Reflections on the NELMS First Annual Literacy Summit

by Judith Irvin, National Literacy Project and
Julie Meltzer, Center for Resource Management

On November 27-28, we had the pleasure of spending two days with 92 dedicated educators who are striving to improve their students’ literacy habits and skills. The scene was the First Annual Literacy Summit sponsored by NELMS and held at the Sturbridge Conference Center. We began the Summit by giving an overview of A Leadership Model for Improving Adolescent Literacy. This model shows middle school leaders how they can systemically improve student literacy through attention to a set of key components. Each participant received a copy of Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy: An Implementation Guide for School Leaders -- a book we co-authored and that describes this leadership model.

During the two days, participants worked with a set of school implementation rubrics keyed to the model to assess where their school was in each of four critical goal areas: student motivation, engagement, and achievement; literacy across the content areas; literacy interventions; and creating a literacy-rich environment. Participants rated their school on each component of the rubric, discussed their rankings, reached consensus, and then used these rankings and discussions to identify areas to focus on in their school. Very lively and productive discussions could be heard around the room.

Participants were also able to attend two of four interactive workshops on key topics related to improving literacy:

• What teachers and administrators need to know about literacy
• Using data to make school and instructional decisions
• Strategies to teach vocabulary
• Getting everyone on board for a schoolwide literacy improvement effort.

These sessions helped participants build their knowledge about literacy and contribute to their development of a schoolwide literacy action plan.

Most participants attended the Summit with other team members. Team time on both days allowed participants to begin developing or to refine a literacy action plan. At the final group sharing session on Wednesday, participants reported on insights gained at the Summit and their next steps when they get back to their school/district. We heard many comments such as the following:

• We came up with a brand statement for our school to splash all over the school and community.
• We will form a literacy team as soon as we go back and now we know what they should do.
• We had parts and pieces of a literacy effort, but now we know how to make it sustainable.
• We had a representative from each of the three grade levels here and got a perspective of what is going on schoolwide in literacy.
• It is obvious that we need to do more for our struggling readers and writers.
• We need to share a literacy vision throughout the school.

We were honored to participate in this First Annual Literacy Summit and to work with such enthusiastic and dedicated middle level educators. Our observation was that literacy team members that attended with a building level administrator were able to make more concrete plans for their school than those that did not. We know that teachers and administrators want to improve literacy support for students, but often do not know how. It was our pleasure to share the leadership model, stories from other schools with which we have worked, and effective literacy practice with the participants of the First Annual Literacy Summit sponsored by NELMS.

Dr, Judith Irvin is executive director of the National Literacy Project based in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Julie Meltzer is director of literacy research and development at the Center for Resource Management, Portsmouth, NH. A Leadership Model for Improving Adolescent Literacy was developed through a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

(This experience was so well received, we are planning another activity. Look for the 2nd Annual NELMS Literacy Summit next fall!)

NELMS 2007-2008 Awards

The following people have receive awards from their colleagues and from NELMS. Please join us in acknowledging there contribution to our terrific profession.

A+dministator’s Award

1. John Faucher, Principal Georgetown Middle School
2. Thomas McNulty, West Springfield Middle School

Master in the Middle Award

1. Jean Jacobs, The Whitefield School
2. Lyn Washington, Bedford Middle School
3. Stephanie Boosahda, Keith Middle School

Promising Practitioner Award

1. Mary Sorice, St. Philip School
2. Susan Mathison, Tantasqua regional JHS
3. Caroline Carr, The Whitefield School

NELMS is seeking to recognize individuals or groups for the following two awards:
Parent & Community Award
Technology Award
Application Deadline January 4, 2008

Full criteria, applications and processes are available on www.nelms.org.

For more information, contact Nancy Barry at (978) 887-6263 or nbarry@nelms.org

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Courageous, Collaborative, Leadership

A NELMS Administrators - Leading Learning Conference

January 16 & 17, 2008–Sturbridge, MA

Hosted by NELMS, facilitated by Spotlight School leaders, and supported by NASSP, participants will learn from and with your colleagues. It is the only two day conference that is exclusively for middle level leaders in the Northeast. last year we had a great conference but many more could have participated. This year, please join us for this exciting extended learning opportunity for principals, assistant principals, aspiring administrators, central office leaders, aspiring leaders and team leaders.

2 Days of Intensive Learning - Focused on Middle Level Leadership

From surveys you have returned, you said you wanted…

• Relevant Topics
• Great Ideas
• Professional and personal renewal
• Pathways that can make a difference
• Results driven practices

This conference features:

• Focused Panel Discussions
• Interactive Sessions
• “Coffee and Conversation” area all day long
• Practitioner based
• Time to think plan and discuss
• All materials

Session Topics Include:

DAY ONE

Keynote - Courageous, Collaborative Leadership - Patti Kinney

Conference Sessions

It's the "Principal" of the Thing - Patricia Clem

Follow the Research to Quality Middle Schools - Robert Spear

Providing Leadership to Interdisciplinary Teams – Lyn Ward Healy

Student-Led Conferencing – Patti Kinney

Team Assessments; Helping all understand What Effective Teams Do –
Bob Spear

Organizing Time in the Middle (Scheduling) - Susan Dumas

Open Space Learning - Pat Clem

Socialize and dinner on your own!

DAY TWO

Sessions Creating a Culture of Literacy – Patti Kinney

Looking at Student Work as a Team Activity – Sue Dumas

Advisor/Advisee – Getting It Right! – Pat Clem

Middle Level Advocacy: No Longer an Option– Patti Kinney

Advancing Student Learning Through Coaching for Differentiation –
Rose Colby

BRIM - Learn More About it!! – Gerry Quatrale

Ability Grouping Panel Discussion –
Bob Spear, Sue Dumas, Patti Kinney, Rose Colby, Gerry Quatrale

Exclusively for Middle Level Leadership Earn a possible 2 Graduate Credits Leave renewed and refreshed! For more information click here!

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2nd Effective Coaching for Literacy Leaders Conference

January 16 & 17, 2008
Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA

Presenter: Cheryl Wrin

Do you work with teachers on literacy issues?
Do you want to provide better coaching for them?

Learn from the facilitator, learn from each other, and learn to increase the likelihood of making a big difference in student’s literacy learning. We will identify effective literacy learning and then share your success, failures, and frustrations in trying to make this happen! We will learn about the skills of facilitation, group process, setting priorities, helping others listen, helping others change, and ways to get the key strategies implemented in their classrooms.

We will think deeply about literacy, discuss effective strategies and ways to embed these skills across the curriculum. No matter what materials your school is using, this is the experience you have been waiting for!

If you want to get better at what you do; if you want effective, practical, classroom-tested learning for two days then this event is designed for you!

Click here for more information.

2 Graduate Credits Available      Register Early      Limited Space

Contacting your legislator

From time to time we all are asked to contact a legislator about a particular bill or issue. I know that NELMS has asked you to do this from time to time. Here are some tips for contacting national legislators. Please note that telephone calls are very effective.

How to Make a Four Minute Phone Call to Congress:

1. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
2. Ask to be connected to the senator or representative’s office (click here to look up your rep).
3. Ask to speak with the education legislative assistant.
4. Introduce yourself and explain your interest in the issue
5. Specifically say: “I ask that you vote to....”
6. Thank them for their time.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about middle level advocacy, please visit our web site or nmsa's web site.

Thank you.

Create over the holidays!

You know you have a great idea you are just waiting to share. Why not write a brief article for NELMS e-news, Mid Lines, or even write a professional article for the NELMS Journal Write for the Journal. It is not hard: just get started and then contact us and the correct will be in touch to help make it the best it can be.

Annual Conference Preparation Continues

Save the date, March 30, 31 and April 1st. The session selection process is taking place. All major speakers are secured and the hotels and Convention Center are awaiting our arrival. This year there is no conflict with state testing so all from Massachusetts who felt they could not attend last year are encouraged to return for this terrific professional development event.

Know an educational vendor that should be at our Annual Conference? If so, tell them to get comprehensive information at www.nelms.org

Look for complete information in early November and updates on our web site www.nelms.org.

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