Programs
Program Description

The Ed Fund's Literacy Network unites teachers in the SFUSD who want to develop successful, innovative literacy teaching strategies, share classroom experiences and gain valuable feedback from peers in a safe, constructive environment, and explore creative ideas to help them raise their students' proficiency in literacy and reading comprehension.

The Network assists teachers in:

  • Developing professional relationship within and across schools for improving literacy curriculum and instruction acoss grades;
  • Developing effective literacy teaching strategies that address the needs of their divers studen populations;
  • Setting aside time and space to reflect on and improve their own teaching methods within others working in the same subject area or grade level;.
  • Learning about new developments in the field of literacy development and reading comprehension through exposure to professional literature (provided free of charge by the Ed Fund) and content areas specialists;
  • Building leadership skills to take greater initiative in school wide imporvement and reform.

What happens at the meetings:

Each month educators meet for two and a half hours to engage in conversatons about literacy within colleagues across schools, at same grade levels. Larger cross-grade level meetings also occur three times during the year.

Network activities will include:

  • A book group to learn new literacy teaching theories and strategies;
  • Valuable group to learn discussion and feedback focused on in-depth, reflective analysis of classroom teaching and learning related to literacy;
  • Time, space, and resources for working on implementing your best ideas into your teaching;
  • The opportunity to hear from experts in the field of literacy development;
  • Inside looks at teaching literacy throughout the district.

Who can participate?

The Network is open to all SFUSD credentialed teachers of pre-K through eight grade. We encourage you to join the network as a team with other teachers at your school, however this is not required. Please call our office to request additional information for your colleagues.

What are the commitments?

  • Attending at least 7 of the 9 monthly meetings;
  • Participating in systematic reflection on teaching and learning;
  • Sharing new knowledge with colleagues reularly;
  • Reading a book of your choice in preparation for monthly conversations;
  • Host and facilitate at least one meeting during the year;
  • Contribute to safe, systematice professional learning environment for all participating teachers;
  • Openness to examining your own teaching and addressing equity issues involved in meeting the learning needs of all your students.

What is in it for me?

  • Additional support for implementing your great curricular plans;
  • Unlimited potential for professional growth;
  • Development on strong connections with colleagues from your own school site and across the district;
  • Time and space for thoughtful reflection;
  • New ideas, lessons, curriculum, and instructional strategies;
  • A free book and access to other resources;
  • A stipend in acknowledgement of your professional time an dedication;
  • Support from the Ed Fund to assist you in meeting your professional development goals;
  • Feedback from peers in a safe, friendly, constructive environment;
  • Training in group facilitation.

For more information, contact Program Manager Mark Triplett at 415.912.2236 or mark@sfedfund.org