South Lake High School’s Literacy Coach, Barney Kranz, was looking for ways to support teachers in the effective use of literacy for all content learning. Her brainchild, The Literacy Fare, has taken on a life of its own since then. Last fall, Principal David Bordenkircher, provided substitutes for all seven reading teachers and they spent the day in the Media Center sharing their expertise with peers throughout the day. Teachers came during their planning periods for refreshments, camaraderie and to attend mini-breakout sessions presented by the reading teachers. The response was so positive that South Lake High School’s Literacy Council decided to host a second Literacy Fare.

Literacy Council members, representing many different disciplines, were the presenters during the March 2007 Literacy Fare. Ms. Kranz met with each teacher to offer encouragement and support as they each identified activities from their own practice that others could use as well. Mr. Bordenkircher funded more substitutes and another Literacy Fare was up and running.

Prior to the Literacy Fare, Ms. Kranz emailed information to the faculty on the seven topics the Literacy Council members would be sharing so teachers were ready to select the four sessions they would attend during their planning period. Every fifteen minutes a tinkling bell signaled time to move on to another session. Participant feedback was even more positive than it had been after the first Literacy Fare. New relationships have been forged across department lines and a new South Lake High School tradition has been formed.

This is a super way to do an in-service. We need to do more! More! More! More ~ Feedback from an anonymous participant

A team from South Lake High School will be presenting more detailed information about their Literacy Fares at the Just Read, Florida! Leadership K-12 Conference in August.