Literacy Collaborative at Lesley University

In a study of Literacy Collaborative students in grades 3-5 in Westfield, Mass. more than 90% said that they liked to read and write. Those interviewed also reported that they read and checked books out of the library in their free time. Teachers also reported in focus groups that the Literacy Collaborative program had improved student attitudes and motivation.

Literacy Collaborative is a school reform program designed to transform school literacy achievement from kindergarten through grade eight. It is a long-term, collaborative professional development program between the Lesley University Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative and individual schools that's designed to ensure successful literacy achievement for every child.

How Does Literacy Collaborative Work?

At its heart Literacy Collaborative is a professional development program for teachers. The program helps schools and teachers develop exemplary literacy programs by:

• Implementing proven teaching methods (including Reading Recovery and small-group literacy support) that are student-centered, language-based and process-oriented
• Establishing in-district and school-based leadership teams and literacy coordinators who monitor the program's implementation and train literacy teachers
• Providing in-depth professional development on-site for every member of a school's literacy team
• Assessing student and teacher progress and delivering ongoing professional development

Does Literacy Collaborative Work?

U.S. Department of Education research showed that in the Literecy Collaborative schools studied the average rates of student literacy growth in grades K-3 increased by 16% in Year 1 of implementation, 28% in Year 2, and 32% in Year 3. Learn more about how Literacy Collaborative has shaped the literacy environment in schools.

Are you interested in improving literacy achievement in your school?

Learn more about how to implement Literacy Collaborative.

The Five Components

The Literacy Collaborative model includes the the National Reading Panel's five components of reading--phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Read Literacy Collaborative Co-Founder Gay Su Pinnell's article [pdf] about how Literacy Collaborative incorporates all five components.