Professional Development Plan

1. Professional Development Plan Family Literacy Samantha Kollar LRC 567

2. Gloversville, NY • Population of 15,656 • Median income for households is $30,741 • For the population of people 25 years and over 74.6% receive a high school diploma or higher, • 12% possess a Bachelor’s degree • 5.4% possess a Graduate or professional degree. • The unemployment rate in 2012 was 10.6%. • The percentage of people living in poverty is 26.6%.

3. Park Terrace Elementary • GESD classified as a Focus district • 287 students in grades K-5 • Employs 21 teacher, supervised by one principal • 85% of students receive free or reduced lunch • 11 Black or African American, 23 Hispanic or Latino, 2 Asian or Native Hawain/other Pacific Islander, 243 White, 8 Multiracial

4. Rationale During the 2011-2012 school year, there were not enough students exhibit the breakdown between economically disadvantaged versus not disadvantaged student’s scores. The data given shows 39 students within the economically disadvantaged and 3 not disadvantaged. • “ …The finding fits with the belief that education is linked to specific ways of talking interacting, and reading with young children” • “It also suggests that working on increasing the educational levels of mothers will affect children via their home experiences, a tenet upon which many early childhood intervention programs are based.” • (Payne, 1996).

5. Overall Goals of the Family Literacy Plan • Increase the understanding of students family situations living in poverty among teachers • Foster more communication between parents and teachers • Increase parent’s own literacy skills and how to support their students • Actively involve parents in their child’s progress in literacy development

6. July and August Goal: Teachers will compile information to support the rationale of the professional development plan • Teacher book club using “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. Goal: Teachers will reflect on the previous year’s parental communication. • Parent Relationship Survey • Sending home “Understanding Family Literacy” article to the parents with their supply lists over the summer along with an introduction of the year’s family involvement goals.

7. September Goal: Teachers will understand the rationale of the professional development plan. • The presentation group will present the key information they found from “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” • “Could You Survive in Poverty” checklist activity • Schedule and implement three parent group meetings in addition to parent teacher conferences.

8. October Goal: Teachers will gain an understanding of the connections between family literacy and meeting AYP. • “AYP” workshop Goal: Teachers will learn about the local workshop being given to increase parents own literacy skills. • Presentation on local continuing education literacy program for parents.

9. November Goal: Teachers will collaborate with parents as partners in their child’s literacy development • Family reading night video • Break into grade level groups to brainstorm and begin planning process • Parent meeting to discuss the best ways to communicate progress

10. December Goal: Teachers will be introduced to the family literacy night event. • Review “Oh What a Literacy Night!” PowerPoint presentation by Carmel Clay Schools • Presentation by on local district's “Souper Readers” night activity

11. January Goal: Teachers will continue to work on collaborating to plan a family literacy night. • Plan and delegate activities for literacy night • Begin collecting donated books and materials Goal: Teachers will collaborate with parents as partners in their child’s literacy development. • Parent meeting with teacher and school librarian on how to choose the right books for their child.

12. February/March Goal: Teachers will implement activities during Family Literacy night. • Hold family literacy night event Goal: Teachers will use information from parents to reflect on the family literacy night and analyze information for future planned events. • Break into groups by index cards and compile data to reflect upon.

13. April Goal: Teachers will learn about progress made by the local workshop being given to increase parents own literacy skills. • Review data from continuing education program with the representative and discuss “How did this effect the children of these parents, plans for next year etc.” • Write refection on “Educated Parents, Educated Children: Toward a Multiple Life Cycles Policy” article.

14. May Goal: Teachers will reflect on the professional development plan and give feedback. • Discuss their opinions on parent involvement and literacy development throughout the year and begin to develop next year’s plan. Goal: Teachers will work to support the understanding of the importance of literacy development support through the summer. • Last parent meeting: Watching the video “Reading Comprehension: Tips and Strategies for Parents” while being provided lunch. Teachers and parents will then discuss summer reading lists.

15. Conclusion • By educating parents in the area of literacy development and empowering them with knowledge and resources, steps are being taken to increase the success of economically disadvantaged students. • By building positive relationships, the school will have more opportunities to involve parents and students in a further practice of skills school and carry the importance of these skills into their homes to provide a supportive and positive learning environment.