Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Getting Involved with the National Council of Teachers of English


Caitlin Franco, executive director and founder at Equality Charter School in the Bronx, is always seeking new ways to improve academia and bridge parent and educator relations. In the past, Caitlin Franco was a member of the National Council of Teachers of English, devoted to improving language arts courses, the development of literacy, and the learning and teaching of English.

The National Council of Teachers of English has many ways to get involved, from social media campaigns and advocacy to classroom events and national read-ins. A well-loved annual event is the National African American Read-In, taking place during Black History month in February. Members of the community can host a read-in, bringing friends together to share a book, arranging public readings, and appreciating African American writers. 

Each October, the council sponsors the National Day on Writing, asking teachers and students around the nation to discuss why they write, and what inspires them. This often includes celebrities and athletes, who speak up for literacy. 

Advocacy with the NCTE brings teachers rights, school funding and the importance of literacy to the forefront, asking interested parties to write to their representatives or stakeholders to improve education in the United States.

Monday, August 7, 2017

Windward School - Basic Writing Skills Training Program


Caitlin Franco is the Founder and Executive Director of the Equality Charter School in the Bronx, New York. Beyond her work with the school, Caitlin Franco has completed several certifications and training programs, including Basic Writing Skills Training through the Windward School. 

Started in 1988, the Windward School features several programs and courses to help educators improve their skills, including the Basic Writing Skills Training program. The Basic Writing Skills program includes lectures and workshops that give participants a well-rounded learning environment. Focusing on expository writing, this program includes instruction in basic sentence structure along with revising, editing, and the proper composition of paragraphs to provide clarity in writing. 

The training provided in this program can be used by K-12 educators, including those working in both special education and general classroom settings. Completion of the program allows participants to receive national certification for the course and meets the requirements for several organizations, including the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.