GET READY!

Fri, Jan 19: 10am-1pm

Part training, part community building, part good old-fashioned. Please join us!

Every year, Literations hosts a half-day retreat for Literacy Coaches as a way to build community, celebrate your work with students, and provide additional training and support.

It's always a great time - we can't wait to see you!

Go to The Literations Link for RETREAT DETAILS and Zoom links.

Volunteer Retreat - Virtual (REQUIRED)

• Fri, Jan 19: 10am-1pm

EC Tech Office Hours (OPTIONAL)

Hosted by AARP Experience Corps, these Zoom Office Hours will occur on the first Monday (at 3pm) and third Wednesday (at 1pm) of every month. Support for any tech-based issue (the Hub, internet-based apps, Google, email questions, etc.).

• Mon, Jan 8 at 3pm
• GET ZOOM LINK

The Literations Link Training Library Launch (OPTIONAL)

We are updating the Training section of The Link to include more resources in a more user friendly format. Please join us to get oriented to the new Training Library and see firsthand some of the useful new videos and training resources.

• Tues, Feb 6 at 1pm
• GET ZOOM LINK

Managing Distractions Workshop (OPTIONAL)

The third in a series of literacy coach volunteer workshops this school year hosted by AARP Experience Corps.

• Wed, Feb 14 at 4pm
• REGISTER HERE

Literacy Coach Drop-In on Zoom (OPTIONAL)

• Fri, Feb 16 at 10am
• GET ZOOM LINK

MLK Day

Mon, Jan 15. Literations will be closed and coaching sessions will not run at our schools or Boys & Girls clubs in observance of the MLK HOLIDAY.

February Vacation

Feb 17 - 25. Literations will not run coaching sessions at our schools or Boys & Girls clubs during the February break.

District Calendars

• BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

*Attending live events should be tracked in the HUB under Training. Watching a recording should be logged under Direct/Other.

Video Submissions

Testimonials of Student Breakthroughs

Have you had a breakthrough moment or witnessed firsthand progress with one of your students this year? We want to hear about it! A breakthrough can be about a student's reading achievement, stronger relationship connections, behavior improvement, etc.

Have a friend, family member, or fellow coach record a short video on your phone and email it to RECRUITMENT@LITERATIONS.ORG

Videos must be short for us to use - about 1 minute.

Please make sure to say your name, your site, and how many years you've served with Literations. Use only student FIRST names.

Community Connections

Have you checked out the COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS tab on The Link? It's full of great resources, things to do, and events in Boston, Framingham, and beyond. It's a lesser visited page on The Link and chock-full of goodness!

Coaching Quick Tips

Getting and Keeping Students Focused

We will take a deeper dive into behavior expectations and management during this month's retreat. In the meantime, try these quick and effective tips.

Positive Reinforcement

Communicate what you want children to do rather than what you don't want them to do. Then provide POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT when you see the behavior you want. Examples are:

• Praise - "Good job. I like the way you're listening to instructions today."
• Incentive - give a sticker, fist bump, high five of approval
• Look - smile and nod your approval

Sleepy Students

We can't control a student's bedtime or how much sleep they get at night. We can, however, create an environment that helps a tired student operate at their best.

• Start session with quick physical activity - e.g. 5 jumping jacks.
• Run session sitting in chairs with no desk or table, so the student doesn't have a surface to rest their head.
• Give the student a pencil/pen/ highlighter to make notes in book.

Refocus with Attention Cues

Repeatedly using the same cue(s) over and over to grab a student's attention allows you to get back on track quickly with a small movement or phrase that the student associates with refocusing.

• Say student's name and wait for eye contact/acknowledgment
• Gently touch student's hand
• Quick verbal signal - "Eyes and ears on me (the book)"

Physical Movement

Throw out old notions that sitting still means paying attention. Attention is an active process.

RESEARCH shows that physical movement is a way some students focus and/or self-regulate. As long as a student is safe and able to engage effectively in the session, try the following:

• Allow student to squirm, fidget, wiggle, or even stand up.
• Incorporate MINI-BREAKS (30-60 seconds) every 10 minutes.