Our Approach to Literacy

Speaker: Dr. Kelly Michel, Coordinator of Elementary Curriculum, Westport Public Schools
Duration: 3 minutes, 37 seconds

Visual description: The video features Kelly Michel speaking about Westport Public Schools’ approach to literacy instruction. Supporting visuals may include school- or literacy-related imagery that reinforces the topic.

Kelly Michel: Hello, I'm Kelly Michael, Coordinator of Elementary Curriculum for Westport Public Schools.

Together with an expert group of administrators, literacy coaches and interventionists, and skilled teachers, we lead the charge of developing a comprehensive literacy program designed to meet the needs of all learners.

When people ask about our approach to literacy, I struggle with where to begin because literacy isn't simple. It's multifaceted and requires attention to several critical components.

What makes our program so successful? It comes down to four key components.

First, we are deeply committed to aligning our program with research. The science of reading research has provided us with more than 50 years of research into evidence-based, highly effective practices.

In Westport, we've worked hard to incorporate these practices into our classrooms, but understanding the research is just the beginning.

In order to meet the diverse needs and abilities of all children in our classrooms, we vary our instructional approaches to include a balance of whole group, small group, and even one-to-one instruction.

This guarantees all students have access to grade-level curriculum aligned to state standards, while also providing instruction that is differentiated to meet students' individual needs.

For example, whole group instruction includes systematic and explicit phonics or word work lessons, brief targeted mini-lessons focusing on literacy skills and strategies, and interactive read-alouds to develop deep comprehension and critical thinking skills.

In addition, small group instruction includes structured literacy lessons, strategy groups, and book clubs.

Next, we focus on all components of literacy development.

Early literacy requires attention to phonological awareness and phonics, the building blocks of word recognition. But we also emphasize language comprehension through vocabulary development, background knowledge, and comprehension strategies.

These components work together like strands of a rope to create strong readers.

In addition, we use data to drive instruction.

In addition to state-approved universal screeners, Westport has adopted or created diagnostic assessments that help us develop individualized goals for students.

Our recent assessment results show remarkable progress. Our students are achieving above and beyond state and national norms.

Finally, what truly sets Westport apart is the professional development provided that enables coordinated instruction implemented across the continuum of learning.

Our classroom teachers, interventionists, and special education service providers work together to create consistent, targeted instruction for each child.

Ongoing professional development and evidence-based approaches like Orton-Gillingham are provided to all teachers to ensure students receive the highest quality instruction in literacy.

The results speak for themselves.

Our recent assessment data shows significant growth from fall to winter, an achievement that is one of the highest in the state.

We're proud of what we've accomplished, but we're always looking at where we can improve further.

In Westport, we believe every child deserves a strong foundation in literacy, and we're committed to making that happen through ongoing professional development that's focused on research-based practices, data-driven instruction, and a comprehensive approach to all aspects of reading development.