SUMMER 2020

Foundations & Frameworks is now a Clerestory Learning Professional Development Program

It’s Official! Foundations & Frameworks is now a Clerestory Learning program.

Early July, Briarwood Christian School, Birmingham, AL, transferred ownership of the Foundations & Frameworks instructional reading program to Clerestory Learning. We are grateful to the school’s leadership for supporting the vision and being dedicated to program development and training that began almost 20 years ago. 

We at Clerestory Learning are committed to maintaining this program’s integrity, beginning with significant updates that reflect latest research and today’s instructional needs. Watch this video for a summary of updates.

F&F teachers and instructional leaders, do you have recommended revisions for the program? Now is the perfect time to share your ideas.

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Updates at a Glance

COLLABORATIVE COMPREHENSION SESSIONS

We’re redirecting the focus of what we once called small groups toward greater emphasis on student coversation and collaboration to deepen comprehension of a shared text. The focus is no longer for all students to leave with the same visual tool.

TOOLBOX UPDATE

Pattern statements, objectives, and process questions are revised, and rubrics, also revised, are expanded to address the new discovery synopsis in the student SPECS Logs.

SPECS LOGS: DISCOVERY SYNOPSIS

SPECS Log space formerly used to summarize a visual tool will now be used for student insights gained through visual tool development. Rubrics will guide this invaluable process.

SKILL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENTS

A skill knowledge assessment for every grade and every unit is included in the Toolbox.

UNITS FOCUS ON ONE SKILL

Instruction focuses on only one skill per unit. Any secondary skills are part of the Collaborative Comprehension Sessions, enabling students to focus on mastering one skill per unit.

SKILL SEQUENCE ADJUSTMENTS

Fewer units fit well into the time demands of today’s classrooms and include the most important skills for mastery at each grade level.

LITERATURE LIST EXPANSION

Time-tested books will remain as recommended titles and additional titles will reflect newer offerings by a wider range of authors.

IN-PERSON BASIC COURSE: 5 DAYS

Instead of 10 days, the Foundations & Frameworks Basic Course is now 5 days. It includes:

  • Skill Blueprint instruction only
  • Reading Comprehension skill instruction
  • Visual Tool development in skill instruction
  • Collaborative Comprehension Session
  • Authentic assessment strategies
ONLINE BASIC COURSE

The Foundations & Frameworks Basic Online Course includes the same instruction as the in-person course. Designed for flexibility, the course is open for six weeks and includes required assignments, discussion boards, personal feedback, and optional Zoom sessions. 

COURSE BOOK REVISION

Course book updates include:

  • revised strategies for the Collaborative Comprehension Session
  • new research and revised strategies for vocabulary instruction
  • new research and revised strategies for comprehension skill instruction
  • new recommendations for assessment