March is here, so that means it's time for Read Across America! Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) and guided by a committee of educators, NEA’s Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. This year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone. The titles and resources featured by NEA’s Read Across America include books that students can see themselves reflected in, as well as books that allow readers to see a world or a character that might be different than them. Readers who feel included, recognized, and a part of the world are engaged readers. NEA has a wealth of resources for celebrating Read Across America day on March 2, as well as year-round. How do you plan to celebrate with your students?

ADE and identified key stakeholders will work to identify a formative assessment tool to serve as the state's identified Kindergarten Entry Assessment. Appropriated funds will be used to pay for the cost of the identified tool and educator/administrator training.

As we anticipate the identification of the KEA in the coming school year, it is imperative that educators and administrators increase their awareness and capacity around Formative Assessment and Kindergarten Entry Assessment. ADE and identified stakeholders will work to ensure that the identification process is also mindful of implementation considerations including training.

Please stay tuned to our Kindergarten webpage as more information unfolds.

Check out the ECE Newsletter for additional resources and information.

As you're planning for next school year, remember that there must be as least one teacher (K-3) trained in dyslexia. The Dyslexia Training Designee must be in progress of completing the trainings by July 1, 2022. The Approved Training List has been updated with added vendors on Feb. 1. As more vendors have submitted their trainings, ADE will publish a final list on May 1 for the 2022-2023 school year. Please continue to check the Dyslexia page for updates on the Dyslexia Training Designee grant.

Thursday, March 10th, 11am-12pm

This is an online event.

Register for K-12 ELA Office Hours in EMS!

Secondary ELA Quarterly Office Hours is a virtual opportunity to collaborate, share, and learn about secondary reading and literacy information from the AZ Department of Education with secondary ELA literacy educators and leaders from around the state.

Come join our first meeting on March 24th at 4 PM MST!

Register for Secondary ELA Office Hours in EMS!

A variety of knowledge blocks are available for registration and participation each quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December). If you are unable to complete your selected knowledge block with at least an 85%, you will need to wait until the next quarter to re-register. Plan accordingly.

Before you register, please watch our Introduction Video to learn more.

Come join us for our current professional learning book studies!

Kinder-12th Grades:

Overcoming Dyslexia - 1/12 to 3/9

Contact: Maggie Velazquez

See Book Study Flyer for more information.

Secondary (6th-12th):

Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction and Assessment, Grades 6-12 - 1/13 to 3/17

Contact: Lauren Spenceley

See Book Study Flyer for more information.

Secondary (6th-12th):

Reading for Understanding: How Reading Apprenticeship Improves Disciplinary Learning in Secondary and College Classrooms, 2nd Edition - 4/7 to 5/26

Contact: Lauren Spenceley

See Book Study Flyer for more information.

General Info for our book studies:

• Virtual book chats take place via Zoom.
• All participants must register in the ADE EMS system to receive credit - each session is offered individually.
• All participants who register in EMS, read their chapter(s), and attend the book study will be given 2-hours PD credit.
• More details, ordering information, etc. can be found on the flyers linked above. Please share with your colleagues!

• ADE Social Studies and ELA Webinar - "Using History Graphic Biographies to Engage Secondary Students", March 10, 2022 from 3:30-4:30 - Registration and information
• Amplify Webinar - "The Science of Reading and Middle School: The Other End of the Rope" - Join Susan Lambert, host of Science of Reading: The Podcast, and Deb Sabin to learn about the importance of implementing the Science of Reading with your middle school students, Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and the skills students need to become strong readers and writers, Tuesday, March 15, 12:00 p.m. MST Register
• NPR Student Podcast Challenge - Great way for students to get into podcasting! Deadline is March 21, 2022 - Winners & finalists are featured on NPR National & local NPR stations. Apply here!

Each month, we will introduce you to a new section of the ADE Science of Reading webpage. Over the last three months, we have introduced the homepage, Structured Literacy, and brain research.

Our next section is titled Reading Researchers. The science of reading is derived from researchers from multiple fields: cognitive psychology, communication sciences, developmental psychology, education, implementation science, linguistics, neuroscience, and school psychology. On this site, link your way to Neuroscientist, Dr. Mark Seidenberg's Twitter page for more great resources.

We still have 53 of 460 LEAs that need to submit mid-year data into the MOWR portal, which was due February 1st. The MOWR team has sent multiple notices. Please check your LEA portal in ADEConnect and ensure you haven't missed the final aggregate submission step.

All LEAs will submit their end-of-the-year data by June 1st. The portal will be open for this window on April 1st.

Dr. Amy Boza, Director of English Language Arts and Move On When Reading

Sarah Bondy, K-3 Early Literacy Specialist

Lauren Spenceley, Secondary ELA Specialist

Maggie Velazquez, Dyslexia and Literacy Intervention Specialist