Why Literacies?
“Literacy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the 21st century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies are multiple, dynamic, and malleable. As in the past, they are inextricably linked with particular histories, life possibilities, and social trajectories of individuals and groups.”
—National Council for Teachers of English, 2013
our belief.
CDS Literacies is dedicated to building leadership through literacy. We are rooted in the understanding that learning happens when we are engaged in authentic speaking, reading, writing, and communicating across diverse venues. Our passion connects us to groups dedicated to equitable, educational endeavors. Collaborating with CDS Literacies means tapping into the powerful ways dynamic, antiracist, literacy practices work to inspire leadership.
partnering with
CDS Literacies
CDS Literacies @ Work
Instructional coaching
We support teachers through dedicated partnerships guided by cycles of inquiry and reflection. Our classroom-based coaching engages teachers through modeling, observation, and real-time feedback. Relationships drive our instructional coaching as we navigate instructional practices, data-analysis, and professional reflection. We are oriented toward student growth through teacher empowerment.
Professional Learning
CDS Literacies takes a differentiated approach to each engagement. We collaborate at all levels to ensure our professional learning sessions are designed to strengthen learning communities and center student learning. Holding space for rich institutional knowledge with innovative skills and strategies is the balance we strive for in our professional learning communities. We are proud of how our work supports teams to grow and thrive as a community of literacy leaders.
Literacies Development
We are mindful of the many ways literacy practices are used in our world today. Learning takes place across modalities and begs that students and their teachers engage with a more broad sense of becoming literate through reading, writing, speaking, listening, and envisioning. We partner with schools and learning communities to build the connections across various literacy practices. CDS Literacies works to support clear solutions to complex literacy needs through strategic planning, curriculum development, collaborative programming, and leveraging the potential for learning and leadership both in and outside of school spaces.
A Selection of Publications
Supporting the Work of Collaborative Multimodal Composition
From Language Arts to Learning Communities: Considerations for Cultivating Struggle-Brave, Interdependent Literacy Learning
Weaving Engaging Texts and Authentic Experiences to Energize Science Discourse
From Language Arts to Learning Communities: Elevating Discussion through Critical Encounters That Extend beyond Picturebooks and across Text Types and Grade Bands
From Language Arts to Learning Communities: Critical Literacy as a Frame to Support Students as Co-designers of Their Learning
From Language Arts to Learning Communities: Highlighting the Intersections to Amplify Disability Sustaining Pedagogy
Setting out with our dreams declared!
Collaborative lesson planning in action
Interactive Read Alouds anchoring our literacy community
Unpacking all that we know about each component of Balanced Literacy to empower our daily practice!
Tapping into the power of Visual Literacies!!
Practicing precise teaching language and building shared understandings across teams!
Teachers working hard to plan meaningful conferences during emergency remote learning.
Teachers across Connecticut learning to decolonize their classroom libraries!
Developing Visual Literacies in partnership with the Evanston Art Center
Pop-up Libraries support the learning of the day for teachers in PD!
When teams of teachers come together: MAGIC HAPPENS!!
Admin Team taking a brain break to recharge and laugh together during Remote Learning! :-)
Clare brings almost twenty years of experience working with school communities and supporting the cultivation of powerful, equitable literacy practices. As a career educator, Clare has worked as a classroom teacher, new teacher coach, staff developer, instructional coach, and school administrator. Clare’s multidimensional background guides her responsive approach to working within communities and across literacies. Clare earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the University of Iowa, her MEd at National Louis University, and her PhD at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Thoughts on Our Work
“I LOVE these learning sessions! Thank you for being so clear with the content and so responsive to all that we needed throughout the session—can’t wait for the next one!”
“Thank you for taking the time to address the unsaid biases bubbling up in the room today. I felt supported in ways that don’t often happen in school PD’s (and I know others did too!).”
“I am learning so much from each of your visits. You are such a talented coach and knowledgeable teacher. I am thankful for each day of learning and take these lessons to our larger groups—I hope so many more students get that Clare-advantage!!”
“Thank you for all of the support you provide. I feel like I can take risks in my teaching with you coaching me and that makes me a better teacher for my kids”
“I appreciate you empowering my staff with your transformative coaching abilities.”
“You are someone we trust and feel safe to share what is in our minds. You have certainly created a space where we feel empowered to speak up. That is why we value you so much and our teachers love you. Thank you!”