July 11th: Excellent Instruction in Literacy

Facilitator Biography

Michelle Morrissey | Mason Elementary School

Michelle Morrissey began her teaching career in the New York City as a New York City Teaching Fellow. She has 12 years teaching history in urban schools, 8 years of which have been at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park. At APR, she worked as the Director of Professional Development, planning and leading professional development for teachers across the 5-12 program, as an instructional coach, and as a AP US History Teacher. She has also worked as a special educator at APR. Michelle also worked at Boston Collegiate Charter School and recently began her role as a Transformation Coach at Mason Elementary School in Boston Public Schools. A Teach Plus Policy Fellow, she has served as a member of the Boston Foundation’s Teacher Advisory Board for 4 years, and has worked on several initiatives at DESE around assessment and teacher preparation. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Columbia University, where she wrote her thesis on the history of school desegregation in Boston, and a master’s degree in education from Brooklyn College.

What to teach (both readings required for the session):

• Natalie Wexler, "Building Knowledge: What an Elementary Curriculum Should Do", American Educator Magazine, Summer 2020

• Alfred Tatum, "Engaging African American Males in Reading", Educational Leadership, February 2006, pages 44-49

How to Teach (all required for the session -- please note required vs optional page numbers):

• Richard Allington, "Chapter 5: Students Need to Develop Thoughtful Literacy", from What Really Matters for Struggling Readers, 3rd Edition. NJ: Pearson 2011. ***PLEASE READ ONLY PAGES 121-124 for the session; 125-137 IS OPTIONAL***

• Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon, "Chapter 1: Introduction to Interpretive Discussion", from Learning To Teach Through Discussion: The Art of Turning the Soul, pages 1-18.....New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009, ***PLEASE READ PAGES 1-18 for the session; PREFACE is OPTIONAL.

• Peter Johnston, "Any Other Ways to Think About That? Inquiry, Dialogue, Uncertainty, and Difference", from Opening Minds: Using Language to Change Lives, Portsmouth, NH: 2012, pages 51-66

Other Stuff (optional … but helpful):

• Emily Hanford, "At a Loss For Words: How a Flawed Idea is Teaching Millions of Kids to be Poor Readers", American Public Media, August 22, 2019

• Timony Shanahan, "Limiting Children to Books They Can Already Read: Why It Reduces Their Opportunity to Learn", American Educator Magazine, Summer 2020

• Steve Graham and Michael Hebert, "Writing to Read: Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading", Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2010.

Nerdy, but Worth It (optional….great for your literacy coaches!):

• Nell Duke and Kelly Cartwright, "The Science of Reading Progresses: Communicating Advances Beyond the Simple View of Reading", Reading Research Quarterly (56, S1), 2021