2025, Alameda County, Reading/Writing, High School, Funded Projects
The Reading Department of Oakland International High School (OIHS) will use its LIGHT Award grant to deepen our instructional approach to reading for newcomer students. While we have established strong practices for teaching phonics and decoding (connecting the sounds and meanings of letter combinations), vocabulary, and word parts, we struggle to effectively teach syntax: the order of words to create meaning. We know that understanding how words work together is vital to the teaching and learning of reading, particularly for older learners and those with education gaps. Our project will allow us to receive training from experts (Strategic Inquiry). In collaboration with this consultant, we will learn new strategies, participate in inquiry cycles, and share widely with other educators at our school.
2025, Alameda County, Social & Emotional Learning, Middle School, High School, Funded Projects
This project will provide CVUSD Middle and High School Activities Directors (ADs) with dedicated collaboration and professional development time in order to build our own capacity as well as our students’ capacity for leadership and school connectedness. Because there are only 1 or 2 Activities Directors at each site, opportunities to collaborate and take part in meaningful professional development are limited. This dedicated collaboration and professional development will support our growth as a team and our ability to inspire and connect students to their schools. California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA) resources will add a new layer to our professional knowledge.
2025, Interdisciplinary, San Francisco, High School, Funded Projects
Across subject areas, our project will build teacher knowledge and use of Tier 1 supports for English Learners (ELs), particularly newcomers and long-term ELs. In year 1, the team will engage in a book study and professional development, exploring research-based strategies and best practices for supporting ELs. In tandem, teachers will engage in a lesson study cycle that incorporates the new strategies, focusing on embedded formative assessments that gauge whether these strategies effectively enhance learning outcomes for ELs. in Year 2, our team will lead their respective departments in a similar cycle that is revised based on Year 1 learnings.
Interdisciplinary, Alameda County, 2024, High School, Funded Projects
Through professional development, retreats, peer observations and feedback cycles, and collaborative curriculum development, we will cultivate our collective efficacy. Our focus will be to develop our capacities to facilitate community circles, create interdisciplinary projects, and align our writing practices across the curricula.
Interdisciplinary, Santa Clara County, 2024, High School, Funded Projects
Our goal with this professional development project is to create a self-sustaining ethnic studies program with increased education and planning time to make interdisciplinary ES Pedagogy a reality across campus.
San Mateo County, 2024, STE(A)M, High School, Funded Projects
As SMHS science classes grow more diverse, our dedicated team aims to challenge and support all students, including language learners in college prep. Our goal is fostering a love for science and ensuring success for everyone.
