Summer Institute

The Boys College Summer Literacy Institute is designed to advance interdisciplinary literacy learning for boys throughout Wayne and Oakland counties. This two-part educational series will serve both teachers of grades 3-5 and their students.

In part 1 of this series, school teams will participate in an intensive three-day professional learning led Dr. Alfred Tatum, a nationally renowned expert in the research of the literacy development of African American boys.

Educators engaged in this professional learning series will be able to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of disciplinary literacy practices

• Explore and learn the tenets of the Multidimensional Reading Model (MDRM) to move students toward advanced reading, writing, and scientific thinking

• Create and teach literacy lessons utilizing the MDRM that move students toward advanced literacy and knowledge development in the core disciplines

• Build upon the literate lives of Black boys and teaching practices that accelerate literacy development and knowledge acquisition

In part 2, select educators will implement the MDRM model with rising fourth and fifth grade students. Lessons will leverage exponential reading and writing across all academic disciplines.

Students engaging in this series will be able to:

• Engage with enabling texts that span the social and natural sciences

• Increase their daily reading volume and stamina

• Build textual lineages

• Showcase their knowledge through writing and speaking

• Collaborate with peers using cause-based readings and discussions

The intended audience for this series is COSAs, literacy coaches, 3rd-5th grade teachers, school leaders, and master teachers who support districts in Wayne or Oakland counties. District teams are preferred.

Part 1: Professional Learning with Dr. Tatum (May 17th and 18th) & Experiential Learning Lab led by Drs. Shahid & Currie (June 3rd)

Part 2: Boys College Summer Institute (Dates are determined by the respective school district). Interested teachers, COSAs, and literacy coaches should complete the Boys College Teacher Application.

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Leading to Liberate - March 17, 2026

Connecting Minds, Science and Identity - Fall 2025

- Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist, orator, statesmen, freedom dreamer, and human rights activist.