Heather Hinds proposes creating a professional development plan for teachers at her school to improve literacy instruction. She will first analyze literacy data from her school to identify weaknesses, then collaborate with teachers to develop the plan. The plan will focus on developing strategies for teaching comprehension and vocabulary. Heather will present the plan and begin training teachers during the new school year. The goals are to help teachers understand and use data to improve, highlight the need for a literacy coach, and form a cohesive learning community through collaborative professional development.

1. TOPIC SELECTION
PROPOSAL
HEATHER HINDS- EDRDG 697 CAPSTONE PROJECT IN LITERACY

2. TOPIC SUMMARY
• Teachers and administrators, as well as involved parents, view loads of data each
year in regards to school literacy. Although sound educational decisions can be
made based on literacy data, if used properly, it is important to recognize that
this often is not the case. It is important to know how to use data to inform
instruction for individual students, teachers, and as a whole school. By using
information that I have gleaned while enrolled in classes during my time with
Regis University, I hope to develop a professional development plan for teachers
at my school in which we focus on developing strategies for teaching
comprehension and vocabulary.

3. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE

4. IDEAS FOR CAPSTONE PROJECT/OVERVIEW
• The first step of my project is to analyze literacy data for my school. For this, I will
be meeting with my administration to discuss our perceived weaknesses and
strengths.
• The second step will be to discuss the data with teachers and to develop the
professional development plan (based on our weaker areas). Collaboration is
important so that I have “buy in” from all teachers. I plan on making this fun!
• The third and final wave of this project will be to begin teaching staff at my
school using the professional development plan that I design. I will plan to use
this in order to show the need for a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in my
district.

5. PLANS FOR PROJECT COMPLETION/TIMELINE
• I plan on first starting by analyzing data, looking at charts and graphs, and
compiling evidence for what my school needs. I will do this this week (Week 1), as
I am meeting with my school administration.
• The professional development plan will begin being developed on Monday of
Week 2. I will work with fidelity to see this project through, while commenting on
projects of my peers so that we may encourage each other and learn together.
• The professional development plan will be presented to my school administration
upon the first teacher work day of the new school year (August 6th, 2017).

6. PROJECT BENEFITS
• This project will assist teachers as they strive to understand formal literacy data and
improve their teaching practices.
• This project will highlight the need for a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach in my
school district.
• This project will serve as a basis to show the impact that collaborative, ongoing
professional development can have on a learning community.
• This project will help teachers to see that assessment is a key feature of helping
students to grow, rather than just a score to enter into gradebook and report to
parents.
• This project will help to form a cohesive school unit, as teachers will be learning
together.