Back to School 2021

 Thoughts and Plans for This Upcoming Year

As we prepare for another school year, the third now impacted by the pandemic, I find myself looking for inspiration to focus on what's possible (instead of what's impossible) how we can grow, and how we can help others to grow toward a purpose.  I've gathered quotes, advice, and plans from trusted sources.  Where are you finding inspiration and purpose as you start this school year?  

Bright Morning Podcast, Episode 84

Video Clip- NWP

           

  

Articles:

We Belong: The First Week of School, I wish I Had

The Seven Habits of Highly Affective Teachers

4 Reading Strategies to Retire This Year (Plus 6 to Try Out!)

Infographics, Books, Art and Music:

Free, downloadable art from author Jarrett Learner

Start each day with music! 

 Upcoming Literacy Professional Learning Opportunities 

Join The Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) in it's 9th year!  This professional learning network is designed for PreK-5 teachers to learn more about literacy instructional practices through book studies and guest speakers.   This fall, we'll meet virtually, once per month via Zoom from 4:00-5:30, with September 30th as our kick off. See our timeline here for a history, and our flyer to register for the kick-off and topics for fall meetings. Our Winter/Spring times TBD by the group. 

Building Equity-Based Disciplinary Literacies

Designed for middle and high school teachers of all subject areas, 

Building Equity-Based Disciplinary Literacies is a collaboration between WISD and Eastern Michigan University  to meet the changing needs and the growing understanding of disciplinary literacies at the secondary level.  We want to be responsive to educator learning needs, and the last 18 months have affirmed that building equity through disciplinary literacies takes the sustained collaboration and community that this will provide.

  

Throughout this school year, we’ll build

our foundational understandings of equity and literacy through the creation of our own personal syllabus that can include relevant readings from our field, interviews with community members and experts in the disciplines, and collaborations between secondary classroom teachers and EMU professors. You design your learning path; we’ll help you get there.

You can expect support in these ways: 

• Partnering with an EMU professor

• Reading and discussing professional texts

• Participating in professional development activities

• Talking with other secondary and university colleagues within and across disciplines

• Applying your learning in lesson planning, unit planning and/or teacher research

• Earning an Equity Based Disciplinary Literacy Badge

Join us as we grow and learn in this new collaboration!  See our registration for the September 23rd virtual kick off! 

More Book Studies, anyone? 

Book studies were very popular last school year, as well as over the summer.  As you look into this next school year, what do you want to read and learn to improve your practice?  Take this quick survey to help us plan what to offer for our upcoming Book Studies.

Check it out! The Diverse Lending Library

Poster by Jerry Craft

Our Diverse Lending Library is now in the WISD online catalog!

Just create an account, and you can search the library for books to check out.  After reserving, you can arrange pick-up or delivery to your school in Washtenaw County.  Our picture books can be checked out individually.  Books for middle and high school classrooms can be checked out as a larger set for up to six weeks. We have many new titles including: Sulwe, Say Something, Drawn Together, Julian is a Mermaid, Outside, Inside, We are Water Protectors, Butterfly Yellow, They Called Us Enemy, You Should See Me in a Crown, Kindred, Dark Sky Rising, Three Keys and The Dragonflies. 

Literacy Opportunities in our Community

U-M Museum of Art offers customized lessons and consultations about how to integrate art and literacy. Curious about how you can use art objects as texts? Reach out to Grace Vandervliet to discuss connections to your specific curriculum. Check out some sample ideas for combining art and writing. 

UMS Performance Playground

Here you’ll find great resources about the performing arts for students in grades K-12. Check out our videos featuring UMS teaching artists performing and talking about their craft. You can join them to begin your own journey! To learn more, explore accompanying slides and worksheets.

These resources are for educational use only, and are free to everyone. Children are encouraged to explore resources with the guidance of teachers, parents, or on their own.

Summer 2021- June and July

 Summer 2021 Reading

No matter your plans this summer, these booklists and ideas for educators and kids will serve your needs with novels, non-fiction, and professional development.  Read to learn, advance your knowledge and action in social justice, escape, or find adventure.

Institute for Arts Integration in STEAM Summer 2021 Reading List 

Random House Teachers and Librarians Summer 2021 Reading List

NEA Get Serious About Summer Reading

Teachers, Books, Readers Blog

MDE Summer 2021 Early Reading Guidance

 Check your local library for summer reading programs:

• Ann Arbor District Library

• Northfield Township Area Library 

• Dexter Library Summer Reading Family Events

• Saline District Library Imagine Your Story

• Chelsea Library 

• Manchester Library 

• Ypsilanti Library 

• Milan Public Library 

Summer Literacy Learning for Kids

Summer Learning

Self Guided Book Studies @ WISD

This summer, read these educator titles at your own pace with the self guided book studies.  Content will be posted in late July for self guided study and online discussion with others.   

Then, we'll have one synchronous live meeting in August for each book.

Books will be provided for Washtenaw County educators

Register HERE for all 

  

Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy 

by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

    

Forged by Reading: The Power of a Literate Life by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst

    

The Write Thing: Kwame Alexander Engages Students in Writing Workshop, (and you can too!) A Must Have Resource for Teaching Writing in grades K-12 , by Kwame Alexander

We Got This. Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be, by Cornelius Minor

Responsive Teaching Coalition CountyWide Opening Day! 

August 23

Join us for an amazing professional learning session with Dr. Bettina Love and Dr. Christopher Emdin, as they offer keynote addresses on how educators can achieve educational equity by centering students, families, and the community. 

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia. Her writing, research, teaching, and educational advocacy work meet at the intersection of education reform, anti-racism, carceral studies, abolition, and Black joy. The aim of her scholarship is twofold: firstly, to advance how the field of education understands and critiques the systemic and structural racism of public education within the U.S.; and secondly, to advocate for abolitionist approaches in the field of education that seek new possibilities for educational justice. 

Dr. Christopher Emdin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University; where he also serves as Director of the Science Education program and Associate Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. He is the author of the award winning book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation and the New York Times bestseller For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll too. 

 FREE for WISD educators- register HERE

Bringing Joy to Your K-5 Classroom with Diverse Books-  August 16 (repeat session)

You’ve heard the buzz about diverse books, but what does that mean? How and why do you use these books in the classroom? Join instructional coaches and teachers from Washtenaw County to learn the multiple purposes diverse texts can serve and how to honor student identities through text. 
Register HERE
 
A limited number of books will be raffled off during the session. 
 
WASHTENAW Educators Only. Limited to 30.
 

State Provided Professional Learning

Disciplinary Literacy- Offered to Secondary Educators by the Disciplinary Literacy Taskforce

PreK, K-3, Coaching and Schoolwide Essentials Online Modules

May

 What is Racial Literacy?

In this eight page policy brief out of NCTE, Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz details what Racial Literacy is, what it looks like in teacher education, how to enact it and illustrates her Racial Literacy Development Model for Teaching and Learning (pictured below).

Highlights: 

"Thus, racial literacy in English classrooms is the ability to read, discuss, and write about situations that involve race or racism."

"Racially literate teachers can distinguish between real and perceived barriers in their classrooms that may be linked to institutionalized systems that govern schools and society."

"Preservice teacher education programs are critical sites for foregrounding the discussion of race and problematizing the ways in which the social and academic behaviors of Black and Brown students are misread."

"Racial literacy in teacher education promotes deep self-examination and requires actions that can lead to sustainable social justice and educational equity for all students, and Black students in particular." 

If you find the study of Racial Literacy as enlightening as I do, take the time to read this brief and then join us the next time Dr. Sealey-Ruiz returns to WISD's Responsive Teaching Institute in the 2021-2022 school year.  

Books that Help Students Understand Anti-Asian-American Prejudice and Hatred

(excerpted from Marshall Memo Issue 884 and the NYT article by Michelle Lee, 2021)

            In this recent New York Times article, Michelle Lee recommends books that help kids understand and work against prejudice and hatred directed at AAPI people. 

Elementary level books:

• My Footprints by Bao Phi, illustrated by Basia Tran, age 4-7

• My Name is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin, illustrated by Barbara Kiwak, age 6-9

• Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, age 9-12 (in the WISD Diverse Lending Library)

• Count Me In by Versha Bajaj, age 9-12

• Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, illustrated by Yutaka Houlette, age 9-12

Middle and High School nonfiction books:

• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker, age 12 and up (Graphic Novel, also in the WISD Diverse Lending Library)

• From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian-American Movement by Paula Yoo, age 13 and up

High School graphic novels:

• Displacement by Kiko Hughes, age 12 and up

• Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru, age 12 and up

• Flamer by Mike Curato, age 14 and up

 
See the whole article, “Help Your Kids Understand Asian-American Hate” by Michelle Lee in The New York Times, April 25, 2021 See more on Stop Asian Hate

Upcoming Professional Learning Sessions

Bringing Joy to Your K-5 Classroom with Diverse Books

SESSIONS FULL- Express interest in future sessions here

 

Virtual, May 10th, 19th 4:00-6:00.  Washtenaw Educators Only
You’ve heard the buzz about diverse books, but what does that mean? How and why do you use these books in the classroom? Join instructional coaches and teachers from Washtenaw County to learn the multiple purposes diverse texts can serve and how to honor student identities through text. You’ll get a book to keep and use in planning with partners during our session!  

 

Letting Go of Literary Whiteness

Join Drs. Borsheim-Black & Sarigianides for Letting Go of Literary Whiteness.  Participants will learn discipline-specific practices for implementing antiracist literature instruction in White-dominant schools.

6 virtual sessions for this series:
    *   May 17th and 19th.  4:00-6:00 PM
    *   June 21st  10:00- 12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00PM
    *   June 23rd  10:00-12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00PM
 
May 17 Session I 
Starting With What We Already Teach:  Strategies for Antiracist Literature Instruction. 
May 19 Session 2
Starting With What We Already Teach: Antiracist Literature Approaches with Canonic Texts
June 21 session 3  
Antiracist Literature Instruction Tools: Unit-Based
June 21 Session 4 
Antiracist Literature Instruction Tools: Lesson-Based
June 23 Session 5 
Antiracist Literature Instruction Tools: Lesson-Based
June 23- Session 6 
Classroom scenarios. Supporting students of color in predominantly white spaces: meta-moments, alternatives to privilege-based pedagogies
 
This is a six-session series of live, synchronous meetings.  Sessions will not be recorded. 
12  SCHECHS

Washtenaw County educators register FREE

Out of County $150 plus book purchase  

 

 

Justice and Joy: Building Inclusive Reading Experiences for Secondary Students

OPEN May 25th, 4:00-6:00. Virtual. 

Washtenaw Educators only. 

 Register HERE

Join teachers and secondary instructional coaches from Washtenaw County to learn the multiple purposes texts can serve in the 6-12 classroom.  We’ll show how text choice and use in the classroom can be responsive and representative. 

Upon registration, you’ll get a book to keep and use in planning with partners during our session.

Register HERE ($30 OUT OF COUNTY

In county, use code)

Then, ask questions for the panelists HERE

April

The WISD Diverse Lending Library is showcased in Literacy Today from ILA!

You can access the Diverse Lending Library if you are an educator in Washtenaw County.  All books are #ownvoices texts. See our books here, organized by tabs at the bottom for picture books, middle school and high school.  

Just e-mail me if you'd like to check something out!  

Upcoming Learning Sessions for Literacy

Bringing Joy to Your K-5 Classroom with Diverse Books

Virtual, May 19th 4:00-6:00.  Washtenaw Educators Only
You’ve heard the buzz about diverse books, but what does that mean? How and why do you use these books in the classroom? Join instructional coaches and teachers from Washtenaw County to learn the multiple purposes diverse texts can serve and how to honor student identities through text. You’ll get a book to keep and use in planning with partners during our session!  Register HERE

 

Justice and Joy: Building Inclusive Reading Experiences for Secondary Students

May 25th, 4:00-6:00. Virtual. Washtenaw Educators only. 

 Register HERE

Join teachers and secondary instructional coaches from Washtenaw County to learn the multiple purposes texts can serve in the 6-12 classroom.  We’ll show how text choice and use in the classroom can be responsive and representative. Upon registration, you’ll get a book to keep and use in planning with partners during our session.

 Dr. Baker Bell with Responsive Teaching Institute April 22

Register HERE IN Washtenaw County

Register HERE OUT of County

March

 Read Across America

March is Reading Month, but we know that EVERY month is reading month!   NEA's Read Across America celebrates reading all year round with recommendations and resources promoting diversity and inclusion through reading.  The resources include options for face-to-face and virtual classrooms:

• Book recommendations for the month of March include:
• Elementary- Tiara's Hat Parade
• Middle School- Each Tiny Spark
• High School- They Called Us Enemy (available in our WISD Diverse Lending Library!) 

• 9 Ideas for Virtually Celebrating NEAs Read Across America 

• KidLit TV Read Out Loud Program- with videos of authors, actors and illustrators reading picture books aloud. 

• Books by Theme to support lessons and units (some also available in the WISD Diverse Lending Library) 

• Free Materials- both hard copy and digital

Upcoming Professional Learning

March 2- Cultivating Genius with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

In this session Dr. Gholdy Muhammad will engage teachers in unpacking culture. Together, culture will be explored and revisited in deep, multifaceted ways. We will discuss our own cultural identities and approaches to learning the cultures of students. 

By the end of this session, the teachers will understand culture and engage in a self-identity work. 

Outcomes: 

1. Educators will learn equity, anti-bias, and culturally responsive instruction. 

2. Educators will learn how CHRE can be used to improve their teaching practices 

3. Educators will explore their own cultural identities and ideologies for teaching and learning. 

For IN COUNTY registrants ONLY please use the discount code of CRMT.

4:00-6:00 Virtual

March 4th- The Necessity of Diverse Books

**Prerequisite: Justice Leaders Core Course**

Are you a preschool or elementary teacher wanting more guidance on how to incorporate diverse, inclusive, and socially just picture books in your classroom? Join us to explore why diverse books are important, the various categories of diverse books (with great examples from Shayla's own home library!), how to prepare yourself to read more diverse books to your students, and what challenges and pitfalls may arise in your efforts.
Date: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 10am-12pm
-No Charge for public, private, and charter school staff in Washtenaw County; WISD staff; or Washtenaw County Youth serving organization. Districts will be responsible for any necessary sub costs.
All others, $25 per person.

March 11 and 17- Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy

FREE TWO SESSION VIRTUAL EVENT from the Holocaust Memorial Center hosted by WISD

4:00-6:00

Media literacy skills have become essential for young people to successfully navigate and critically assess the ever-increasing amount of information they receive throughout their day - on social media, advertisements, television, and film. Therefore, it is crucial for students to comprehend and identify how media, both historically and in contemporary society, can be used as a tool to incite hate and violence against certain groups. 

This learning opportunity examines the events of the Holocaust through the lens of media, by examining propaganda deployed by the Nazis to discriminate against Jews and other minorities. Educators will gain the tools to facilitate classroom discussions on the role and impact of Nazi propaganda during the Holocaust and support their students to critically analyze media in today’s world.

March 24 -Lesson Planning in the Cultivating Genius Framework

Have you read Cultivating Genius by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad and now would like to lesson plan with other teachers? Join us March 24th from 4:00-6:00 to put your learning into action. With resources and templates from Dr. Muhammad, you'll have time to think and plan with other teachers. Bring your books and ideas!  

Virtual 4:00-6:00
  *SCHECHS not available. Books not provided.

April 22- Linguistic Justice with Dr. April Baker-Bell

Free for Washtenaw County educators. PART 2, follow-up from December 10 Workshop. Virtual. 5:00-7:00

In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to engage in more intimate conversations about Anti-Black Linguistic Racism and how they can implement Antiracist Language Pedagogies in their respective classrooms. Participants will also have opportunities to ask specific questions about their teaching philosophies of language, language policies, curriculum, practices, syllabi, assignments, etc. Baker-Bell will share sample syllabi, assignments, and activities. 

Out of county registration