District Literacy Research Team: A Brief History

The District Literacy Research Team was officially formed in September of 2003 under the name, "Reading Focus Group." The Reading Focus Group began as a small committee of teachers and administrators who were committed to finding a common tool to assess reading comprehension in the intermediate grades. After piloting a number of assessment processes, the group decided to recommend two classroom based reading assessments: The Standard Reading Assessment created by Faye Brownlie and the SMART Reading Assessment Protocol. The Reading Focus Group was instrumental in developing and supporting an implementation plan designed to build capacity throughout the district in regards to the use of these common classroom assessments.

Today, the District Literacy Research Team has evolved in name and expanded in number and areas of focus. The DLR Team is now made up of more than 15 educators who demonstrate high levels of leadership and commitment in the area of literacy development. Participation in the Team is voluntary, with members meeting 4-5 times per year. Our focus has expanded to incorporate 5 committees: Literacy and Technology, Mentorship, Structured Teacher Collaboration, Curriculum Implementation, and Literacy Strategies.

District Literacy Research Team Committees: Goals and Objectives

Andy Leathwood

aleathwood@sd8.bc.ca