Inside the ELA Classroom
SPECIAL EDITION March 2020
This publication is a special edition newsletter to pull together activities, digital learning resources, ideas and guidance to assist with digital learning opportunities for our students. Follow me on Twitter (@PBakerEducates) as I will continue to share resources using that platform as well.
As you provide activities for students, consider Dr. Barker's advice that these activities remain optional due to individual family circumstances that may impact our students and families.
I am available via phone or email.
Take care of you and your family. Stay safe!
Dr. Paula Baker
ELA Content Speicalist
ELEMENTARY
Learning A-Z for teachers
Attend a special live webinar to help you make the transition to remote learning:
Remote Learning With Raz-Plus - March 20, March 24, March 31
Remote Learning With Raz-Kids - March 25, April 1
Getting started with Raz Plus webinar
Quick tips for supporting Remote Learning
Setting up parent access
i-Ready activity packet [K-5]
i-Ready Reading Free Access for students K-5
Sign up for the free webinar to help with usage of the Ready platform.
Success Guides have everything educators need for a great year with i-Ready.
http://i-readycentral.com/pdfs/i-ready-success-guide-for-teachers/?pt=teacher
Scholastic for home
Resources available for the following grade bands:
Pre-K - Kindergarten
Grades 1-2
Grades 3-5
eLearning Choice Board
MIDDLE
i-Ready at-Home Activity Packet (6-8)
Remember to make copies of the Ready Reading resources before sharing with parents.
Teacher Guidance: Preparing for Extended Usage of i-Ready Personalized Instruction for home
Quick Links
- Download the Educator Guide: Supporting Students during a School Closure.
- Register for a live virtual PD session to learn more about supporting students away from school.
- New to using i-Ready Personalized Instruction or need a refresher? Visit Getting Started with Instruction.
i-Ready - FREE ACCESS FOR STUDENTS
Sign up for the free webinar to help with usage of the Ready platform.
Success Guides have everything educators need for a great year with i-Ready.
http://i-readycentral.com/pdfs/i-ready-success-guide-for-teachers/?pt=teacher
Assigning Teacher Assigned Lessons
For students who have not used the program before, teachers will need to assign lessons to these students.(see graphic below for directions)
Here is our i-Ready System Check that parents can use to ensure their computers can run the program:
https://cdn.i-ready.com/systemcheck/
Parents should encourage students to complete 30-50 minutes weekly of instructional lessons on i-Ready a week.
Parents and caregivers can track this, as well as assessment information using the My Progress link.
This link shows each student’s assessment scores, instructional pass rate by lesson and time on task.
Scholastic for home
Resources available for the following grade bands:
Grades 6-8
HIGH
Scholastic
Letter for Families and Caregivers and teachers.
The Harvard Classics: Harvard’s influential president, Charles W. Eliot, said that if you spent just 15 minutes a day reading the right books, you could give yourself a proper liberal education. He published a 51-volume series, now known as The Harvard Classics, and they're available free online. Ideal for the older student.
Shakespeare Phrases in Modern Times
Students may be shocked to know they already “speak" some Shakespearean language in their everyday lives. This goes well beyond “Oh Romeo, Romeo" and “To be or not to be."
Thirteen phrases from eleven of Shakespeare’s works have made it into our common vernacular. Some phrases have retained their original meaning while others have changed over time.
Novel Study [9-12]
Night, Elie Wiesel
Getting to know Eliezer's Story: Theme Analysis of Night
Read Write Think - Elie Wiesel
Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare
Text Guide and Discussion Questions
Alas, Babylon, Pat Frank
Lesson plans and teaching resources
The Crucible, Arthur Miller
Read online Listen or download
Beowulf
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
MORE RESOURCES FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS
Read Works Passages and activities by Lexile Level
Remember to make a copy of the ReadWorks activities before sharing them with your parents.
Parents: Register here for a FREE webinar "You, Your Child, and Remote Learning" March 18th, 12:00 - 12:30pm EST.
Teachers: Register here for a FREE webinar "Using ReadWorks for Remote Learning March 18th, 4:00 - 4:45pm EST.
Google Classroom
Google Classrooms are available for teachers to share resources, best practices, and ideas. Digital resources for all grade levels have been uploaded to the K-1, 2-3, 4-5, Middle Grades, and High School ELA Google Classrooms.
Reading Ideas
A suggestion for families. Each day set aside time for your students to read and discuss thoughts on the book.
- At the designated time students should sit anywhere comfortable and read
- Play charades using book characters
- Create a quote wall; students write favorite quote from the reading of the day
- Students create word clouds with ideas from their book
- Students create new title/cover a book read
- Students write a marketing tweet for the book in 140 characters or less #hashtagswelcome!
- Students write a text conversation from one character to another
- Reading Rockets
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Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
~Nelson Mandela
Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.
~Anatole France
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Email: paula.baker@cowetaschools.net
Website: http://curriculum.cowetaschools.org/
Phone: 770-254-2810
Twitter: @PBakerEducates