
Literacy Observation QuickViewTEACHER/Subject:Date/Time:NOTES:
Talking - Oral Language DevelopmentStudents are using complete
sentencesTeacher is speaking in complete sentencesUse of scripted
essential questionsWait time (20 seconds given)Immersion - Print
Rich EnvironmentWord wall is legible, aligned with visuals if
neededWord wall is used regularly by teachers & studentsPosters
are content relevantObjectives are posted in student language and
are read at the beginning of classComprehension/Knowledge of
DomainTeacher/student are working to read selection in
sectionsStrategies for Comprehension being used (visualization,
rule-based summary, paraphrase)Scaffolding strategies used (KWL,
model, prompt, partial answer, smaller steps, linking to student
knowledge)Use of word wall integrated into lessonVocabulary use
being required of studentsInstruction for new vocabulary Extension
- Discussion and WritingStudents are writing about their learning
(NOT COPYING)Students are discussing their learningNotetaking is
being reinforcedProper grammar and spelling are reinforcedRegular
ReadingStudents are reading independentlyStudents are reading with
partners or as a classReading comprehension strategy is being used
(text frame, review questions, notetaking, journal)Literacy
Coaching at WHS Year One The Roots Take HoldLiteracy in Action
voluntary session on strategies (40 teachers)Literacy Leaders two
teachers from every department study a strategy then lead a study
in that strategy for their departmentFaculty meeting refreshers in
springExemplars of word walls, strategies and vocabulary games are
shared with teachersTargeted PLC trainings in math
Literacy Coaching at WHS Year Two Sprouting New GrowthSummer
Training Enhanced Literacy taken by 75%+ of the faculty including
incoming teachers which reviews last years training and focuses on
reading comprehension
Focused strategy studies Learning Communities throughout the
year
Continuation of Literacy Leaders, and specialized population
trainings
Coach begins working with students of high need
Literacy Coaching at WHS Year Two Sprouting New GrowthFocused
analysis of LEP student needs and progressSharing of TELPAS scores
in conjunction with ELPS training to help teachers understand
connectionCreation of modification sheet for these students
Year Two and Beyond Envisioning a ForestGoal: Teachers will use
strategies as part of their regular teaching.Goal: Literacy Coach
will be a source of ongoing embedded professional development with
new books, methods, and strategies.Goal: Teachers will take
ownership and leadership in learning together.Goal: Literacy Coach
will be able to expand time to observe, model, co-teach and work
with feeder schools.
Standard Practices for Literacy at Waco HighWord walls in all
classrooms that are ongoing and referencedVIPs (Visual
Instructional Plan) in all classes but especially Math classesTimed
paired partner reading by studentsMinimum of writing once a week in
all classesVocabulary review and games are regular practice in
classFocus on scaffolding for students identified as struggling
learners Year Two and Beyond Envisioning a ForestGoal: Carrying the
literacy strategies and techniques to our feeder campuses
Our Progress from 2008 to 201135Student
Attendance2008-20092009-20102010-2011Average Daily
Attendance86.9%90.7%93.2%Percentage of students with at least one
school infraction.
36DisciplineInfraction2008-20092009-20102010-20119th
Grade66%61%51%10th Grade49%40%40%11th Grade35%34%24%12th
Grade15%14%19%Percentage of students who have been suspended.
37DisciplineISSOSS2008-20092009-20102010-20112008-20092009-20102010-20119th
Grade78%65%42%50%53%19%10th Grade38%33%32%31%35%12%11th
Grade21%25%18%26%23%6%12th Grade7%4%11%9%7%6%Percentage of students
who have been placed at DAEP as of December 10th
38DisciplineDAEP Placements2008-20092009-20102010-20119th
Grade12%14%6%10th Grade7%8%6%11th Grade7%5%3%12th
Grade1%2%3%Academics from 2008 to 2011*^*All scores are preliminary
for 2011^2011 includes TAKS-M in state accountability calculations
for the first timeReading/ELA-R 2004 - 2011Social Studies 2004 -
2011Mathematics 2004 - 2011Science 2004 2011AYP: ELA-R
2004-2011AYP: Mathematics 2004 - 2011AYP: Graduation Rate 2004
2011**PreliminaryWhat future challenges do we face in regards to
Literacy?Focus Question FourFuture ChallengesContinued
fundingSuccess breeding complacencyStaff turnoverOngoing review of
current research practices which effect various populations of
studentsExpansion and continuity of services to studentsLiteracy
Coach time
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