BRIGHT SPOTS

Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration

May 30, 2024

Dear Educator,

This week, I am heading to Odessa, Texas for the Ignite Your Light with the Power of Literacy conference, and I am so excited to keynote this event! I have been in too many conversations lately that paint fundamental skills such as learning to read and innovative practices as different goals rather than two critical aspects that need to be thoughtfully intertwined to evolve our educational practices.

Student disengagement in reading is not a new problem. In fact, I was a disengaged reader from a very young age because I never felt like I had a choice in what I read. Now, I love to read, write, and communicate in a variety of ways because I feel like it matters. It wasn’t until I had opportunities to make choices about what I read and learn for an authentic purpose that I saw how meaningful and necessary reading and writing are to communicating my thinking and strengthening my ideas.

I've recently been inspired by a few of our partners with how they've been providing voice and choice to their learners when it comes to their reading selections. Learn more below in this week's Bright Spot!

With Gratitude,

BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK

Finding Passions and Interests Through Reading

I LOVE walking into classrooms all over the country and seeing diverse libraries that offer options that entice kids with a variety things to read at all different levels and all different topics.

Recently, I've been blown away by the variety of books and articles offered in school libraries and classrooms in South San Francisco Unified School District, Vista Unified School District, and Duquesne City School District.

When young people have access to books they can connect with and choice in what they read, we can ignite more and more learners’ passions AND develop their skills in reading. It's not that we work on reading skills OR we focus on discovering learner passions. It's "both, and!"

What examples do you have of providing voice and choice when it comes to what your learners read? What has the impact been? Share your story here.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Explore the resources below that will deepen your practice on providing learner-centered choice to the students you serve.

1. Podcast: Cultivating Learner-Centered Literacy Through Student Voice. Dr. Stephanie Buelow, Associate Professor of Literacy Education at the University of Hawaii, shares her experiences and insights as an educator aimed at putting learners at the center through literacy instruction and teacher development. Listen here.

2. Blog: Shifting the Focus from Teaching to Learning. I share how we can shift from ineffective teaching practices like round-robin reading to empowering students as independent learners. By focusing on developing skills like time management and self-regulation, educators can improve student outcomes without adding more time or content. Read more.

3. Article: The Importance of Student Choice Across All Grade Levels. Providing students with more choices in school can lead to increased engagement, motivation, and responsibility. Offering choices, such as flexible seating, co-creating classroom norms, and allowing academic choices, empowers students to take ownership of their learning. Read more.

LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!

What are your learner-centered Bright Spots?

Share your #LCBrightSpots on social media!

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