February

 What are Teachers Reading? 

Teachers in The Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) 3 are reading Write Now! Empowering Writers in Today's K-6 Classroom by Kathryn Ganske.  With a focus on writing instruction, Write Now! details:

• What writing instruction should look like in the age of high standards
• The power of mentor texts to teach narrative and informational writing skills
• Strategies for teaching argumentative and persuasive writing
• Vision, choice and identity in motivating writers
• Multi-genre projects to integrate social studies and science

Upcoming Literacy and Technology Professional Learning

IDLL hosts Dr. Liz Kolb on Learning First, Technology Second

March 22 at Huron High School, Ann Arbor

Hosted by the Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning teacher network-  all are welcome! 

REGISTER HERE

*THIS IS RESCHEDULED FROM DECEMBER 14th. 

Learning with technology doesn't happen because a specific tool “revolutionizes” education. It happens when proven teaching strategies intersect with technology tools, and yet it's not uncommon for teachers to use a tool because it's “fun” or because the developer promises it will help students learn.

Learning First, Technology Second offers teachers the professional learning they need to move from arbitrary uses of technology in their classrooms to thoughtful ways of adding value to student learning.

*About the Author:  Liz Kolb is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan. She is the author of several books, and the creator of the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies.

Dr. Ernest Morrell on Every Child a Super Reader

SOEL and Responsive Mathematics once again host Dr. Ernest Morrell on March 13th at EMU.

Register HERE

Dr. Morrell will continue working with participants around the 7 Strengths Framework, on how to foster:

• belonging
• curiosity
• friendship
• kindness
• confidence
• courage
• hope

 SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

SAVE THE DATES

• August 1, 2, 3:  SOEL Summer Institute at WISD- for educators focused on PreK- 3 (with a focus on early literacy instruction and the PreK-3 Essential Instructional Practices) along with Teacher Action Research.

                 Pre-register HERE

• August 21: EdCamp as WISD- for all educators

January

Are you ready for World Read Aloud Day? 

Lit World believes everyone in the world should get to read and write. On World Read Aloud Day (WRAD), people around the world read aloud together and share stories to advocate for literacy as a human right. 

Download your resource packet here that includes how to host a WRAD event, decorations, spreading the word, a read aloud guide and tips on connecting with authors. 
Please share your WRAD celebrations on social media!

Upcoming Professional Learning

REGISTER HERE

Questions?   Contact Dr. Cathy Fleischer

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*Note, the Learning First, Technology Second workshop with Dr. Liz Kolb that was cancelled on December 14th is RESCHEDULED for March 22 at Huron High School.   If you can no longer make it, please contact Cheryl Taylor at ctaylor@washtenawisd.org 

If you'd like to attend on this new date, you can register HERE. 

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Back to School!

The First Week of School:
Community Building, Writing, and Goal Setting

From scavenger hunts to "Dear Me" letters, you might find some new ideas here to shake-up your back-to-school routine of building community and getting to know your students as readers, writers, and learners.   Create-Abilities shares five activities here.  

Knowing our History to Build a Brighter Future

Books to Help Kids Understand the Fight for Racial Equality

Readbrightly.com provides K-12 text resources to "help us move beyond tokens and icons to a deeper understanding of our history and its legacy, toward our own march for liberty and justice for all." 

Essential Instructional Practices for Literacy

While SOEL (Study of Early Literacy) moves into our fifth year at WISD and LESA, we continue to follow the most recent research (last two-three years) supported instructional practices through the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy. 

The updated collection includes:

PreK

K-3

4-5

Building Level

Coaching

*Coming soon!  Grades 6-12 Discipline Specific

REGISTER for the MEMPSA Literacy Summit- October 4th at WISD

The SOEL Family Grows !  

During two SOEL Summer Institutes, the Study of Early Literacy welcomed 72 new members for the 2017-2018 school year. After three days of collaborative learning, teachers chose a learning path for the school year around early literacy instruction.  

Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning (IDLL)

Secondary teachers of all subjects, you won't want to miss our IDLL line-up of professional learning and guest speakers for 2017-2018!

Save these dates:

September 28-  hosted at Saline High School with "From the Classroom" presentations. 

October 26-  at WISD with guest speaker Dr. Troy Hicks on Argument Writing in the Real World  Register HERE

December 14- at WISD with guest speaker Dr. Liz Kolb on Learning First, Technology Second  Register HERE

February 22  - hosted at Mill Creek Middle School in Dexter with Project Based Learning demonstrations.

March 22- TBD

May 17- TBD

*If you have any questions, please e-mail Melissa Brooks-Yip