Summer Math and Literacy Immersion for Teachers and UChicago Charter School Students

The doors of the Donoghue Campus of the University of Chicago Charter School did not close this summer. Instead, the building was a site for literacy and mathematics development for both students and teachers. Teacher candidates and alum from the University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program, alongside Donoghue teachers, collaborated to provide summer school to students in grades 1 – 4 who did not reach benchmarks, while teachers engaged in intensive professional development.

Donoghue students were immersed in 2-week thematic units that used interesting topics to enhance literacy and mathematics learning. For example, second graders learned about the Olympics.  The students read about the countries involved, studied the nations’ flags, and analyzed scores from past Olympic medalists to predict the outcomes for the summer games. Fourth graders learned about the Bronzeville neighborhood through non-fiction literature, documentaries, guided walks, and crafting maps of the area. All grade levels gave 15-minute culminating presentations. 

The teaching staff learned as much as the students. During the first week, Maria Griffin from the Chicago Literacy Group conducted Literacy Learning Labs, including modeled lessons and debriefs, for UChicago UTEP candidates and Donoghue teachers in order to enhance their literacy instruction capabilities.  During the second week of summer school, UChicago UTEP candidates tutored and interacted with students, getting the hands-on experience essential to developing great teachers.

“Summer school was a great learning experience for everyone who participated, students and teachers alike” said Teyona James Harris, summer school coordinator.