Secondary Literacy
-English and Reading- September 2021-
Literacy Leaders,
We look forward to seeing you all again soon! Please see the noted sections below included in this newsletter.
-Big Ideas to Read Closely
-Items of Interest
-Review
Please reach out to your Pasco Literacy Team if you need anything.
Warmly,
Your #PascoLiteracy Team
Big Ideas to Read Closely
Reading Collaboration Community---- ALL Reading Teachers
ELA End of Unit Assessments (grades 6-10)
The ELA end of unit assessments for grades 6-10 will be available beginning on 10/4-15. The assessment will be taken in the myProgress platform and should not take longer than one class period. The assessments are aligned to the spotlight benchmarks, topic and knowledge that students acquired through their learning within the unit. All of the questions are multiple choice, multi-select, or multiple choice Part A and Part B style format. Additional information can be found in next week’s communication.
DAILY SYNC
IMPORTANT INFO!: English General Paper, EGP (Grade 11)- Progression Checks and Mock Exams
As we approach some new pieces related to our progression checks and mock exams that will be required for English General Paper students, we wanted to provide some information that might be helpful to you.
- When will these (progression checks and mock exams) occur?
- This information is found on our one-page assessment overview.
- Releasing the Progression Checks and Mock Exams.
- You will be able to access and view the content on the progression checks and mock exams in MyProgress one week prior to the assessment window opening.
- Students will be taking the assessment paper/pen and can be found in this folder for you to view now.
- For the first required progression check, you will have access in MyProgress starting on Wednesday, September 29th.
- Please use these directions to help you print, scan, and score the assessments to put into MyProgress.
- About the Progression Checks:
- They should be done in class within each window.
- The format for the progression checks will be a mini Paper 1 (truncated to only have 5 writing prompts (instead of the usual 10 to choose from) and students will be required to write 300 words (instead of 600-700 words).
- A mini Paper 2 (truncated so students will only be provided with one section: either Section A or Section B to complete).
- The data will be inputted into MyProgress, by you, using the directions above. More information will be forthcoming as far as how you can access the data trends once the scores are inputted.
Mock Exams:
- Will be done at the end of Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 in a "real" testing situation where test conditions will mimic that of the day of the exam. You will again follow the same directions for inputting the student scores into MyProgress after students complete the exam and you can review the exam with them after all have been graded and inputted into MyProgress. This folder contains the mock exam for the end of December. It is from the October/November 2020 series.
- Use the data to connect with your PLCs and calibrate around scoring.
- This folder contains the mock exam for March from the May/June 2021 series.
Instructional Implications, consider how you might be able to use this data as a PLC to determine next steps for students. Which parts of each AOs are problematic? What can we do to help boost student's confidence and build their input?
ERD Follow-Up English General Paper and Reading 3
I hope that you found our time to be valuable and appreciate your patience during ERD.
Please take this short survey to help us better prepare for our next ERD session. We greatly appreciate it :).
Next Steps/Follow up:
- Access the folder with all of the resources for the session in the ERD PD Hub.
- Use the documents to score the Paper 1 response using the rubric (mark scheme), in addition, determine what the student did well and how they can improve using the AOs and scoring guidance. Determine the score the student would earn in Cambridge world (out of 30 marks) and USA world (out of 100 points).
- If you do this collectively as a PLC (which is fine and completely encouraged), please make sure you each have a copy of your note catcher for next session so you can each speak to your decision making when you are split into different groups next session.
Below is the recording from the session if you’d like to view it again for your reference:
- You can access the recording in the ERD PD Hub on MyPascoConnect, but I’ve also included it here for you as well for easy access. Zoom recording
We look forward to our time together next session on October 6th. Please have your Paper 1- note catcher handy for next session. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. Have a great rest of your week!
English General Paper- Cambridge Marking
Cambridge Schools Conference Online September 2021 Watch highlights from our 2020-21 online conferences
Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have sadly been unable to hold our usual face-to-face conferences. Instead, we created our Cambridge Schools Conference Online so we could continue to share interesting and relevant content and remain connected with our schools.
We have now held three successful online conferences. These free-to-attend events included keynote speeches from Dylan Wiliam, Dr Rhonda Bondie, Dr Ros McLellan and Professor David Putwain. In addition to these, we held live Q&As with our keynote speakers, virtual breakout sessions and panel discussions with Cambridge International teachers.
Highlights from all our online conferences are now available to watch on our website. All these recordings are free for our schools to enjoy and are an excellent resource for both teachers who are returning to the classroom this September, or are continuing teaching their lessons online.
Supporting learners’ emotional health and wellbeing highlights
Next online conference - November 2021
We are now planning for our next Cambridge Schools Conference Online. This conference will take place in November. More information will follow shortly.
We look forward to seeing you online!
Events Team
Cambridge Assessment International Education
Follow @CambridgeInt for news and information about the conference and join the discussion at #OnlineCSC
ERD Information Secondary ELA and Reading
It was great to see everyone for ERD learning. We hope that you found value in the time together and alongside your PLCs. We are grateful for your patience with Zoom logging us out. We look forward to continuing to deepen learning and planning instructional practices grounded our Pasco County Vision of Instructional Excellence in Literacy. Take a moment to provide feedback on the session and provide insight to your goals on the learning this year. The session recording and information are linked in the ERD ELA and Reading folder. Please see the information below for key items and next steps.
Next Steps/ Follow Up:
- Please refer to this folder for all materials from Session 1, Sept 8
- Reading Grades 6-10 – Prepare for the Lexia PowerUp session on 10/6 by accessing your reports on your dashboard and capturing notes using this note catcher.
- ELA/English 6-10- Prepare for the session on 10/6 by scoring student work noted below by course and capturing notes based on your findings using this note catcher. Utilize the aligned rubric within the lesson to score the student writing responses.
- English 4, 4H, and CCR- Choice Writing list (Unit 1: Education or Unit 8: Success)
- ELA Grades 6-9- Unit 2: Extended or Timed Writing response
- English 2- Unit 1: Extended or Timed Writing response
If you are not completely through the extended writing task then bring scored student writing samples from rough drafts or a short response writing piece.
- If you do this collectively as a PLC (which is fine and completely encouraged), please make sure you each have a copy of your note catcher for the next session so you can each speak to your decision-making when you are split into different groups next session.
Below is the recording from the session if you’d like to view it again for your reference:
- You can access the recording in the ERD PD Hub on MyPascoConnect, but I’ve also included it here for you as well for easy access. Zoom Recording
We look forward to seeing everyone on October 6th. We will send the Zoom and email reminder for the next session just like we did for our first session.
English teachers, please have your student samples scored and notes ready for the next session. Reading teachers, please have your student usage and skill reports pulled and notes ready for next session. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can do to support you. Have a great rest of the week!
ERD and Content Session Recordings NOW AVAILABLE on the PD Hub
See this link for access to all of the recorded content!
Progress Monitoring Plan (PMP) Updates
Thank you for engaging with your school team to analyze your BOY assessment data, review current PMP status and make any updates to individual students in need of Tier 3 interventions in ELA. I know many of your teams have finished updating PMP status in myStudent on the PMP/Interventions tab and are ready to develop intervention plans in the SSS module. We have created a PMP User Guide for Middle School and High School that will walk you through the process of developing the intervention plan and completing the PMP.
Just a reminder that on the Secondary Learning Network, at the bottom of the page, under “Evaluating Student Learning” is more information regarding PMP’s. Information includes a Timeline of Events by Unit, MTSS Tier 3 Decision Guides and Resource Maps, PMP (Tier 3) Timeline of Events for the Year.
Grade Pass Back
Grade Pass Back is a valuable, time saving tool for syncing your myLearning (Canvas) gradebook with your myStudent gradebook. This eliminates the work of having to enter information into two different systems. It requires some simple, careful setup initially. Here are several things that may cause errors when setting up Grade Pass Back:
- Gradebooks cannot be combined in myStudent
- Assignment categories must be identical in both myStudent and myLearning (including capitalization and spacing)
- Assignments must be in a category in myLearning that matches one in myStudent
- Assignments must have due dates in the current term. For Q1 that is between 8/10-10/15. Of note is that you may decide to give students until teacher planning day to turn in work. The due date in myLearning must still be no later than 10/15 because that is the end of the term in the system. Anything with due dates of 10/16, 17, or 18 will be not be recognized since Q2 does not begin until 10/19.
The following video is a walkthrough of setting up the Pass Back and how to sync your grades.
Grade Pass Back Walkthrough Video
If you experience issues, please email Matt Bruno at mbruno@pasco.k12.fl.us and include the following information:
- A link to the myLearning course(s) you are having issues with
- A brief description of your problem or error message, and the name/student number of any students you may be experiencing specific issues with
- Any other pertinent information
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year the Governor and the First Lady invite students in grades K-12 to participate in art and essay contests in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month which will take place this year from September 15- October 15, 2021. More information can be found at https://floridahispanicheritage.com/.
Resources to support required instruction for the month may be found here.
Items of Interest
myLearning Courses
StudySync Implementation Support
Florida StudySync Coffee & Questions - Every Tuesday morning from 6:45 - 8:00 a.m. Ask an Expert Session w/ Kristin DeJong, Florida Study Sync Implementation Specialist.
Registration is NOT required. Teachers and coaches are welcome to pop into the room any time to ask questions of me or get help with implementation. I have scheduled this every Tuesday morning through May.
Florida StudySync Afternoon Tea & Questions - Every Thursday afternoon from 2:30- 3:45 p.m. Ask an Expert Session w/ Kristin DeJong, Florida StudySync Implementation Specialist.
Registration is NOT required. Teachers and coaches are welcome to pop into the room any time to ask questions of me or get help with implementation. I have scheduled this every Thursday afternoon through May.
ELA BOOK CLUB: ECONOMIC AND HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE
· Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
· Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
· WEBINAR via Microsoft Teams
This is the first session in our new ELA Book Club series, where we will investigate the historic context and economic connections to fiction. We will focus on books currently in use, as well as texts included in the new Florida BEST standards. During this webinar, we welcome a special guest speaker, Ms. Jodi Pushkin, Newspaper in Education Manager, Tampa Bay Times, who will discuss details about this year's High School writing contest. The focus will be on Science Fiction and Dystopian literature, including 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and a short story in Alternate History. We will provide lesson ideas, writing strategies, and other resources to make connections from the fictional to the factual.
Secondary Office Hours
Here you will find the office hours schedule for this fall semester. Office hours are an opportunity to connect with OLL Supervisors, Senior Specialists and Program Coordinators regarding your curriculum questions. We look forward to seeing you.
Review
Getting Started with StudySync- Virtual Asynchronous PD
Check this out! Get started with the StudySync Self-Paced basic training. Complete the course that takes approximately 3 hours and get a certificate of completion!
See this link for more information!
DBQs
- New teachers? Consider signing up for a demo! It lasts 30-45 minutes and takes teachers through the basics of DBQ Online. Link to signups here!
- Do you need deeper professional development? Have you experienced the virtual, self-paced professional development course which goes much further into the pedagogy of The DBQ Project? There is no cost for DBQ Online. Link to signups here!
StudySync McGraw Hill Grades 6-10
Be sure to access your materials via the app on your myPascoConnect dashboard.
Check out the Secondary Literacy 21-22 Overview for information related to:
- Novel titles and division by course- Important Note: Some novels will be taught in ELA and some will be taught in stand-alone Reading courses. Please see the designation.
- Scope and Sequence
Assessment Overview - Updated!
Reading Endorsement
Compassionate Schools
We’re excited to share a series of 5 essential classroom PBIS practices that are immediately applicable for teachers. This month we’re focusing on “Maximizing Structures” in our classrooms through a Trauma Informed-Care Lens. When students understand the structures and how things work, they’re more likely to be successful. Structures help make the classroom feel safe, consistent, and predictable. We’re also excited to share this video that helps give strategies for organizing your classroom space.
If you’d like to dive deeper feel free to explore this PBIS Classroom website that shares a variety of resources on how to strengthen your teaching practices!
Feel free to reach out to us if we can help you!
Susanna Haberle, PBIS Program Coordinator
Lesley Wilson, SEL Program Coordinator
Here is the link to the Aspiring Leaders Flyer
Here is the link for our coaching pool information.
Early Release 21-22 Overview
We are excited to share with you our plan for early release 21-2. All general education classroom teachers (including departmentalized teachers), ESE support facilitators, Speech Language Pathologists and academic interventionists will participate in professional learning workshop facilitated by District staff, school-based coach(es), admin and/or teacher leaders focused on Uplifting Literacy in Pasco County Schools. Specials/Electives teachers will engage virtually with teachers in the same roles from other schools. Professional learning will be focused on the Teaching and Assessing Cycle and will be facilitated by District content leaders and/or teacher leaders. Student services staff will engage virtually with staff in like roles from other schools. Professional learning will be focused on MTSS for Behavior and will be facilitated by District supervisors and content leads.
Dates for the early release are:
October 6th
November 10th
December 8th
January 12th
February 2nd
March 9th
St. Leo University
Pasco County Schools The opportunity is here to advance your career, enhance your skills and effectiveness with an advanced education degree from Saint Leo University. Online and face-to-face cohorts are forming now; offering a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive learning environment. Saint Leo University's graduate education programs prepare educators to become master teachers, instructional coaches, team leaders, principals, administrators, and more! We offer an extensive list of advanced degree options to help you grow both personally and professionally. Your career goal has never been more attainable - fewer courses, lower program costs, more accessible classes and many financial aid options to earn your degree at Saint Leo. EdD: School Leadership Med: Exceptional Student Education MS: Instructional Design BA: Elementary Education BA: Middle Grades Education BA: Educational Studies - Early Childhood Development The Virtual Information Session will include information about our graduate education degree programs, financial aid, class schedules, and the application process. Register now to get more information, and learn what Saint Leo has to offer you! Saint Leo University is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working adults. Our small class sizes, high-quality curriculum, and dedicated faculty provide a superior learning environment.
Advanced Degrees in Education Information Session
Thursday, October 7, 7:00 - 08:30 PM ET
EdS: Educational Leadership
MEd: Educational Leadership
MEd: Instructional Leadership
MEd: Reading
For more information or special accommodations, please contact Traci Dougherty at traci.dougherty@saintleo.edu.
Saint Leo University
Center for Online Learning
800.707.8846
grad.col@saintleo.edu
www.saintleo.edu
Facilitator Training
Beginning in October, the Office for Leading and Learning will be hosting 2 PLC Facilitator sessions. Click here for additional information.
Contact Us
Damien Cabrera
Email: dcabrera@pasco.k12.fl.us
Twitter: @damien_cabrera
Cassie Hernandez
Secondary Literacy
Email: crhernan@pasco.k12.fl.us
Twitter: @herncas22
Courtney Lough
K-12 Literacy Intervention and Achievement
Email: clough@pasco.k12.fl.us
Twitter: @clough6
Danielle Varcardipone
Reading Professional Development & Learning
Email: dvarcard@pasco.k12.fl.us
Twitter: @LiteracywithV