About the Project

Teaching Matters is pleased to announce Balanced Literacy and Technology: Promising Practices , a technology and literacy program first introduced in the fall of 2003 – 2004 through the generous support of The Citigroup Foundation.

Promising Practices is grounded in the principles of balanced literacy and is currently providing K – 5 educators with effective technology-based strategies for advancing reading and writing skills in their classrooms. Teachers, staff developers and school leaders are benefiting from face-to-face and live online professional development. The project is accompanied by a “school-friendly” guide that features classroom lessons, tips and strategies for using technology for literacy instruction that have emerged in the first year of the project.

For schools enrolling the project for the first time, Promising Practices will provide:

• Six three-hour workshops on key areas of balanced literacy instruction. All include hands-on training for improving balanced literacy instruction with technology and the chance to share ideas with colleagues on best practice. Teachers, staff developers and school leaders will all benefit.
• In-class visits (up to ten) that focus on mentoring teachers as they adopt technology-based literacy-instruction practices.
• The Promising Practices Guide, an evolving website where participants will find and contribute classroom tips, lessons and other resources.

Schools continuing their involvement in this initiative will receive two advanced workshops and ten additional in-class visits.

Whereas 2003 - 2004 was concerned with creating and introducing an array of possibilities, in continuing schools, the program will build on strategies found to be most effective in classrooms last year. With that in mind, 2004 – 2005 will emphasize three goals: (1) bringing teachers to the “next level” so that they can independently apply technology to reading and writing instruction, (2) helping spread best practice within each building, thus promoting school-wide capacity, and (3) disseminating exemplary strategies among and beyond our five partner schools. Ultimately, we would like to assist your school in becoming a model of excellence in using technology for balanced literacy.

This year, Promising Practices II will provide:

• Two one-day workshops furthering teachers’ understanding of ways in which technology can support balanced literacy instruction. Both workshops will include hands-on training, the chance to share ideas with colleagues, and time for school-team planning. Teachers, staff developers and literacy coaches will all benefit.
• In-class visits (up to ten) for the purpose of: a) mentoring teachers as they adopt technology-based literacy-instruction practices and b) facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of strategies teachers find effective.
• The Promising Practices Internet Guide, an evolving website where teachers will find and contribute classroom tips, lessons and other resources.