Choice Literacy Clusters are designed for use in professional development settings, or for self-paced learning. Each cluster includes four to six print and video features on a focused topic, as well as reflection questions for discussion or journal writing.

Science and Literacy The purpose of this cluster is to invite teachers to think about the importance of working with colleagues to establish common ground in their teaching . . . more Writing in Math This cluster is designed to support innovative math instruction. . . . more Establishing Common Ground, Benchmarks, and Standards with Colleagues The purpose of this cluster is to invite teachers to think about the importance of working with colleagues to establish common ground in their teaching . . . more Teaching Students to Preview Nonfiction Texts The ability to preview nonfiction texts is an important skill for students to have if they are to comprehend increasingly difficult reading material. This cluster is designed to help teachers see the value of teaching nonfiction previewing skills to students, as well as providing some instructional strategies. . . . more The Authentic Use of Notebooks This cluster is designed to help teachers who use notebooks and logs in their classrooms think more deeply about the purpose of this assignment. . . . more Rethinking Guided Reading This cluster will help teachers reconsider the routines and goals of their guided reading programs. . . . more Teaching Revision Strategies The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers develop new strategies for teaching revision. . . . more Intermediate Read Alouds This cluster is designed for teachers in grades 3-6 who would like to strengthen their read aloud programs. . . . more Back to Teaching Basics: Developing Shared Principles, Standards, and Expectations Across Grade Levels This cluster is designed to explore ways that teachers can work together to develop common goals and expectations for literacy learning. . . . more Selecting Books for Instruction The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers select texts for instruction, matching books to emerging student, small-group and whole-class needs. . . . more Moving from Assessment Data to Classroom Practice The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers make sense of the data that they are collecting about their students, and use it to design instruction. . . . more Teaching With Wordless Picture Books (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers consider different ways of using wordless picture books for reading instruction. . . . more Teaching Students to Organize and Maintain Classroom Libraries (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think through various ways to include students in organizing classroom libraries, as well as the reasons for doing so. . . . more Organizing for Coaching at the Start of the Year This cluster is designed to help coaches think through the important things that are needed early in the school year to make their work with teachers effective. . . . more Literacy Converation Starters and Icebreakers (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help support literacy coaches and teacher leaders initiate thoughtful and purposeful conversations about literacy with colleagues. . . . more Making the Most of Wall Displays (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers consider how to use the wall space in their classrooms and in the school in ways that support student learning. . . . more Parenting and Teaching (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) We often learn so much from our own children or children that we know outside of school. This cluster will help teachers examine the important lessons from these out-of-school experiences. . . . more Author Studies and Visits (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think through the ways that author studies and visits can support literacy learning. . . . more Putting Ourselves in Our Teaching (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think about ways to bring their lives and passions into the classroom . . . and in the process, find more joy in their work. . . . more Teaching Skills in Context (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think through how to teach skills and strategies in the context of authentic reading and writing tasks. . . . more Fluency Development in the Primary Grades (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster explores ways to help students develop reading fluency in grades K-3. . . . more Communicating with Families (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster will help teachers discover new ways to make stronger connections between home and school. . . . more Learning from Our Reading Lives (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is for teachers to reflect on their own reading and learning so that they can use their experiences in their teaching. . . . more Teaching Inferring Strategies (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers develop strategies for teaching inferring skills to students. . . . more The Power of Rereading (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to support teachers in using rereading for a variety of reasons to support student growth in literacy. . . . more Better Conferring (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers improve their conferring skills. . . . more Book Clubs and Literature Circles (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers establish routines and choose books for use in book clubs and literature circles. . . . more Organizing Coaching Work Areas and Libraries (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to support literacy coaches think about ways to use the limited space they have available to support their work with teachers. . . . more Better Meetings (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to support literacy coaches, specialists, and grade-level team leaders in facilitating effective meetings. . . . more Coaching Teachers One-on-One: Tools, Structures, and Strategies (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to support literacy coaches in their one-on-one work with teachers. . . . more Using Picture Books with Older Students This cluster is designed to help teachers think about ways they can teaching literacy skills and literary elements using picture books with upper elementary and middle school students. . . . more The Basics of Reading Comprehension Instruction (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to support teachers in their understanding of some of the basic principles of comprehension instruction. Looking at samples from a variety of grade levels, participants will discuss comprehension strategies, as well as the importance of understanding their own reading processes in teaching them. . . . more Boys and Literacy (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to spark conversations among teachers and as they think about effective strategies for teaching reading and writing to boys. . . . more Making the Most of Read Aloud (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think through how to maximize learning and enjoyment during whole-class read alouds. . . . more Using Nonfiction Texts in Reading and Writing Workshops (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to invite teachers to think through the use of nonfiction texts in the teaching of reading and writing. . . . more Best Practices for the Youngest Readers and Writers (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers reflect on best practices for teaching young readers and writers. With achievement pressure increasing for even our youngest students, this cluster helps teachers think about the best practices for reaching these young learners. . . . more Understanding the Literacy Learning of English Language Learners (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster introduces teachers to some theories and strategies for working with English language learners. . . . more Helping Struggling Readers (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to give teachers opportunities to develop strategies for helping struggling readers. By thinking about the experiences of a reader and talking with colleagues, new strategies can be discovered. . . . more Better Report Card Comments (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This cluster is designed to help teachers think about strategies for writing more meaningful report card comments, as well as ways to gather good materials for comments daily in workshops. . . . more Recordkeeping During Workshops (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) In this cluster on assessment, we look at various tools that teachers use to keep student records during workshops. This cluster is designed to help teachers revise and refine their recordkeeping systems. . . . more Strategies for Learning Words (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers see new possibilities for word learning with students, including class activities, wall displays, web resources, and children's literature with strong supports for word analysis. . . . more Matching Students and Books (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers see new possibilities for helping students find new books. Rather than merely choosing books for children, this cluster will help teachers gain strategies for helping students find books that are a good match for them. . . . more Writer's Craft Refresh (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) This Choice Literacy Cluster is designed to help teachers think through possibilities for energizing their writing workshop with some new instructional techniques and materials. Topics covered in the cluster include materials and supplies for teaching writer's craft, strategies for focusing on craft during whole class share sessions, suggestions for encouraging students to help each other, and a protocol for sharing innovations with colleagues. . . . more Are Your Flexible Groups Flexible? (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers see new possibilities for small-group instruction. Rather than merely pulling students by level for guided reading groups, this cluster provides alternative strategies for organizing groups. Through short articles and video examples, participants will be able to talk to colleagues about rethinking grouping practices. . . . more