Reading Apprenticeship

Leading for Literacy: A Reading Apprenticeship Approach

Leading for Literacy: A Reading Apprenticeship Approach

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Leading for Literacy provides clear, on-the-ground guidance, tools, and examples for improving student reading across secondary schools and colleges.

This companion to the landmark Reading for Understanding guides teacher leaders, coaches, and administrators through the nuts and bolts of implementing the Reading Apprenticeship Framework.

Reading Apprenticeship practitioners across the country address how to:

  • Generate authentic buy-in from teachers and administrators
  • Create Reading Apprenticeship communities of practice that sustain an institutional focus on a student-centered culture of literacy
  • Use formative assessment to promote teacher and student growth
  • Roll out systemwide plans for implementation
  • Use the Reading Apprenticeship Framework to turn reform overload into reform coherence

Reimagining Our Inexperienced Adolescent Readers

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In this article, Greenleaf and Hinchman provide an energizing vision of high quality literacy instruction in a 9th grade Reading Apprenticeship Academic Literacy class for struggling adolescent readers. They describe key classroom features that help students thrive: high academic challenge with explicit support to develop reading strategies; asset-oriented teaching that begins with students’ existing knowledge; an emphasis on student choice and interest-driven reading; and an inquiry-oriented learning environment to engage students actively in reading and learning.

The teacher whose classroom is featured in this article can be seen working with students in the video linked below and in an interview about Reading Apprenticeship at Dreher High School.

Watch related video: Grade 9 Academic Literacy (4:40)

Reading Apprenticeship Academic Literacy Curriculum

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CURRICULUM UPDATE UNDERWAY: 2024-2027

WestEd is working on a full update of the Reading Apprenticeship Academic Literacy (RAAL) curriculum, supported by a 2024-2028 EIR grant. This grant project includes designing, piloting, and evaluating the effectiveness of RAAL with 8th and 9th graders in multiple states.

The current RAAL curriculum (2003) will only be available to existing clients during this update period. We will share updates and announcements on our website and WestEd.org as soon as the updated Academic Literacy curriculum becomes available. Contact Diane Lee [email protected] if you need assistance with your order.

Interested in getting the updated curriculum and professional learning at no cost? See if your school is eligible to participate in the 8th and 9th grade EIR grant-supported research (2025-2027). Please visit the study page.

Ready to get started but can’t wait for the RAAL materials? Consider these options: