Please share and discuss the following benefits and expectations with your administrator prior to submitting your application for ELLA.

Transcription

1 Please share and discuss the following benefits and expectations with your administrator prior to submitting your application for ELLA. Benefits of Participation in the Early Literacy Leadership Academy Teachers Complimentary long-term, multifaceted professional development provided by the internationally recognized Rice University School Literacy and Culture (SLC) staff Yearly professional development certificates incorporating hours earned through all ELLA components Texas Association for Gifted and Talent (TAGT) credit--submission in process Leadership certificate from SLC/Rice University upon successful completion of the project All necessary professional texts and access to SLC s professional library Selected children s books and materials for classroom use to belong to participating teachers upon successful completion of the project ipad use during project participants may keep upon the successful completion of the project Membership in a professional learning community (PLC) of like-minded teachers Possibility of presentation stipends for external presentations on behalf of SLC Possibility of receiving a stipend for teaching during the Creative Writing Camp (summer collaboration with Writers in the Schools) Prestige of affiliation with Rice University s approach to Unconventional Wisdom Children Teachers who understand child development and appropriate early literacy practices Play-based learning Opportunities for enhanced oral language development Opportunities for enhanced creative thinking Opportunities for enhanced literacy development Whole child education Administrators/Schools Complimentary professional development for at least one teacher over the course of 3 years Complimentary administrator professional development in Early Childhood Education Complimentary parent education Complimentary PLC support to entire campus to support intellectual curiosity of entire staff Complimentary training for community volunteers and increased participation of volunteers Opportunities for ongoing community presence and participation Opportunities for increased oral language and general literacy scores for students Opportunities for increased parent participation at school events Parents/Community Opportunities to be meaningfully engaged in the education of young children Opportunities to learn ideas for supporting early literacy development in the home Ongoing opportunities to volunteer in community schools Complimentary workshops in what to do and how to do it when volunteering in classrooms The Early Literacy Leadership Academy is made possible through generous gifts from Phillips 66 and Herman H. Fleishman Foundation literacy.rice.edu

2 Expectations for Participation in ELLA Teachers Outside of the classroom/school Read assigned texts and come to seminars prepared to discuss content and classroom applications Attend ALL scheduled seminars and Summer Institutes Make regular visits to demonstration classrooms for observations (OWL lab, etc.) Be curious about ways in which early childhood research can be extrapolated into practice Provide periodic feedback and reflections to SLC Share the SLC standards correlations with colleagues from other schools If selected be willing to make presentations on behalf of SLC If selected be willing to teach during the summer Creative Writing Camp collaboration with Writers in the Schools Inside the classroom/school Create a research-based Demonstration Classroom with the following components o 20 minutes or less of large group circle time o Centers-based instruction including a dramatic play center, well-stocked classroom library, writing center, ABC/word work center, blocks center o o Free choice and free play available to students every day Story dictation and dramatization and adult-authored dramatization of quality children s literature as routine and integral parts of the literacy curriculum Eagerly participate in the role of resident teacher, welcoming a mentor into the classroom and entering into discussions with the mentor If at all possible remain at the current school as a classroom teacher at the current grade level during the duration of ELLA participation Maintain an ongoing Reflection Journal Collaborate with other ELLA participants Welcome community volunteers into the classroom to work with children individually or in small groups Make presentations to campus colleagues Help plan parent education seminars/activities and present for home campus Share the SLC standards correlations with colleagues at own campus If chosen after the second year of participation, be willing to become an SLC mentor serving your own school or a neighboring campus The Early Literacy Leadership Academy is made possible through generous gifts from Phillips 66 and Herman H. Fleishman Foundation. literacy.rice.edu

3 Administrators Needs related to teachers participating in the Early Literacy Leadership Academy Provide support to the teacher in creating a research-based Demonstration Classroom with the following components o 20 minutes or less of large group circle time o Centers-based instruction including a dramatic play center, well-stocked classroom library, writing center, ABC/word work center, blocks center o o Free choice and free play available to students every day Story dictation and dramatization and adult-authored dramatization of quality children s literature as routine and integral parts of the literacy curriculum Provide the support and encouragement necessary for participating teachers to successfully complete the obligations of this project. These may include, but not be limited to the following: o Allow ELLA participants to leave campus during school hours for visits to demonstration classrooms so that they may bring back new ideas to their classrooms and to share with other early childhood teachers at your campus o Make provisions for participants to attend all ELLA seminars, most of which will be held during after-school hours o Allow ELLA participants 30 minutes of duty-free time or classroom coverage for debriefing conversations with their mentor teacher following each of the classroom visits that occur during the Classroom Storytelling residency year o Allow participants to remain at their current grade level for the duration of the ELLA o project if at all possible Engage in classroom visits and ongoing conversation with ELLA participants in order to maximize the benefits of the program Provide periodic feedback to SLC regarding the work that is occurring in the classroom and with the project in general Allow for photography and videography in participating classrooms by encouraging parental permission (forms to be provided by SLC) Should one or more of your teachers be chosen to serve as an SLC mentor, make provision for him/her/them to leave their classrooms to mentor teachers at your school or at another campus Needs related to school administrators Attend periodic Administrator PLC Seminars for updates on the project and current issues in early childhood education Read materials about early childhood education and leadership provided by SLC Support home/school connections by providing a venue for parent workshops and childcare when necessary Certify, welcome and support community volunteers who have been trained to read to or work with individuals and/or small groups of children in the classroom setting Share the SLC standards correlations and research with staff and colleagues from other schools and at the district level, if applicable Share what is happening on your campus at administrator meetings and forums The Early Literacy Leadership Academy is made possible through generous gifts from Phillips 66 and Herman H. Fleishman Foundation. literacy.rice.edu

4 Teacher Professional Development In Early Literacy and Multicultural Issues Rice University s School Literacy and Culture works with schools and school districts to enhance early literacy practices and improve multicultural understanding in the classroom. Application Early Literacy Leadership Academy Our charge is to create a forum to develop teacher leaders in early childhood literacy -- to provide a place where learning theory and classroom practice mesh as early childhood teachers come together to discover their voices as early literacy leaders. In this advanced study program participants will learn how to implement child-initiated storytelling and other research-based early literacy practices. Professional development will focus on participants acquisition of up-to-date content knowledge in early literacy instruction and their development as leaders in their schools and communities. Teachers selected for ELLA will begin their experiences by attending a summer institute July 25-28, They will participate in the year-long mentoring of the Classroom Storytelling project during the school year. All teachers will attend SLC s Early Literacy Summit and some will have an opportunity to teach in our summer Creative Writing Camp. Programming will continue through the school year pending available funds. Throughout this experience participating teachers will enjoy a wide variety of active learning experiences, including demonstration classroom visits and monthly seminars where teachers network and discuss readings. All ELLA applicants must be lead teachers in their classrooms. Please complete the following: Note: Please choose your save as function and save this document to your computer before you fill it out. This will allow you to finish the application and then submit via . Name: Home address: Street address City State Zip Home phone: Cell phone: Your best contact address:

5 YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION School name: Is this a public, private or charter school? School address: Street address City State Zip School phone: School fax: Current grade/age teaching: Your current classroom makeup (Please choose all that apply.): Regular Inclusion Bilingual ESL Dual How long have you been at your current position? YOUR EDUCATION BACKGROUND High school/city Year graduated Undergraduate Institution(s) Please list all institutions attended and degrees obtained. University/College name 1 Dates attended Year graduated Degree obtained GPA Major area(s) of study University/College name 2 Dates attended Year graduated Degree obtained GPA Major area(s) of study

6 Additional Institutions for Undergraduate Study may be listed in the Notes section at the end of this application. Graduate Institution(s) Please list all schools attended and advanced degrees obtained. University/College name 1 Dates attended Year graduated Degree obtained GPA Major area(s) of study Graduate Institutions continued University/College name 2 Dates attended Year graduated Degree obtained GPA Major area(s) of study Additional Institutions for Graduate Study may be listed in the Notes section at the end of this application. Teaching Certificate(s) (if applicable) State Title of Certificate State Title of Certificate YOUR TEACHING BACKGROUND How many years of teaching experience do you have? What ages/grade levels have you taught? Please include the dates for each.

7 YOUR BACKGROUND INFORMATION Have you ever been dismissed from a school or school district? Have you ever been suspended from or required to withdraw from any school or college? IMPORTANT: If you answered yes to any of the above, fully explain the occurrence and outcome. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION How did you hear about ELLA? Signature: Today s Date Type your name in the box

8 PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. 1. Why are you applying for the Early Literacy Leadership Academy? Why do you want to take this on now? What do you hope to gain personally and professionally by participating in ELLA? (250 words max)

9 2. Describe yourself as a teacher. Describe your strengths and areas you wish to improve. (250 words max)

10 3. Tell us a bit about your classroom environment. Give a brief synopsis of a day in your classroom. Please include your class schedule providing times. (500 words max)

11 4. Describe your philosophy of early childhood education. How does that make your classroom an effective learning place? (500 words max)

12 5. Describe your recent professional reading and the ideas that you learned from them. Was this a reading of your own choice or as part of a Professional Learning Community? (250 words max)

13 6. What are your career goals for the next three to five years? How will ELLA impact your long-term goals in education? (250 words max) The application process will be complete after this application, a current résumé and two letters of recommendation, one from your principal or director and one from a colleague, have been submitted to Margaret Immel at mimmel@rice.edu by midnight April 6, 2016.