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Components of CLI's Program
At Children's Literacy Initiative institutes and seminars, we use an interactive style of instruction and a practical, hands-on approach to help teachers explore the most current research in exemplary practices. Participants follow an intensive schedule of discussions, presentations, and small-group activities that emphasies both theory and practice, building on prior knowledge and moving toward clear outcomes. Teachers focus on improving students' phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through five key components of effective literacy instruction.
• Reading aloud to support instruction
Teachers study our Intentional Read Aloud model of how to read purposefully to teach vocabulary, engage critical thinking skills, develop imagination and problem-solving skills, and encourage interest in a wide variety of stories and genres. The criteria for choosing the best books to support early reading skills and develop vocabulary are stressed. |
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At the writing center, a first-grader has word books,
a dry-erase board and pen to work with. Activities can include writing a letter or writing about a book. |
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• Developing student writing
Teachers learn to incorporate writing in classroom centers and to provide ample writing opportunities for their students throughout the day, including modeled, interactive, and independent writing.
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• Creating a literacy-rich classroom environment
Establishing a classroom that promotes literacy through engaged, meaningful activity is an essential base for student achievement. The physical environment and learning climate are both integral to improving classroom management while meeting the needs of all children and promoting a love of learning. Teachers learn about the importance of the library corner and having high-quality children's books in centers. (Our website, CLIontheweb.org, has a virtual tour of Model Classroom environments.) |
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• Instructing in small groups
Clearly planned and effectively managed small-group activities in learning centers support children's independence and cooperation, reinforce connections across the curriculum, and keep students engaged. Teachers learn how to set up and manage centers for subjects such as science, math, writing, building blocks, and dramatic play, all with a focus on literacy as part of the activities. |
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At the science center, reading and writing are tools for learning. A book on frogs, alphabet tiles to spell with, tadpoles in a water tank, and paper and pens provide a purposeful learning opportunity. The results of a kindergartner's tadpole study are displayed on the classroom wall. |
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• Using Message Time Plus®
Developed by Children's Literacy Initiative, this powerful instructional tool is one of the most effective and valued processes that we bring to a classroom. Teachers learn to plan messages that address standards and goals while reinforcing subjects and skills being studied in the classroom. The message is written while children watch, and they then participate by reading aloud. Children take turns at the board, identifying what they know - such as letters, words, or punctuation - and their learning is furthered by the teacher through a mini-lesson targeted to each child's needs.
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During Message Time Plus in a Camden first grade, students come forward to demonstrate their understanding of letters, words, and punctuation. These daily lessons provide opportunities for teachers to introduce more print conventions and more vocabulary while assessing individual progress. |
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Following training in these five components, our highly experienced Professional Developers coach teachers one-on-one in the classroom to help deepen, expand, and sustain learning. They help teachers create literacy environments and implement skills and strategies learned in training. With coaching, teachers learn to better manage the class, tailor instruction to the needs of different children, structure Writers's and Reader's Workshop activities, and help students develop higher-level vocabularies. |
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Professional Development Services:
For principals, directors, reading coaches, and teachers Pre-k through 3rd grade.
Institutes and seminars immerse participants in the most current research in exemplary practices. CLI trainings, held in small groups of fifteen people, build on prior knowledge and move toward clear outcomes through discussions, small-group and hands-on work, multi-media, and developing solutions to real-life classroom problems. Teachers learn a range of literacy practices; and staff developers learn techniques for supporting teachers. Principals work primarily on issues of literacy leadership.
- Institutes
- Institute for New Teachers, 4 days
- Institute for Teachers, 3 days
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Seminars (one-day)
- Reading Aloud to Support Instruction: Phonics and Phonemic Awareness
- Reading Aloud to Support Instruction: Fluency and Comprehension
- Reading Aloud to Support Instruction: Developing Vocabulary
- Learning Centers and Small Group Learning
- Message Time Plus®
- Message Time Plus® II
- Literacy Environment: Setting the Stage for Success
- Writer’s Workshop
- Workshops
(two-hour)
- Developing Learning Applications “Make and Take”
- Using Informational Books for Instruction
- Intentional Read Alouds: Using Literature for Instruction
- Author Study
- Managing Learning Centers and Small Group Learning
- Using Songs and Rhymes to Develop Phonemic Awareness
- Evaluating Student Writing to Inform Instruction
- Interactive Writing
- Literacy Environment
- Learning to Present a Parent Meeting on Literacy
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Coaching (one-on-one)
To deepen, expand, and sustain professional learning, CLI offers individual coaching by our highly experienced professional developers. CLI professional developers work in classrooms to help teachers create a literacy environment and implement the skills and strategies learned in CLI trainings. We help reading coaches evaluate the needs and culture of the school and learn how to encourage effective literacy practices in the classroom.
Grade Level Meetings
CLI strives to build a culture of literacy by working with grade level teams to plan lessons, critique student work, refine instruction, and observe and discuss demonstration lessons.
Working with Parents
Because of the importance of literacy at home, CLI has parent workshops, complete with materials and books for parents to take home.
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Books and Literacy
Materials that are Offered
In
addition to training, CLI provides classrooms with books and
materials to help implement effective literacy practices.
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Classroom Collections - To support and develop the most effective literacy practices, CLI provides high-quality classroom book collections. Research shows that reading aloud from quality children's literature is the only reliable source of rich vocabulary in daily classroom life. CLI's collections of multicultural, award-winning children's books are also the best tools for building world knowledge. Collections include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, folk tales, and series, chapter, and picture books; collections are available for pre-k through 3rd grades. CLI also creates customized book collections for Spanish, bilingual English/Spanish, and special education classrooms. |
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• Home Lending Libraries - To further the idea that literacy belongs at home as well as at school, CLI offers a Home Lending collection to provide high-quality children's books in more affordable paperback versions. These collections are a mixture of books for children to read on their own and books for parents to read to their children. |
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• Alphabet Knowledge explains the nuances of teaching letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and phonological awareness, and includes numerous activities to engage students in learning each critical aspect of alphabet knowledge.
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• Individual Student Writing Boxes - Giving children their own boxes of writing materials helps children to be excited about writing and work creatively. The CLI Writing Box contains a wide variety of grade-appropriate writing tools including an assortment of memo and message pads, markers, postcards, pencils and erasers, sticky notes, crayons or colored pencils, and a hardbound blank book for students to publish their own work.
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• Author Packs -
The CLI Author Pack is a collection of books by a single author or writing team. It includes four to seven titles, a biography and portrait of the author, and other background information useful in creating an author study. Available in English, Spanish, or bilingual.
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