Schoolwide Essentials

Essential Schoolwide Practices in Disciplinary Literacy

The purpose of this document is to increase Michigan’s capacity to improve adolescents' literacy by identifying effective practices that can be implemented at the organizational level in secondary schools. To meet the needs of all learners, organizational practices must support literacy development in ways that systematically impact learning throughout schools. Each of the eight recommended school-wide practices should occur in all Michigan middle and high school learning environments.

6-12 Schoolwide Screener

This screening tool helps secondary schools identify their current level of implementation of the Essential School-Wide Practices in Disciplinary Literacy: Grades 6 to 12. The results should be used to inform conversations about where to focus the next phase of work in improving building-wide disciplinary literacy practices.

Schoolwide Practices Webinar 2/14/23

Essential Schoolwide Practices Webinar

This recorded webinar introduces the concept of disciplinary literacy, explains why there is an urgent need to attend to disciplinary literacy, and provides and overview of the eight Essential Schoolwide Practices. Use passcode 36rRHE2= to view.

Image from Colorado University's World Mental Health Day: Coping with Stress in the Workplace

1. The school forms a leadership team composed of instructional leaders with a shared commitment to continuous improvement in disciplinary literacy and ongoing attention to data. Click here for recommended resources.

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2. The organizational climate reflects a collective sense of responsibility for all students and a focus on developing independence and competence in a safe disciplinary literacy learning environment. Click here for recommended resources.

Image of students building a tower with straws

3. The learning environment reflects a strong commitment to disciplinary literacy. Click here for recommended resources.

Image of teachers seated at desks arranged in a circle and engaged in a discussion

4. Ongoing professional learning opportunities reflect research on adult learning and effective disciplinary literacy instruction. Click here for recommended resources.

Student with teacher at a desktop computer

5. There is a system for implementing the allocation of academic support equitably in addition to high-quality classroom instruction with multiple supports available to students, building on existing disciplinary literacy skills. Click here for recommended resources.

Image of adult learners with one at the white board jotting down ideas

6. Organizational systems assess and respond to individual student needs that may impede disciplinary literacy development. Click here for recommended resources.

Image of a librarian looking through a stack of books at a library

7. High-quality instructional resources are well maintained, available, and effectively utilized. Click here for recommended resources.

Image of students involved in a community clean up

8. An intentional community networking strategy is implemented to support disciplinary literacy practices and identities. Click here for recommended resources.

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