Reflections on the 2019 Adolescent Literacy Summit

As a high school English teacher my goal is to continuously promote daily reading and writing with my students. After attending the Adolescent Literacy Summit, hosted by the Manitoba Reading Association on April 11 and 12, 2019 Dr. Nancy Frey, Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego University reminded me that “All students deserve a great teacher, not by chance, but by design.” It is essential that we implement best practices that work well to fast-track student learning. Some of Dr. Frey’s topics that resonated with me included: the surface, deep, and transfer phases of learning. Once we experience learning through the eyes of our students and assist them to become reflective in their own learning then we as educators will acknowledge this impact on student achievement. Without more complex tasks, students will not deepen their learning. Let’s keep our students curious by alternating the tasks. We need to use a multitude of learning strategies with our students so that they are ready for surface-deep levels of understanding. Have students’ self-question…what have I learned today?  Involve students in their own learning…be reflective learners.

About the Author

Margaret Murray is an English teacher at Kildonan-East Collegiate, River East Transcona School Division, as well as a member of the Manitoba ASCD Professional Learning Committee Co-Chair and Board member.