*Don’t feel like you have to answer all of these questions. They are simply to help aid in conversation.
It was interesting to discover the reading this week beginning with a reference to “Painting a Vision of Literacy Leadership”. Friday I had the opportunity to go to the OKC Museum of Fine Arts to experience the Matisse exhibit entitled “Matisse in His Time.” This exhibit not only showed his paintings and other art he created, but focused on the exchange that was made between himself and other artists of his time and following his time. It was amazing to see how each artist influenced the other through collaboration and even competition. Without this exchange between the artists much of the artwork created would have been vastly different. The creations we have the opportunity to view were only made possible through the connection/ collaboration and influence of other artists. I found myself desiring to be apart of a community that was creative like these artists. They spent time painting and using various mediums to create art through collaboration. Then I realized that as literacy leaders we have this same creative outlet with a different product in mind. Our collaboration and discussions have profound influences on the direction that literacy moves in our nation. What is your painting of literacy leadership? What vision do you hope to portray as a literacy leader?
The text mentions three main goals of literacy leaders: (1) improving evidence-based pedagogy, (2) improving the achievements of every student served, and (3) having a positive effect on the school culture. Goal one can be accomplished a variety of ways, but I appreciated what the authors wrote about this. “Literacy leaders seek to meet the needs of teachers and staff so literacy pedagogy reflects up-to-date, evidence-based strategies, methods, and approaches that reflect the findings of current research in the field.” (p. 47) In regards to goal two a key focus was the fact that we should be advocates for children. The third goal also supported the role of being an anthropologist. How can literacy leaders become advocate for children especially in today’s educational environment?
I can see the importance of having bottom-up professional development when possible. This means PD is teacher and student-need driven. This can be achieved through a variety of ways. One that I liked was a PD menu. Just as we give students choice and help them establish their own learning goals, we need to do the same for teachers. Which of the professional development principles mentioned on pg. 52 stood out to you? Why?
Professional development is by nature adult learning, andragogy. Adult learning varies from a younger student in many ways, though there are a few similarities. “Honoring adult learners is the spirit of literacy leadership.” (p. 67) The text mentions 6 key principles for equipping adult learners. The one that really stood out to me was providing teachers with the rationale behind the need to learn something new and the time to prepare for and implement the change effectively. I have seen many things that leaders said were the “new thing” that left as fast as they came. Teachers need the power to create their own trajectory with the literacy leader walking alongside them in the journey. I fixated on the thought that literacy leaders need to adult learning specialist. How do you plan to make professional development productive for all involved? How can we be adult learning specialists?
As literacy leaders and adult learning specialists, we can’t just establish our own goals in an arbitrary manner. They need to be chosen according to a Comprehensive Reading Plan. This plan is a district plan that identifies goals based on standards and needs, reflection on the curriculum and assessments used, and develops a systematic process. Since this is a blog, I will be candid. I have no idea what my district's comprehensive reading program states. I am going to work on discovering this info this week. Do you all know your comprehensive reading plan (or, if you aren’t teaching have you heard of one)? What are your thoughts about it?
Thinking about all of these elements reinforces in my mind the fact that being a literacy leader, reading specialist, and adult learning specialist is a complex process. Just as a piece of art often has different layers and hues, so to should the plans we establish. These layers and hues of paint could easily form into a mess rather than a beautiful work of art. If we hope to be agents of change, we need to be thoughtful and purposeful in everything we do, leading to a wonderful painting of literacy leadership.
