Kimberly Patterson, literacy coach at Fort Worthington Elementary/Middle School, is driving major gains in English Language Arts (ELA). When she started, the school’s ELA Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) proficiency was just seven percent.
“My second year as literacy coach, it increased to 13 percent,” Patterson said. “Last year, it rose to 20 percent. This year’s goal is 27 percent. It shows that the systems we’re putting in place are working. That’s rewarding to me.”
Patterson helps organize professional development sessions for teachers and lesson planning sessions focused on literacy, including the “3-Read Close Reading” habit. The “3-Read Close Reading Habit” is a strategy used to help students better understand a text by reading it multiple times with a specific focus each time. She credits these strategies with contributing to literacy growth at Fort Worthington.
Patterson also credits much of the success to teamwork. Along with an assistant vice principal and a dedicated literacy team, she monitors progress and addresses challenges together.
“I couldn’t do it alone,” she said.
A key focus for Patterson is synchronizing literacy lessons across subjects, particularly ELA and social studies. By aligning the curriculum, teachers can use data to track student progress and improve outcomes.
One of Patterson’s innovations is “Writing Wednesday,” aimed at addressing students who struggle to support their reasoning in writing. Every Wednesday, students in second through eighth grade write CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) responses to writing prompts, helping them develop strong, reasoned arguments in their social studies classes.
“One thing we wanted to make sure we did this year was explain your reasoning,” Patterson said.
“Why do you say this piece of evidence supports this claim? One of the things we noticed was that students were not elaborating in their responses. They can tell you what they think. They can give you the evidence. But they can not show how those things connect.”
While Patterson was initially hesitant to become a literacy coach, the role has allowed her to impact both teachers and students. She is helping students soar to new horizons of ELA proficiency. But that meant letting go of some of the joy she found in teaching to find a new satisfaction in literacy leadership.
“I see the growth in our teachers and our data,” she said. So, I’m seeing the impact. But it took some time to get adjusted. All the teachers I support and serve, I always want them to feel ignited.”
Fun Facts
What's your favorite book? Anything by James Baldwin, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, or The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Where is your favorite place to read? The Canton waterfront, on nice days I take my yellow lounge chair with a good book
Can you describe reading in one word? Exciting, eye-opening
What is the one book every student should read before graduating? The Four Agreements by Don Migueal Ruiz, or The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
How do you find new books to read? Talking to people
To learn more about the work of literacy coaches in City Schools, watch this video.