Read, Write, Talk
WCPS Secondary English Language Arts & Reading Newsletter
Late April 2015 Edition
VIRTUAL VISIT
Literary Nonfiction or Informational Text?
- The RI standard at each grade level in ELA 6-12 reads: "By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades ___ text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range."
- Literary nonfiction is also known as "creative nonfiction." It is a nonfiction type of prose that employs literary styles and techniques usually associated with literature. It is a type of informational text in which the author uses literary craft to present facts and ideas. Literary nonfiction is not only worth reading for the content, but also for the craft with which the author creates it.
- Literary nonfiction can include memoirs, personal essays, opinion pieces (op-eds), speeches, photo essays, journalism, and argument.
- Literary nonfiction is the "brand" of informational text that should be utilized in ELA classes. Informational texts that are not literary in craft should rarely be used in ELA.
Teaching Video Highlight
Resources to Explore
It is still National Poetry Month! Check out this Library of Congress Magazine that highlights poetry.
Leadership & Learning Opportunities
Wilda Storm Summer Workshop
Who: Core content and ELL teachers in grades 2-12 who work with ELLs .
What: Daily writing strategies for even the newest ELL. Focus on various critical strategies such as sentence structure, vocabulary development, academic language, grammar, phonemic awareness, listening, speaking, reading and writing comprehension.
Facilitated by: Wilda Storm, nationally acclaimed PD ELL expert, consultant, and author as featured at national conferences and in Educational Leadership
When: 6/22/15 and 6/23/15 (Must attend both days)
Where: CES Auditorium
Times: 8:00-2:45 (lunch on your own)
Receive: ready to use free blackline masters, resource book, and instructional materials
$25.00/PD pay for active participationREGISTER through the WCPS Employee Resource Site.
Registration closes April 30th! Don't miss it!
MSDE Range Finding - ELA 6-12 Teachers Needed
MSDE is looking for English Language Arts Educators, Grades 6-11, to participate in a Range finding session to review data from items developed for the Formative Assessment Item Bank.
Range finding Meeting Details
· Dates : May 11th and 12th
· Time : 7:30 to 3:00 each day (Breakfast and registration will take place beginning at 7:30)
· Location: Frederick County/ Holiday Inn and Conference Center at FSK Mall.
· Expenses: Measured Progress will take care of expenses related to lodging (if needed), mileage and substitutes, (participants will receive reimbursement forms at the session).
Interested educators should contact Arlisa Ledbetter, MSDE Formative Assessment Specialist for information on how to register for this event. Arlisa's contact information is below.
410-767-1476Common Ground
MSDE Summer PD
2015 College and Career Readiness Conferences
Gifted & Talented Training
Don't Be Shy!
The Office of English Language Arts
Carroll Sager - Lead Teacher for Special Ed/ELA
Danae Doubledee - Lead Teacher for Elementary ELA
Elizabeth Lewis - Lead Teacher for Secondary ELA
Linda Lehman - Secretary
Email: downibet@wcps.k12.md.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/wcps.k12.md.us/ela/
Location: 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, MD, United States
Phone: (301) 766-8706
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/WCPS-English-Language-Arts-Teachers/411174112350034
Twitter: @downibet