DRWP offers the following partnerships for districts and schools.  An application form can be downloaded here (2010 Partnership ).

The Professional Learning Partnership

• District Partnership (7 days) = $4,000
• Tier I School Partnership (4 days) = $2000
• Tier II School Partnership (8 days) = $4000
• Per Diem Workshops = $650/day 

 

A professional learning partnership works to increase the effectiveness of reading and/or writing instruction in English/language arts classrooms and across the content areas.  A professional learning partnership might include working with educators to

• Develop and implement standards-based strategic reading and writing instruction both “inside” and “outside” of the classroom through training, modeling, coaching and other types of learning opportunities.
• Differentiate reading and writing instruction and assessment.
• Deepen educators’ understanding of the Delaware standards in the areas of  reading and writing.
• Integrate reading and writing instruction throughout the content areas.
• Develop and use sound formative and summative assessments – “assessment for learning” – for decision making.
• Implement and sustain Response to Intervention training.

 

The Curriculum Development Partnership

The Delaware Reading & Writing Project offers a partnership in curriculum development.  School administrators and teachers work with DRWP staff to develop a writing curriculum that aligns with state standards.  District and schools define the support they need from the partnership, but together DRWP and the school may 

• Define the philosophy and mission of the district and its schools.
• Decide on the focus of the work in regard to grade level (K-12, a cluster of grades, or individual grades) and length of time needed to meet the demands of the work.
• Define content, pacing, and strategies in the writing instruction.
• Identify instructional goals using the state GLEs.
• Choose a framework for implementation that is situated in the district and school setting (e.g., writers’ workshop, writing block, writing across the curriculum).
• Develop the curriculum framework (e.g., organized around discourse, traits, content, process, and units of study).
• Integrate assessment for monitoring progress and developing an instructional focus.
• Develop a resource guide that includes sample lessons and a timeline for instruction.
   

Forming a professional learning partnership with the Delaware Reading Project or the Delaware Writing Project means that we agree to use our staff resources (appropriate Teacher Consultants and leadership staff) to meet each school’s teachers’ professional development needs with the goal of improving the students’ reading or writing performance. Schools and districts are invited to submit applications for DRWP partnerships.  Each type of partnership will provide either 7 or 10 days of professional development or curriculum work.  Workshops and/or faculty meetings presented by DRWP Teacher Consultants may be added to the professional learning partnership for a fee beyond the partnership fee.

Our most successful partnerships are those in which teachers want to be active participants in the partnership activities and principals. Furthermore, our years of experience with partnerships have revealed to us the critical importance of the principals building teachers’ accountability into the agreement. In partnership schools, reading or writing is a major focus of the school’s staff development and/or improvement plan.

Schools or districts interested in forming partnerships can download a partnership application here:  2010 Partnership . DRWP will consider a limited number of partnerships for the school year.

For more information or to schedule a partnership, contact Christine Evans at cmevans@udel.edu.

Both professional learning and curriculum development are essential to maintain an instructional focus that promotes student achievement.  Let DRWP help your district and schools with this important work!