Literacy in Action
1996 - 2006

The Literacy in Action Initiative was a key component of the El Paso Urban Systemic Program (USP). Through USP, the connection between students’ literacy levels, and their mathematics and science achievement was recognized, prompting the development of Literacy in Action. With increased content demands in expository text and the focus on higher thinking proficiencies required on the TAKS exam, Literacy in Action was intended to prepare students to think critically and develop the skills necessary for reading and writing in the content areas of math and science.

The work of Literacy in Action was conducted primarily by Literacy Leaders, on-site staff developers supported by the Collaborative in working with their colleagues to strengthen the quality of their literacy instruction in all areas—including informational texts. Strategies included professional literature study, problem-solving sessions, as well as classroom observations using the Collaborative literacy benchmark checklist.

To further support the needs of effective teaching in the content areas of reading and writing, three writing curricula were published and disseminated in CD format to the Literacy Leaders at USP partner schools in the fifth year of the grant. These included Living the Writerly Life, Informational Text and Response to Literature. The curricula are aligned to the state’s knowledge and skills standards in writing for all students receiving instruction in English and Spanish. Utilization of these curricula, particularly Informational Text, resulted in a more thorough knowledge of genre understanding by teachers and students, and the application of that understanding as evidenced in student work. The use of expository text analysis and non-fiction forms of writing continues to help students increase their comprehension of content in math/science standards-based curricula.

An examination of the long-term impact of Literacy in Action indicates sustained involvement of over 40,000 students and 2,000 teachers in the literacy initiative. These are significant numbers considering the fact that campuses contributed approximately $100,000 from their own budgets to implement the initiatives. For example, principals funded a full-time literacy leader in each school, and purchased classroom library sets. In the fifth year of the grant, the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence offered quarterly Saturday sessions at which nationally recognized literacy authors presented. Attendance ranged from 400-800 teachers at each session.

For more information on the tools developed, see the Literacy in Action curricula.