What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction - International ...

Reflect on these ideas, and start off with some answers in mind.
You can discuss these more deeply with group members at your initial
session.
• What do we want to know and be able to do because of our
study? Your answers might touch on a desire to reflect and
expand on insights about effective instructional practices and to
apply expert thinking to support students’ reading achievement.
• How are we going to connect our PD outcomes to student
learning? Here you should refer to the desired outcomes for each
group meeting, which focus on classroom application.
Put the Study Group in a Larger Context
Keep in mind that many districts approve the activities of schoolbased
learning communities toward requirements for ongoing teacher
professional development. Participation in a study group might
therefore count toward PD points or clock-hour credit. Note that, in
order for credit to be awarded, districts may require careful recordkeeping,
follow-up assignments, or specific documentation of the
group’s activities. Requirements vary in each state and school district,
so make certain to research this thoroughly ahead of time. Contact
your district’s professional development office to inquire whether
and how your study group members can earn credit, or make an
appointment to discuss this with school administrators. Make sure
that potential group members know how participation will apply to
their personal PD plans.
The sessions described in this guide are intended to last for one
hour each. Reading and extended learning activities will take another
one to two hours each week. It is recommended, therefore, that
participation in each session be credited for two hours of PD activity.
Finally, you should obtain and review a copy of your school’s
continuous improvement plan and your district’s teaching and
learning standards for literacy and language arts. Think about
how your study group’s activities will fit in with the overall goals
set in these documents. In order to gain the full support of school
administrators and ensure that PD credit can be earned to the
extent allowed in your district, you should make sure that you can
demonstrate how your group’s activities tie to school priorities.
From the Professional Development Edition of What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction
(3rd ed.), © 2009 International Reading Association.
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