On Demand Adolescent Literacy and the Effect of Standards

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Presenters: Rebecca Sipe and Cathy Fleischer

Building from a historical overview of how notions about what standards are and how they should function, this webnar will help participants explore why standards have become so complex, why particular implementation metaphors have complicated and, too often, weakened well intended implementation efforts, and how mismatched and misaligned assessments have proven to be counter-productive to the ideals first envisioned for literacy standards. The presenter will suggest specific and tested strategies for engaging stakeholders in productive planning and implementation efforts.

Specific questions to be explored include:

How has the concept and function of standards changed across our four-decade conversation about educational equity?
What political forces are at play and how are they influencing the standards in our classrooms?
How are tests shaping our ability to implement meaningful standards-based change?
How do standards intersect with NCTE’s Policy on Adolescent Literacy?
What do we do now? How can we engage our communities of stakeholders to address standards in ways that lead to meaningful literacy programs?

Together, we’ll deepen our understanding of standards and testing and consider concrete plans for moving forward with literacy changes that work.

Grade Level(s): Middle, Secondary