ELA Weekly:
April 4 - April 8
Curriculum Manager Announcements
ELA Webinars on Wednesday, April 6!
Course Specific
6th Grade ELA
Content: Students will begin their study of poetry this week, with five lessons designed to introduce students to poetic elements, and provide time for students to dive deeply into author's craft. Students will begin by studying poetic form, focusing on the organization, tone, and rhyme. Students will also read narrative poetry (the type most common to STAAR) several times over the next two weeks. As students are reading narrative poetry, I encourage teachers to frame these "stories" in the same way we frame fiction: the plot diagram. This is a graphic organizer that students are highly familiar with, and they will see the clear evolution of the story in the poem if they place the events on the graphic organizer after reading the poem. Each day of the poetry unit focuses on one or two literary devices. However, students should always be close reading for the message the speaker is trying to convey, which is evidenced by the tone. Understanding message and tone are key to understanding poetry. All poetry lessons are located on the Hub within the Quarter 4 folder.
Assessments: Students will take BWA 11 (Poetry) on Friday, April 15th. The scanning deadline is the same day.
Webinar: The next 6th grade ELA Webinar will be on Wednesday, April 6th. Caleb will share some ideas about high-impact poetry instruction. You don't want to miss it!
Archived Webinars: Please visit the links below to view previous webinars.
- February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9clM/
- February 10th: https://bluejeans.com/s/97i0/
- January 27th: https://bluejeans.com/s/92s@/
- January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8@hm/
- December 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Thh/
- November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Okg/
- October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kvp/
- September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8E2z/
- September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8AMZ/
7th Grade ELA
Content: Students will continue with their study of persuasion this week, with a persuasive text BWA on Friday. A key lesson this week will be on Tuesday (SB 2.16) when students read a news article and an editorial, and make connections between the ideas in both pieces. Our students traditionally struggle with connecting ideas, and analyzing how authors convey similar messages in two separate texts. This lesson focuses on these skills, and is essential to the mastery of text connections. Students will have lots of opportunities to read to persuasive texts this week, looking at persuasive appeals and the author's use of facts and opinions to persuade. As students are identifying the facts and opinions, they must also analyze the effectiveness of those ideas. EFFECTIVENESS is the key to deep analysis of persuasion.
Assessments: The next Bi-Weekly Assessment is Friday, April 8th (persuasive).
Webinar: The next 7th grade ELA Webinar will be on Wednesday, April 6th. Debbie will share some ideas about poetry lessons to support teachers as they design poetry review. You don't want to miss it!
Archived Webinars:
February 24th: no webinar
February 10th: https://bluejeans.com/s/97hY/
January 27th: https://bluejeans.com/s/92t2/
January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8@hA/
December 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Thi/
November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Okf/
October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kw6/
September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8E2D/
September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8AN7/
September 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zrR/
August 19th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zrU/
8th Grade ELA
Content: Unpacking the Assessment and SpringBoard 4.2, 4.4, and 4.5 are this week's critical lessons.
- Unpacking the Assessment: Note, there is a revised Embedded Assessment for this quarter. Make sure that you have downloaded the correct EA from The Hub and have unpacked all of the essential components for success.
- SB 4.2: This lesson is broken up over two instructional days to ensure maximum coverage of the content: Part A: Page 230 and Part B: Page 231 and 232. There is a required Assign Yourself for Part B that will ensure success within the upcoming lessons. Make sure to read the Unit Road Map additional suggestions.
- SB 4.4: Vocabulary and the research question is key in this lesson. Ensure you students are using Think-Ink/Pair/Share or IOP to reinforce terms. As the teacher, ensure you have strategically planned to assign research questions.
- SB 4.5: This lesson is broken up over two instructional days to ensure maximum coverage of the content: Part A: Page 240 and Part B: Page 241. All media clips for this lesson can be found on the Video Links tab on The Hub. Make sure you have downloaded and tested the video before class is to be conducted.
Assessments: Please note, there will not be any Bi-Weekly or Interim Assessments for Quarter 4.
- Rationale: The focus for this quarter is the MLA research paper and IOP. As a curriculum team, we wanted to place emphasis on these two critical components and did not want to add additional stress or take time from the scope and sequence. If you have any specific questions regarding assessments for Quarter 4, please contact George D. Galindo.
Webinar: The next ELA Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm. Your Course Leader will be covering the IOP Rubric and providing critical information for the quarter. If you have any additional questions regarding login or future webinar dates, please visit the ELA Webinar Calendar tab on The Hub.
Archived Webinars: Please visit the links below to view previous webinars:
- March 9th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9jBq/
- February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9b5j/
- January 27th: https://bluejeans.com/s/93au/
- January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8_9A/
- December 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Xoz/
- November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Oln/
- October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kvb/
- October 14th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kva/
- September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8D_S/
English I Pre-AP
Content: Unpacking the Assessment and SpringBoard 5.4 and 5.5 are this week's critical lessons.
- Unpacking the Assessment: There are many moving parts to this particular Embedded Assessment. Ensuring that you have effectively broken apart the assessment for students will help build buy-in as well as help students understand the push for research and presentation.
- SB 5.4: this lesson is critical as it helps provide student understanding of the multiple perspectives essential to the text. As the teacher, think about the social, historical, cultural, and geographical context of the work in order to ensure students are being guided in the right direction. Discussion in this lesson is key; however, it should come from the students and not solely from the teacher.
- SB 5.5: This lesson is broken up over two instructional days to ensure maximum coverage of the content. Part A: TE Steps 1 to 3 and Part B: TE Steps 3 to 8 (If needed, provide students with additional time to complete TE Step 3). The content of discussion in this lesson is rich. As the teacher, ensure you are asking question to fuel discussion as well as providing students with multiple opportunities to share their opinions and perspectives.
Assessments: Please note, there will not be any Bi-Weekly or Interim Assessments for Quarter 4.
- Rationale: The focus for this quarter is the MLA research paper and IOP. As a curriculum team, we wanted to place emphasis on these two critical components and did not want to add additional stress or take time from the scope and sequence. If you have any specific questions regarding assessments for Quarter 4, please contact George D. Galindo.
Webinar: The next ELA Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm. Your Course Leader will be covering the IOP Rubric and providing critical information for the quarter. If you have any additional questions regarding login or future webinar dates, please visit the ELA Webinar Calendar tab on The Hub.
Archived Webinars: Please visit the links below to view previous webinars.
- February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9b5j/
- January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8_9A/
- December 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Xoz/
- November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Oln/
- October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kvb/
- October 14th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kva/
- September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8D_U/
- September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Av6/
- September 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8D_V/
English II Pre-AP
Content: Unpacking the Assessment and SpringBoard 4.14 and 4.15 are this week's critical lessons.
- Unpacking the Assessment: Note, there is a revised Embedded Assessment for this quarter. Make sure that you have downloaded the correct EA from The Hub and have unpacked all of the essential components for success.
- SB 4.14: This lesson allows students an opportunity to practice effective speaking skills. This lesson is critical as it provides students with the practice needed for future success on their IOP. Ensure that you hold students to the highest expectations for speaking and use positive reinforcement and encouragement when they do not meet your expectation. Remember, all students can and will meet your expectations if you give them the tools to meet the marker.
- SB 4.15: This lesson is broken up over two instructional days to ensure maximum coverage of the content: Part A: Page 284 to 289 and Part B: 290 to 295. Part A sets the stage for the reading of Antigone. Part B dives right into the text and covers the First Ode. As the teacher, make sure that you are strategically planning to ensure coverage of the necessary readings for each day.
Assessments: Please note, there will not be any Bi-Weekly or Interim Assessments for Quarter 4.
- Rationale: The focus for this quarter is the MLA research paper and IOP. As a curriculum team, we wanted to place emphasis on these two critical components and did not want to add additional stress or take time from the scope and sequence. If you have any specific questions regarding assessments for Quarter 4, please contact George D. Galindo.
Webinar: The next ELA Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm. Your Course Leader will be covering the IOP Rubric and providing critical information for the quarter. If you have any additional questions regarding login or future webinar dates, please visit the ELA Webinar Calendar tab on The Hub.
Archived Webinars: Please visit the links below to view previous webinars.
- February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9b5j/
- January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8_9A/
- December 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Xoz/
- November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Oln/
- October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kvb/
- October 14th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kva/
- September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8D_U/
- September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Av6/
- September 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8D_V/
AP Language
Content: The Quarter 4 AP Success Guide and review documents have been posted to the Hub within the Quarter 4 folder. The purpose of the AP Language and Composition Success Unit is to set aside time for teachers to target and revisit those skills which need additional instructional time for mastery. To support that effort, the AP Success Guide will provide information about resources available for teachers to use for review of critical components of the AP Language & Composition course. Rather than a sequence of pre-determined lessons and objectives, teachers and campuses have the freedom to tailor instruction to student needs. Quarter 4 will consist of a teacher-driven Scope & Sequence so he/she may prioritize skills at a campus and/or classroom level. While daily lessons will not be provided, suggested resources are given within the Guide, and teachers spent Course Collaboration 4B exploring all available resources on the Hub and the NMSI website and establishing a plan for Quarter 4 instruction.
Assessments: Teachers have been provided with one multiple choice assessment, one synthesis essay prompt, one argument essay prompt, and one rhetorical analysis essay prompt, with scoring guides, designed to be administered as appropriate, according to the review plan established by each teacher. All assessments are located on the Hub in the Quarter 4 folder.
Webinar: The next AP Language Webinar will be on Wednesday, April 6th.
Archived Webinars: Please use the links below to view previous webinars:
February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9clS/
February 10th: https://bluejeans.com/s/97hO/
January 27th: https://bluejeans.com/s/92t7/
November 11th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Okk/
October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Kwa/
September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8E2G/
September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8ANu/
September 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zsh/
August 19th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zsi/
AP Literature
Content: The Quarter 4 AP Success Guide and review documents have been posted to the Hub within the Quarter 4 folder. The purpose of the AP Literature and Composition Success Unit is to set aside time for teachers to target and revisit those skills which need additional instructional time for mastery. To support that effort, the AP Success Guide will provide information about resources available for teachers to use for review of critical components of the AP Literature & Composition course. Rather than a sequence of pre-determined lessons and objectives, teachers and campuses have the freedom to tailor instruction to student needs. Quarter 4 will consist of a teacher-driven Scope & Sequence so he/she may prioritize skills at a campus and/or classroom level. While daily lessons will not be provided, suggested resources are given within the Guide, and teachers spent Course Collaboration 4B exploring all available resources on the Hub and the NMSI website and establishing a plan for Quarter 4 instruction.
Assessments: Teachers have been provided with one multiple choice assessment, one prose analysis essay prompt, one poetry analysis essay prompt, and one open-ended essay prompt, with scoring guides, designed to be administered as appropriate, according to the review plan established by each teacher. All assessments are located on the Hub in the Quarter 4 folder.
Webinar: The next AP Literature Webinar will be on Wednesday, April 6th.
Archived Webinars: Please use the links below to view previous webinars:
February 24th: https://bluejeans.com/s/9clU/
February 10th: https://bluejeans.com/s/97hQ/
January 27th: https://bluejeans.com/s/92sT/
January 13th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8@jk/
December 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8Thm/
October 28th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8KwI/
September 30th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8E2W/
September 16th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8ANI/ (Implementing timed writings in class/Integration of poetry during prose lessons)
September 2nd: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zsn/
August 19th: https://bluejeans.com/s/8zsm/