Literature groups all year long

Streaming video - 2014

Watch as students and teachers deepen their understanding of literature groups over the course of a school year. This engaging video takes you into Carolyn Bridges' fourth-grade classroom as she works with literacy specialist Jennifer Allen to launch and sustain student-led literature discussions. Filmed over an eight-month period, the program shows how student skills and abilities take time to develop. The program also shows how teachers and literacy coaches can collaborate over time. Throughout the year, Carolyn and Jennifer reflect on student performance and work together to refine and tweak their classroom instruction to better meet the needs of the students. Providing models for peer observation, the video offers reflections by v...isiting teachers and groups of teachers as well as the debrief sessions with Jennifer and Carolyn. About the author: Jennifer Allen was born in Hornell, New York, and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont, followed by a master's of education degree in literacy from the University of Maine. She served as a third-grade teacher for nine years, before becoming a literacy specialist and coach for Waterville public schools in Maine. She enjoys teaching because she loves being part of a continuous learning cycle. Her approach to professional development is rooted in equity and "is responsive to the needs of the students and teachers within the district." Her book, Becoming a literacy leader was born after a bit of "obsessing." "It was six months of professing and articulating my five-year journey as a literacy specialist/coach." more