For over 30 years international school leaders, teachers, and counselors have come together for PTC professional learning experiences. Each day of every program begins with a “pearl of wisdom,” a “nugget of knowledge,” or a “gem of inspiration” from one of the participants. We are delighted to offer our readers around the world these powerful stories, insights, and strategies, all dedicated to our shared mission of ever more and better learning for our children.
In this Pearl, Brendan shares how collaboration was key to driving significant literacy gains at his school through a targeted initiative called Windblock. Faced with 75% of incoming kindergarteners reading below benchmark, the staff used the start of the school year to co-create a responsive intervention model. Teachers, learning assistants, support staff, and coordinators came together to assess students, group them by need, and deliver daily, focused literacy instruction. Regular reassessment and ongoing support for educators were central to the approach. As Brendan reflects, “When we work together, we can accomplish great things.” This collective effort not only raised literacy levels but also built stronger community connections among students and staff.
Brendan McCabe is a teacher at the International School of Panama.
