Quincy schools outline book-approval process and emphasize mirrors-and-windows approach to classroom texts

Summary

Quincy Public Schools’ literacy leaders described the district’s book-approval process, state-aligned selection criteria and classroom practices that use diverse texts to provide students both “mirrors” and “windows.” Teachers described student choice reading and district efforts to broaden access to diverse literature.

At a Teaching & Learning subcommittee meeting on April 30, Quincy Public Schools’ literacy staff reviewed how the district selects classroom texts, described tools used to evaluate books and showcased classroom practices that prioritize both representative and diverse literature.

Bridget Vaughn, coordinator of literacy and ELA for grades K–8, described the district’s reliance on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education frameworks and described a multi-phase selection process used for curriculum adoptions: learn and prepare, investigate and select, launch, and implement and monitor. Vaughn said the district uses evaluation tools such as EdReports, the NYU culturally responsive scorecard, Common Sense Media and teacher review panels (CURATE) and pursues grants such as GLEAM (Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts) to support access to…

Quincy schools outline book-approval process and emphasize mirrors-and-windows approach to classroom texts

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading