For many years teachers have been told that “every teacher is a teacher of reading”. While all teachers embrace the theory behind the phrase, moving from theory to application has not always been an easy task. For intermediate grade teachers understanding and applying the mantra “every teacher is a teacher of reading” becomes even more crucial and more challenging as students are exposed to language from many specific disciplines. The teacher builds knowledge of the disciplines through the use of all aspects of literacy; consequently, an understanding that all learning is based in language helps teachers structure their instructional time around literacy to ensure success for all students . (Fisher and Frey,2015) In addition, the knowledge that literacy is more than reading becomes important for student success.
There is no question that improving literacy skills in all readers poses a significant challenge that involves intensive professional development for teachers. Throughout the CR4YR intermediate sessions teachers will receive learning opportunities to examine literacy in the intermediate years, explore literacy beyond just reading, and delve into the discipline knowledge based instruction that is central to intermediate subjects, while developing and enhancing their practice to put theory into practice.
