b'This year, staff learning through the Literacy Project includedThis allows teachers to align their assessments with how they five elementary French Immersion schools and sevenrespond to a student and know how to bring them to the elementary English schools12 schools total.next step.All participants attended three staff learning sessions, and theWhen the team reviewed feedback from participating team held regular check-ins with 48 classroom teachers andteachers, they were ecstatic with the response. More than 95 three SCST teachers using Dr. Simon Breakspears Teachingper cent of participants felt their literacy teaching practices Sprints model.had improved.Breakspear describes his model as a way to answer theSo far, 30 per cent of elementary schools have been part of question: How do overloaded teachers keep getting betterthe project. Eight more schools will participate next year. SCST at their craft? The model involves focusing on enhancingwill continue to support the schools involved this year with evidence-based instructional habits through the three bigongoing professional development and mentorship.ideas of making tiny shifts toward better and better habits, research engagement, and the intentional practice ofLearning to read is a basic human right and a key to lifelong research-backed techniques and strategies in the classroom. learning. With the Literacy Project, the Louis Riel School Division is bringing research-based practices into classrooms On top of that, 16 student services teachers and 12and empowering teachers to meet the needs of all their administrators worked closely with classroom teachers,students.supporting about 680 students. SCST teachers helped by co-planning, modelling, observing, and providing resources. The team guided participants in using early years literacy assessment data to shape their teaching strategies. The main goal is to ensure teaching practices match the latest reading research.A big thing were trying to do is help teachers understand the why behind everything theyre doing in their classrooms, so students can understand why theyre learning in this specific way, Kristyn said. 29'