Disciplinary Literacy Task Force

In October, we begin to take stock of the start of the school year and consider ways we might continue to shift and grow our practice. We hope that this newsletter provides you with just-in-time inspiration to continue your journey with disciplinary literacy!

In this newsletter, you will find:

• Important information about upcoming professional learning events and online courses
• Information about our updated Resource Hubs
• A resource "freebie"-- a Career Readiness + Disciplinary Literacy poster
  
• Suggestions for assisting educators in picturing what Disciplinary Literacy looks like
• An interactive PDF with GELN Disciplinary Literacy Task Force members' contact information

Happy Reading!

Click on our professional learning flyer to find more information and registration links for these upcoming professional learning events:

• Shaping School-Wide Systems for Effective Instruction at the Secondary Level (register NOW for the November 19 event!)
• Michigan Assessment Consortium Assessment Learning Network (register now for upcoming webinars!)
• EduPaths online courses (they're free!)
• Disciplinary Literacy for Secondary Leaders online course

Many of you have likely used our ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Resource Hubs over the years, in order to find recommended resources that assist in bringing the Essential Instructional Practices in Disciplinary Literacy to life. However, navigating spreadsheets is not for the faint of heart.

Worry not--we've got you covered! All of your favorite Resource Hub materials are now housed within an easily accessible website! Click here to check it out, and be sure to bookmark it.

Connecting the dots among multiple improvement initiatives can feel daunting. As educators continue to support students in developing career readiness, it can sometimes feel like one more thing. However, Disciplinary Literacy Task Force members see powerful connections--we are also thinking about ways to support students in envisioning how their interests and learning today can support them in potential careers in the future! We have collaborated with Career Readiness consultants to create this practical poster with suggestions that can be implemented in classrooms in five minutes or less a day! Click here to access the free, printable 11 X 17 poster.

When working with educators around the state, we often hear this: "I'm on board with disciplinary literacy, and I understand why we need to teach this way. But what does it look like?"

While there is not one, simple answer (this is why the Essential Instructional Practices for Disciplinary Literacy is such a long booklet, after all), we do have some ideas about how to address this question.

First, try presenting educators an interesting phenomenon or fact.

Next, ask them what questions experts in their field might ask about the fact.

Follow up by asking how experts might learn more about the fact, as well as how experts might write and communicate their findings.

Finally, ask them to generate ideas about what experts might do with the discovery or fact.

Consider having educators compare their thinking with that of ReLeah Lent, from a recent article published by ASCD. You can access Figure 1 from that article here.

Taking the time to draw out the expertise that is already in the room is a powerful way to begin answering the question, "But what does it look like?" If we can articulate what experts in the field do with information, then we can begin to think about how to bring those same sorts of experiences to our students as part of everyday instruction.

We are always interested to hear how educators are taking up the work of disciplinary literacy. Take a few moments to share your story here: https://forms.gle/Rbuqa6wZCkhy5bnT9.

The Disciplinary Literacy Task Force is comprised of consultants from across the state, each of whom brings his or her own disciplinary expertise. We meet monthly, and our most pressing goal is to continue to scale this work statewide. We also prioritize equity in the delivery of our services as well as building and leveraging partnerships across the state in an effort to promote this important work. Our ongoing work includes planning for, creating and implementing professional learning for secondary educators and using this newsletter, our blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and other publications to broaden awareness about this approach and its benefits to our secondary students. We look forward to increased opportunities to work with you!