More than a dozen teachers from throughout the district, along with curriculum specialist Jennifer Hoffman, attended two conferences at Columbia University’s Teachers College this fall. The sessions, titled “Units of Study Conference Days: Implementing Rigorous Coherent Units of Study in Reading and Writing,” were led by Lucy Calkins.

The conferences were designed to help teachers learn how to use a workshop approach to reading and writing instruction in ways that accelerate students’ progress toward meeting ambitious new global standards. The conferences supported the district’s initiative of implementing the Teachers College Units of Study in Writing in grades K-5. Teachers were also provided with the Teachers College Units of Study in Reading, with implementation planned for 2016-17.