Philippe Ernewein

Literacy Specialist (Middle School/High School)

Teach For America Training Institute

As part of my role as Literacy Specialist, I plan to use this website to share background information about references and research cited during training sessions, related resources and a vehicle to ask questions or schedule appointments.

Literacy Soundtrack
Damian Marley, "Move"

Michael Franti & Spearhead, "One Step Closer"

Flobots, "Handlebars"

Crosby, Stills & Nash, "Chicago"

Bob Marley, "Ride Natty Ride"

Trevor Hall, "House of Cards"

Vision Statement

I believe that all students can learn. My time and energy is invested in continually finding ways and creating opportunities to achieve this goal. My actions, lessons and language aim to be respectful of every individual.
I believe that writing is a form of discovery and it is my mission as a teacher (and eternal Corps Member) to model this mantra through best practices and authentic, meaningful experiences.

Week One Documents
Here you will find the specific documents referenced in the first week of Literacy Sessions:
Core Literacy Session (for Sutton & Inman): SLIT 1: ABCDE, MPG
Sample 5-Step Lesson Plan: Character Traits (8th grade, language arts objective)
Related Hand-Outs for 5-Step Lesson Plan: Graphic Organizer, Assessments
Core Literacy Session (for Grady HS): SLIT 1: Navigating Difficult Texts

Week Two Documents
Secondary Literacy 2: Reading Purposefully & Strategically
Secondary Literacy 3: Building Comprehension
Secondary Literacy 2: Comprehension Examples
Secondary Literacy 3: Comprehension Strategies in Context

Week Three Documents
With week three along with the core presentations, I have the opportunity to lead differentiated sessions. These sessions are focused on specific topics; they are shorter than the core sessions, with time scheduled at the end for questions and discussion.
Here is this week's differentiated schedule; if you are interested in a session not being offered at your school please feel free to access the documents & PowerPoints below as well as stopping by my office hours (listed above) or email me with specific questions.
Sutton MS: Teaching Non-Fiction Texts
Grady HS & Inman MS: Math Projects & Multiple Intelligences Projects
Secondary Literacy: Teaching Vocabulary
Multiple Intelligences: basic survey for students
Graphic Organizers: examples used in Reading Non-Fiction Text session
Teaching Vocabulary: hand-out with examples of games
Multiple Intelligences: project/rubric starter
Math Literacy/Multiple Intelligence Project: teacher example from Algebra classroom
The World's Greatest Textbook Deconstruction Tool: "THRILD about reading"
Frayer Model: blank organizer
Frayer Model: another example
PowerPoint of Jeopard: Vocabulary Example
Multiple Intelligences: Science Example

Week Four Documents
Secondary Literacy Session: Informal Writing Strategies
Secondary Literacy Session: Decoding and Fluency

Erin Ellis
Literacy Specialist (Elementary/Middle School)
Teach For America Training Institute

Here you will find the presentations and hand-outs related to Erin's sessions which are focused on elementary/middle school level:
Elementary Literacy 1: Phonics and the Alphabetic Principle
Elementary Literacy 2: Reading Comprehension Strategies
Elementary Literacy 3: Vocabulary and Language Development
Middle School: ABCDE, MPG
Document: "Guided reading tips"
Document: Gallery walk comprehension strategies
Hand-out: "Choosing the right text"
Elementary Literacy Differentiated Session: From Phonics to Comprehension
Elementary Literacy Session: Teaching Vocabulary
Math Project Example: Real World Here I Come
Document: Sentence Stems Example
Document: Vocabulary Chart Example
Elementary Literacy Differentiated Session: Content Area Literacy
PowerPoint of Jeopardy: Vocabulary Example
Elementary Literacy Session: Comprehension Strategies
Document: Strategies for Differentiation
Elementary Literacy Session: Phonological & Phonemic Awareness
Graphic Organizers
Document: Take-aways from Differentiated Instruction
Document:Take-aways from Teaching Vocabulary Session
Document: Great Math Websites
Literacy Session: Informal Writing
Elementary Literacy Session: Scaffolding for Success
Literacy Session: Scaffolding for Success
Differentiated Session: How to read non-fiction texts
Differentiation in Action
Elementary Diagnostics
Literacy Session: Informal Writing
Literacy Session: Decoding and Fluency
Structural Analysis: Word Study

Philippe's Evening Workshop:
Changing Horses in Midstream/packet: using checks for understanding to adjust lessons
Changing Horses in Midstream/powerpoint: using checks for understanding to adjust lessons
Document: Weekly reflection for students

Valuable Web-Resources:
Link To Literacy
This site is maintained by my wife, Jenni, who is a lower school literacy specialist at St. Anne's Episcopal School in Denver, CO. A variety of valuable documents and hand-outs are posted under the teacher and parent toolkit links related to helping students who are struggling or emerging readers.
TFAnet
"Helping prevent new corps members from reinventing the wheel."
NCTE: Read, Write, Think
The National Council of Teachers of English: specific site of lesson plans, examples & ideas
Elementary School Literacy Specialist
Wealth of resources from a phenomenal elementary school literacy specialist (my wife)
NCTM: resources
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: specific link to resources, standards & lesson plans