Essential Instructional Practices for Disciplinary Literacy in the Secondary Classroom: Grades 6 to 12

The purpose of this set of Essential Instructional Practices for grades 6 through 12 is to improve Michigan students’ academic literacies and content learning at the secondary level. Professional development throughout the state can focus on these research-supported literacy instructional practices for regular use in the classroom.

Expert research suggests that 10 sets of practices outlined in this document can have a positive impact on both literacy development and conceptual learning of content. The consistent use of these practices in every Michigan classroom can make a measurable, positive difference in student learning and improve the state’s literacy achievement.

Our students learn the foundations of literacy throughout their elementary school years. As students continue to develop their skills through middle school and high school, literacy instruction must also help them meet increasingly complex subject area demands. These demands include developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills specific to each discipline.  Introduction Tool

Michigan’s standards for educator preparation require pre-service educators to learn how to introduce and support their students in engaging in disciplinary thinking and practices in the content areas. To support this goal, the Essential Instructional Practices for Disciplinary Literacy: Grades 6-12 document provides an intentional framework to support the integration of literacy instruction in all of the content areas. The Essential Practices document can be used to proactively develop and/or redesign literacy courses to reflect the changes in educator preparation standards while also meeting the existing general requirements for secondary reading instruction courses. Essential Practices for Disciplinary Literacy: A Tool to Support Educator Preparation Programs Document

Smore flyer for Disciplinary Literacy Professional Learning Offerings
Interested in learning more? Take a look at Task Force offerings this year! https://www.smore.com/qt9ve-pro

The purpose of the Resource Hubs Drive folder is to support ISD/RESA/RESD consultants, teacher leaders, professional development facilitators, and teachers as they implement disciplinary literacy instructional practices in their districts, schools, and classrooms. This document is not meant to replace teacher collaboration and discussions; rather, it is intended to support those conversations. It is the hope of the Disciplinary Literacy Task Force members that teachers will engage in collaborative inquiry cycles around areas of practice that best fit teachers' current context. Starting points will vary depending on grade level, subject area, current initiatives, and other contextual factors.

Find the Resource Hubs folder here

On-demand webinar featuring Dr. Elizabeth Moje, Dr. Darin Stockdill, and members of the 6-12 Disciplinary Literacy Task Force. This webinar is approximately 45 minutes long and provides a general overview of the purpose and content of the Essential Practices, explanation of how the Practices fit within the statewide literacy framework, description of how the ten Practices were determined, and statements on how the Practices connect to and support current work within each of the four disciplines.

Link to Webinar

Our students learn the foundations of literacy throughout their elementary school years. As students continue to develop their skills through middle school and high school, literacy instruction must also help them meet increasingly complex subject area demands. These demands include developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills specific to each discipline.

For more, please check out our blog

These booklets can be purchased by districts from International Minute Press at (517) 323-7777 or by emailing: lansing-mi@intlminutepress.com. Request the "Literacy 6-12 Packet".  Booklets with tabs are $6.48 per book and without tabs, $4.74 per book.

Shipping is not included in these prices but can be easily inquired.