SPOT Applications

"Supporting the Practice of Reading and Writing Theory in Elementary Classrooms," or SPOT as it is commonly called, is a professional development class for elementary teachers offered in schools in the Prince William County School Division.
​
PURPOSES OF SPOT

•  To equip classroom teachers with effective reading and writing instructional techniques and to help them see the theory/research behind their instructional practice
•  To have teachers practice new instructional techniques in a supportive environment
•  To bring language arts instruction into alignment across the division
•  To assist teachers in working with the lowest-achieving readers in their classrooms

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SPOT

1.  Teachers can earn up to 90 recertification points to completing all assignments and meeting the following attendance requirements of:  30 hours of assessment training in August and six three-hour classes after school starts 
2. Materials are provided for each participating teacher (paid for by the SPOT teacher’s school) – guided reading sets, manipulatives (magnetic letters, easels, etc.)
3. Peer Coaching – each school has a SPOT facilitator who acts as a peer coach for the teachers in the SPOT classes
4. Visits to other SPOT teachers’ classrooms to see implementation of strategies

CLASS DESIGN OF SPOT

•  Balanced Literacy Model of Instruction
•  Students grouped by grade level (K-1, 2, 3-5)
•  Theory and practice linked together
•  Modeling, discussion, lots of visuals
•  Supportive atmosphere – lots of sharing, problem-solving, and helping each other

CONTACT US

For more information regarding taking a SPOT class,

Michelle Rowe
Supervisor of Title I and Early Literacy
phone 703.791.7248
or by email: rowemc@pwcs.edu

For questions regarding the SPOT classes,

Kathy O'Hara
by email: oharakp@pwcs.edu