September ELA Update
ELA Update sent out on the first Tuesday of each month
District Website
Thank you for your patience as we experience this rollover in website platforms. I hope to have my website operational in the next week. In the meantime I have linked many important items here, but you can also reach out anytime you need something!
Instructional Strategy of the Month
Instructional strategies encompass any type of learning technique a teacher uses to help students learn or gain a better understanding of the course material. Instructional strategies are the building blocks of a good lesson.
Cooperative Learning
Cooperative learning is an essential part of every classroom and lesson, but without strong management, it can be daunting. Students need a structured way to choose a partner and a fun way to do this an appointment clock!
Ready to try something new? Click here to learn all about it!
Upcoming ELA Professional Development
Renaissance Training Opportunities
All trainings listed below are from 4:15-5:15 on Microsoft Teams. Use the buttons below to register and the teams link will be whare to those who register.
STAR Phonics - September 5
STAR Reports and Using STAR Data - September 7
STAR Reports and Using STAR Data - September 13
STAR Phonics TBD - September 12
Heggerty Phonological Awareness
Heggerty Phonological Awareness is a structured, systematic, daily phonological awareness curriculum that should be provided to all PK - 3rd grade students until they have mastered all of these skills.
It's fun, engaging, and hands on. The training is provided via zoom with the link below. Please join us on September 13th for our final fall training.
Heggerty Zoom Link - Just click here on the 13th at 4:15! No need to pre-register!
Meeting ID: 953 265 8277
Passcode: 947038
Into Reading Q&A Sessions
Need help with Into Reading? Not sure how to do something? Please join any of the sessions below on Zoom and have your questions answered. Each session will showcase a different tool, and then leave time for any and all teacher questions.
All session will begin at 4:15 and end when all questions are answered.
September 6th - The Basics of Using ED and Finding Resources
September 14th - Assigning and Editing Assessments - Cancelled
September 19th - Open Question and Answer Session
Zoom Link -Just click here when it's time, no need to pre-register.
ELA Curriculum
Into Reading K-6th Grade
Our Core curriculum for K-6th grade is Into Reading. The online platform is called "ED" inside Clever. This is the core program for Regular Ed ELA instruction. Inside ED you will find:
- Digital Teacher and Student books
- Lesson Slides
- Editable Weekly Plans (pre created lesson plans)
- Student Printables and Assessments
Student My Books and Know it Show It workbooks are consumable and will be replaced each year of our adoption. We are in year two of a six year adoption cycle. Please let your kids use their books! If a student moves within the district, mail their book to the new school. If a student moves out of district, keep their book for any new student you may receive.
Textbook needs must go through your principal and those are filled by our textbook office. Coordinators manage teacher materials, our textbook manager orders and moves textbooks.
District Approved Novel Study - 3rd - 6th Grade
I know many teachers like to supplement with novels during the year. Please keep a few requirements in mind.
- You must read off of our approved list, it is linked below. You may read from grades below yours, but not above.
- If replacing Into Reading curriculum with a Novel Study, you must stay on track with the skills you are missing during that time.
- Novel study is optional and not recommended during anyone's first year of teaching or if you are new to your grade. The curriculum will meet all of your standards, a self created novel study, may or may not.
- Please only teach with Novel study when you are very fluent in our ELA standards.
District Approved Novel Study List
Novel Request Form - Link to request new titles
Read Aloud Vs. Novel Study
Are you wanting to share your favorite books, but still stay on track with the curriculum? You might try read alouds instead. Read aloud is a wonderful way to model fluency and engage your students. It's a great way to introduce new authors, genre's, book series...etc. Things to think about:
- Is this book in our school library and not on a higher grades reading list? If yes, go for it!
- Is it appropriate for my students interest and comprehension level? If yes, go for it!
- Is it a fun and exciting book that will get your kiddos excited about reading? If yes, please read it!
Our job is to teach kids to read, and then help them learn to love it! Spending 5-10 minutes a day modeling great reading is a wonderful use of your teaching time!
Other fun ways to widen their reading horizons:
- Try "First Chapter Friday's" - Read the first chapter of a great book, and then get them hooked and begging to check out their own copy.
- Host a "Book Tasting" to help students break out of a reading rut. Help them find a new genre or author to love. Here is a fun blog to help you get started.
Please always be sure to expose students to fun and exciting books that will reach all readers!
Renaissance Learning
Renaissance Learning is the home to STAR testing, CBM's, AR, and so much more. Below is a breakdown of each product your students have access to, and ways to learn more. In each section I have linked first the "smart start" quick guide to the product and then the full webinar. Most webinars are about 25 minutes long.
You can also learn more about all of these products by clicking on Renaissance U on your Renaissance Dashboard. Renaissance U is a free resource with on demand training you can watch anytime!
Universal Screening - STAR Assessment
STAR assessment programs by Renaissance are part of our Universal Screening. STAR Early Literacy and STAR Reading and Math are products we use in K-6 to monitor all students. We assess students at the beginning of each school year, and then at the end of each quarter. It is important to follow the STAR testing calendar found here.
Accelerated Reader (AR)
This program uses your STAR reading results to help kids find their just right reading level, as well as set goals for reading success. AR should be used in a fun and positive way to engage your students. Remember that reading is a joy, not a punishment.
STAR CBM
Curriculum Based Measures (CBM) are part of the RTI process and used when screening for characteristics of dyslexia. These are used to measure skill development in students. Each of these measures work a bit differently. It is important to learn how to use them before you jump in. Please use the resources below.
STAR Phonics
STAR Phonics is our latest addition to Renaissance. This is an online phonics screener to help you determine the most at need phonics skill. This will eventually be a part of the RTI process, but we need teachers to use it and provide feedback. This is an incredible tool for you to use! You really need to attend a training or watch a recording before getting started, but you won't regret it!
MyOn
MyOn is our digital student library that is connected to every student's STAR assessment results. This program is designed for PK - 6th grade students and nearly every book has full audio support. We also have MyOn News! This additional component puts today's headlines on your students reading level. If you haven't tried it, check it out today!
RSA Resources
RSA is the Reading Sufficiency Act. It mandates RTI for all K-3 students, with the ultimate goal that students are reading on grade level by the 3rd grade. RSA requires that we screen all students, provide intervention, and inform parents. This process will be reviewed during site visits, but the documents below outline the grade level requirements.
A full page of resources will be available on the elementary ELA webpage as soon as that is operational.
Frequently Referenced Materials
Curriculum Guides
ELA Standards
Standards Crosswalks that compare 2016 Vs. 2021 ELA Standards
Prize Time
Thank you for making it to the bottom of this newsletter. Please complete this form to be entered into a prize drawing for $25 in Amazon classroom materials.
Michelle Burks
Current Podcast: Radiolab
Email: MichelleBurks@mooreschools.com
Website: Coming Soon
Phone: 405-735-4263