Literacy by

The Education Trust

Design

The challenge.

Unlike mathematics, secondary literacy is not a discipline. It is “homeless” in that it belongs to everyone and no one. Literacy is used in secondary classrooms, but it is not taught in a systematic way.

The opportunity.Having a set of common standards also lays the groundwork for developing assessments aligned with those college-ready standards and for developing teaching tools that are aligned with both the standards and the assessments.

It is a mountain of work, but it’s work that is essential for creating a system of education that is cohesive and coherent.

-Vicki Phillips

& Carina Wong

The plan.

While the English language arts classroom has often been seen as the proper site for literacy instruction, this document acknowledges that the responsibility for teaching such skills must also extend to other content areas.

http://www.corestandards.org

The tool.

Literacy by Design (LBD) is a user-friendly, “plug-and-play” instructional spine built on the Common

Core Standards. LBD helps teachers develop (and teach!) literacy-saturated courses across core content areas. Courses that prepare students for college.

How does LBD work?

How does LBD work? 9

The power of

strategies

Lead with literacy, then add content.

Put teaching tasks front and center.

Connect teaching

tasks with instruction.

Adjust rigor as high-leverage

instructional strategy.

Acceleration for struggling

students.

Pushing the delivery system

envelope

Professional support

Teachers in control—ELA,

social studies, and

science.

Connect reading and

writing. 9

Learning Goal:Write persuasive essay to academicaudience in response to reading in content area (ELA, socialstudies, and science)

Literacy byDesign

L1 Persuasive Essay

Teaching Task

Literacy byDesign

Common Core Literacy

Standards (Persuasive Level 1)

Reading

2. Support or challenge assertions about the text by citing evidence in the text explicitly and accurately.

10. Analyze how specific details and larger portions of the text contribute to the meaning of the text.

Writing

2. Gather the information needed to build an argument, provide an explanation, or address a research question.

4. Support and illustrate arguments and explanations with relevant details, examples, and evidence.

Template prompt

(no content):

Level1

Level 2

Level 3

After reading__________ (topic/issue), write an essay that argues your position, pro or con, on___________ and support your position with evidence from your readings.

Be sure to examine competing arguments.

As well, give examples from past or current events or issues to illustrate and clarify your position.

L1 Template prompt

(with content):

ELA

SS

Science

After reading a collection of poems, write an essay that argues your position on Howe’s statement that “a poem is no place for an idea” and support your position with evidence from your reading.

After reading about the civil rights era, write an essay that argues your position, pro or con, on integrating schools and support your position with evidence from your readings.

After reading about the role of photosynthesis in nature, write an essay that argues your position, pro or con, on the value of protecting the rainforests and support your position with evidence from your readings.

Literacy byDesign

Flexible use of prompt for instruction: Teacher can vary level of demand as instructional strategy.

• Task: Select level 1,2, or 3 task

• Reading: Vary text complexity, genre, length, familiarity, etc.

• Writing: Vary exemplars, length, etc.

• Pacing: Vary workload and time allowed to complete

Literacy byDesign Scoring System

Generic Rubric• Based on common core standards

Exemplar Student Work• Further clarify rubric

The Instructiona

l Module

Ladder

Notes

Support

The Instructional Ladder provides teacher support for creating strong lesson plans that go along with the teaching task.

Instructional notes provide additional teacher supports that go along with the instructional ladder.

Acceleration modules focus on specific core skills students need to succeed on the assignment, with teacher supports for key instructional strategies.

If needed, administer pre-

test

Our “instructional ladder”

Assignment 1

Assignment 2

Assignment 3

Assignment 4

Assignment 5

Assignment 6

Read ______ on ______ and identify the relevant ideas for each in your notes.

If needed, administer pre-

test

Our “instructional ladder”

Assignment 1

Assignment 2

Assignment 3

Assignment 4

Assignment 5

Assignment 6

Establish a claim and developreasons in a short response.

If needed, administer pre-

test

Our “instructional ladder”

Assignment 1

Assignment 2

Assignment 3

Assignment 4

Assignment 5

Assignment 6

Outline claim, reasons and supportingevidence with citations and references.

If needed, administer pre-

test

Our “instructional ladder”

Assignment 1

Assignment 2

Assignment 3

Assignment 4

Assignment 5

Assignment 6

Write aninitial draft.

Building with strong partners

Etc…

American

Studies

(ELA & SS

together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language

arts

College

prep

compositi

on

English/

language

arts

Reading

Acceleration

Etc…

American

Studies

(ELA & SS

together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language

arts

College

prep

compositi

on

Etc…

American

Studies

(ELA & SS

together)

College

prep

compositi

on

Etc…

American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language arts

College prep

composition

English/

language arts

Reading

Acceleration

Etc…

American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language artsCollege prep

composition

Etc…American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)

College prep

composition

Etc…

American

Studies

(ELA & SS

together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language

arts

College

prep

compositi

on

English/

language

arts

Reading

Acceleration

Etc…

American

Studies

(ELA & SS

together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language

arts

College

prep

compositi

on

Etc…

College

prep

compositi

on

Etc…

American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)

Reading

Acceleration

English/

language arts

College prep

composition

English/

language arts

Reading

Acceleration

Etc…

American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)Reading

Acceleration

English/

language artsCollege prep

composition

American

Studies (ELA &

SS together)College prep

composition

Literacy byDesign

Next

steps?