In Touch, In Tune
ELA/Reading Reminders, Opportunities, and Inspiration
Thanks for Tuning In!
May 2015
We’re glad you could join us this month! Sometimes we forget the impact we have as teachers. Schools are busy places, so it’s not surprising that we sometimes forget to pause and reflect upon the influence we have on our students. May 4th - 8th is Teacher Appreciation Week, so please take a minute to celebrate the impact you have made on others and know that, while it isn't stated often enough, you are appreciated!
An oldie, but a goodie… "What Teachers Make" by Taylor Mali
In the Spotlight
Letters About Literature
For more information about the Letters About Literature contest, visit their website.
March Book Madness
Socratic Seminar & Backchanneling
BHS teacher Jason Shupp is engaging students in robust, two-layer discussions of texts by combining Socratic Seminar with Backchanneling through Today’s Meet. Students enter class ready to discuss the text. They are divided into an inner and outer circle. The inner circle explores and analyzes the text through questioning/answering typical of Socratic Seminars. During the discussion, the outer circle remains silent, listens to the conversation, and participates in a backchannel, or a parallel digital discussion about the inner circle’s conversation. The activity allows all students to contribute to the conversation and refine their listening skills. The backchannel log also gives the class an opportunity to review and reflect upon the discussion.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (But Mostly Good!)
Summer Curriculum Writing
- ELA Grades 6-11: Revise and Create Formative & Summative Assessments – June 22-25, June 29-30, July 1-2 (8a)
- ELA Grades 6-11: Infuse ELL Resources into Curriculum Maps – June 22-25, June 29-30, July 1-2 (8b)
- ELA Grades 6-8: Infuse Collection Series Resources into Curriculum Maps – June 22-25, June 29-30, July 1-2 (8c)
- HAL/ELA Grades 6-8: Revise/Update/Expand Resources – June 29-30, July 1-2, July 6-9 (15c)
- ELA Intervention Grades 6-8: Develop Training Modules and Resource Materials for Read 180 Implementation – July 20-23 (17b)
- ELA Intervention Grades 9-10: Develop Training Modules and Resource Materials for Read 180 Implementation – July 20-23 (17c)
- STEM Grade 6 ELA & Science: Revise and Finalize 6th Grade ELA/Science PBL Units. Language Arts teachers will work June 24, 25, 29 and 30 (20a)
- STEM Grade 7 ELA & Science: Develop 7th Grade ELA/Science PBL Units - June 29-30, July 1-2, July 6-7 (20b)
Read 180 News
Upcoming Assessment Window: May 6- May 15
All students enrolled in Read 180 and System 44 must take the SRI. Additionally, students enrolled in System 44 must take the SPI. The Items to Remind Students About Prior to Testing document may be helpful in preparing for the assessments.
Read 180 Tips of the Month: Spotted in FCPS Classrooms
Segment Superstars
Do I need my rBook today?
Laminated QuickWrites and Graphic Organizers
Food for Thought from Kelly Gallagher
Kelly Gallagher is a renowned teacher, author, speaker and coach dedicated to helping students become better readers and writers. He presented two sessions at the 2015 SoMIRAC conference. Some of his noteworthy ideas are below, but you can read even more from his sessions here.
Developing Bi-Literate Readers
Paper or screen? The more we read on screens, the more our brain adapts to "non-linear" reading... Our eyes dart around; we stop halfway through to click a link. When we go back to paper, it can be harder to concentrate. We have to help students develop a bi-literate brain if we want them to switch from the scattered skimming typical of screen reading to the deeper, slow reading that we associate with texts on paper.
Track Thinking Over Time
To get students away from "one-and-done" readings, teach them to track their thinking over time. Students can use this form to track their thinking over the course of a book, or better yet, they can use it to follow a news story as it develops over time. Students can track their thinking about characters, ideas, the author's techniques, or their own confusion. By the end, students should be able to articulate how their thinking changed as they continued to read.
Argument Starts with Data, Not a Claim
Instead of giving students a question to research, let them first gather data and develop an argument of their own. For example, have students first "swim" through texts to learn about a person or topic. Then have students identify an argument that can be made about something they read. Once students choose their own topic to argue, the real research begins. Consider using the these prompts from the NY Times not as the research questions themselves, but as a starting point for the "swim" before a topic is formed.
ELA Assessment Windows
Summative Research Simulation Task
Middle School - Window closed on 4/17 (Please enter scores into TAC by 5/1.)
High School - Window is open 4/7-5/8 (Please enter scores into TAC by 5/22.)
Summative EBSR
Middle & High School - Window is open 4/7-6/18 (There's no need to enter scores into TAC.)
Click here for full ELA Assessment Windows Chart.
Instructional Technology Tips
YouTube Tips and Tricks
Tired of searching through millions of video results on YouTube? Find quality videos by typing your search term followed by a comma and the word "partner" (i.e. Shakespeare, partner) to limit results to companies that have partnered with YouTube. You can also type your search term followed by a comma and the word "playlist" (i.e. Shakespeare, playlist) to find playlists that have already been curated for your search term.
Chrome Tabs Trick
Have you ever had a tab open in Chrome, all ready for your lesson, and then in the rush of teaching accidentally closed it? Avoid this by using the Pin Tab option. Watch this short clip to see how it works!
Tech Tips Straight to You!
Would you like to have tech tips come straight to you? Join Anne’s “Secondary ELA Tech Tips” group at Remind. Use these directions to sign up.
It is recommended that you subscribe to the notifications to come to you via e-mail so that it does not use up your text messaging data.
Quick tech tips will be sent out periodically with an easy to follow screen cast tutorial or written directions similar to the format of the tips in the newsletter. Come join the fun!
Leadership and Professional Learning Opportunities
Gaithersburg Book Festival
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is a celebration of the written word and its power to enrich the human experience. It attracts award-winning and best-selling authors, poets, and songwriters from across the country. Come celebrate books, writers, and literary excellence on Saturday, May 16, 10:00-6:00. This event is free! (More Info)
MSDE Online Courses
We are excited to offer 2 online courses this summer. One, Implementing the ELA/Literacy Standards in a Digital Learning Environment, will be a great opportunity for anyone looking to delve deeper into the literacy standards and learn about tech tools that can be used in the BYOD classroom. The other, Meeting the ELA/Literacy Standards with ELL and Other Struggling Learners, will help participants build a toolbox of instructional strategies that will make the ELA/Literacy curriculum more accessible to all students, including ELL. Please encourage teachers in your building to take advantage of these learning experiences!
Event With Sonia Nazario, Author of Enrique's Journey
MSDE is hosting an event with Sonia Nazario, author of the national bestseller Enrique’s Journey, on Thursday, May 21, at the Howard County Library (Miller Branch). Nazario will talk about her book and provide insight on the issues and challenges that children seeking refuge (like Enrique) face and what educators can do to help them become successful in school and society.
Click below to register.
A.M. Session: 10:30-12:00
- P.M. Session: 2:00-3:30