Educators'
Praise
What
teachers and administrators are saying
about CLI's professional development programs
Teachers’
Institutes
“Children are reading and writing more since I began
training. I never would have thought that kindergarten children
with little preschool experience or reading background from
home could learn so quickly or understand so much about literature
and relate it to everyday life and learning situations.”
“Since
working with CLI, everything has changed! My room, my techniques,
planning, love of literature, how I teach, what I teach, choice
of literature, what I hang in my room, how I hang it, discipline,
student involvement, learning styles, teaching styles, etc.”
Coaching
“Having [a CLI Professional Developer] come into my room was the best
thing that has happened in my career. It was so supportive
to have someone come in and walk me through each area of training
— setting up centers, creating materials, modeling lessons,
etc.”
Visiting
a CLI model classroom
“Seeing what an ideal classroom looks like can guide
me to making changes in my classroom.”
“After discussion and visit to a model classroom th eteacher jumped on the idea of writers' workshop and has seen children's writing confidence grow tremendously.”
"Kathy's visit to a model classroom helped her see the benefits of heterogeneous grouping as well as the array of applications that were literacy based."
Books
and materials provided by CLI
“The boost given to teachers by classroom libraries of
real quality helped everyone become immersed in good literature
for children.”
“The
materials were of the highest quality and well researched,
thus saving me money in trial and error purchases.”
Institute
for New Teachers
“Management was a difficult area for me. With the help
of trainers and other teachers I now have many ideas to draw
from.”
“I
have never learned so much in four days — ever! I mean,
things that are interesting and that I can actually use.”
"I
can't wait to get back and plan and implement. I am re-inspired
to teach my best!”
Workshops for Administrators
“The content selected for presentation was timely and
appropriate for administrators who are fighting for reform
in schools.”
“I
thought the presenters were highly knowledgeable and superior
at bringing research and daily practice together.”
“[We
were] inspired and stimulated at such a deep level, and yet
came away with not just inspiration, but also proven practical
suggestions for putting all that inspiration into grounded
practice...Your expertise is early childhood/elementary literacy
and you all just knocked that ball out of the park. [We] are
still talking about [our] stellar time with you!”
Letter
from the Principal of the Ann Street School in Newark, NJ:
Ms. Linda
Katz
Executive Director
Children's Literacy Initiative
Dear Ms. Katz:
Children's Literacy Initiative has made a significant difference in the lives of our children. The development of staff and implementation of proven practices has children reading and writing at high levels.
Since the introduction of CLI, students' writing and reading levels in kindergarten have soared. Students are publishing five to fifteen page stories and reading fluency is extraordinary. This program and its well-supported implementation has made a serious difference in student performance.
Lastly, it is without hesitation or mental reservation that I highly recommend the program to all educators. In addition, I extend an open invitation to educators to visit and see for themselves the quality of instruction and high levels of performance of our students.
Sincerely,
Joseph N. Maccia
Principal
back
to top
Letter from
a Philadelphia kindergarten teacher:
It's almost
the end of the year and I wanted to touch base with you about
my observations of Children's Literacy Initiative and how
it can (and does) work in the classroom. I want to back up
a little bit to September. This was when we were talking about
children beginning school with lead paint poisoning, with
little or no preschool experience, with children that were
thrown out of their preschool because of severe behavior problems,
and the list goes on. Scared doesn't come close to tell you
how I felt in September. It's hard to believe the children
in Room 107 are those same children today. Last year I said
if my children are as sweet this year as last year, I'll know
it had to be the program. There is no denying it now!
These last few months, I have been watching the children go
from writing words to a sentence. Then moving from one or
two sentences to three. We are even beginning to understand
the meaning of paragraphs!
These last few months, I have been watching the children learn
the meaning of wilting. I have watched the children learn
about camouflage, amphibians and words that are spelled the
same but mean something different.
But today something very unusual happened. We had a guest
visit to talk about snails. The kids wrote about what they
learned. They wrote for 15 minutes, then for 20 more minutes
into their gym period (at Kearny School, we do not miss our
gym periods!), and then wrote more when they came back. They
wrote for so long that I could not check homework books. They
wrote for so long, the day care centers had to come into the
room to pick them up. As I framed their writing and hung it
lovingly, I began to find things. There was writing everywhere.
It was stuck under books. Hidden under lap pads. They were
hidden in baskets and in piles (I don't even want to tell
you where). There were rhymes and thoughts. Places they wanted
to visit and people they wanted to love. I even found a note
that said, "I love my teacher and she loves me." It wasn't
signed but I'll find out who wrote that tomorrow. It absolutely
brought tears to my eyes.
 |
|
First
graders in Camden work in the block corner. This work
center includes an opportunity to read about George
and
Martha's playhouse, to build one, and to write about
it.
|
Now here's
the next part I learned. I hope you share this with the teachers
that you train. We have children that are 5 and 6 years old.
They have this wealth of information and knowledge. They all
want to write about it. They have everything they need to
be successful. Unfortunately the body of a 5 and 6 year is
busy, constantly moving. If the movement is allowed, the writing
continues. I think it is because we all need to be comfortable.
What's comfortable for adults is not comfortable for kids.
I do not have seat arrangements. I do not make children sit
at tables to write. The children write everywhere! Leaning
on a chair. Leaning on the wall. Lying on the floor. Sitting
at a table. Leaning on a lap pad. Walking with a clipboard.
In a nutshell, that is what Center Time has done for us.
Is the room noisy? Yes. Are the children sharing
ideas and helping one another? Yes. Are the children learning?
Yes. Are they happy? Yes. Am I happy? YES! So tell the teachers
to give it a try. It's almost June and I'm not ready to say
goodbye.
One more thing, you have wonderful trainers. I have met just
about all of them. They are all unique. They are all experienced.
They are all very professional. I have learned something from
each one that I have seen, especially 'my Pat'. To me, she
is the icing on the cake. She has made me move when I was
afraid to. She told me I could do it, when I wasn't sure.
She listened to me cry. She's been there when I laughed. Room
107 was her vision that she shared with me. I wanted to put
in writing how lucky I was to have such an experienced and
creative trainer. I wanted to thank you for letting her come
and train me. Oh, one last thing I learned and then I promise
I'll stop writing, I learned that every child can
learn, they just need a chance.
So Linda, keep up the great work. We'll do it again next year!
 |
I can only sign off using the word
Love,
Ellen (Ginsberg)
Kindergarten Teacher
Kearny School
back
to top
Awards
Great
Friend to Kids Award - Education
Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia
2000
Citation for meaningful contribution toward a better and
more productive society
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2000
The Literacy Award of Excellence
Philadelphia Council of the International Reading Association
1996
For Exemplary Service in the Promotion of Literacy
International Reading Association
1996
Broadcast Media Award for Radio
With "Mrs. Bush's Storytime"
The International Reading Association
1993
Bronze medal, Training, 30th Annual Video Festival
"A Literacy Training Film with Al Roker"
International Television Association
back
to top
|
