February

World Read Aloud Day is February 5! 

LitWorld founded World Read Aloud Day in 2010 for people all over the world to celebrate the joy of reading aloud and to advocate for literacy as a fundamental human right.  Join in the Day by visiting their site to register, download free resources, and access activity guides. Resources include tips on how to host a community event, create stickers and decorations, and read aloud tips to share with participants.  We'd love to see how World Read Aloud Day is celebrated in Washtenaw County, share to Twitter with #WRAD@WashISD

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Creating Context for Teaching Night

February 20th, 2020 WISD 8:30-3:30 FREE
*Most applicable to secondary ELA teachers.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum presents Creating Context for Teaching Night. 

The workshop will include: 

• How to teach Night within the larger historical framework of the Holocaust; 

• A history of antisemitism for context prior to reading Night;

• An exploration of materials and instructional strategies available in Echoes and Reflections to support effective teaching of the memoir; 

• The use of interdisciplinary materials including art work, photographs, poetry and personal narratives; 

• Identifying significant themes of the memoir

*SCHECHs Pending   REGISTER HERE

It's All About Inquiry: Understanding the Social Studies Standards, C3 Framework and Literacy Essentials

This is a three day training free to all Washtenaw County Educators

In this three day session, we work with educators to build background knowledge of the three documents through a short history and purpose, connecting through the thread of inquiry, and planning for long term work in instruction and assessment in social studies classrooms.

February 27, March 5, March 26

At Milan Middle School Librarium, Milan, MI
REGISTER HERE

The Diverse Lending Library at WISD

Don't forget about the Diverse Lending Library available to all Washtenaw County educators. E-mail me to check out books or ask questions about our books! 

For questions on anything in this Literacy Newsletter- please contact Melissa Brooks-Yip at mbrooksyip@washtenawisd.org 

February

World Read Aloud Day! 

While today, February 1, is officially World Read Aloud Day, we know it is really EVERY day!  

Visit LitWorld for resources such as bookmarks, booklists, and events, but especially for their Read Aloud Guide to get started now and continue in the future. 

SOEL and Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy

We did end up cancelling our January SOEL meetings due to the #polarvortex2019, but let's not forget that we can always see many SOEL teachers demonstrating Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy on the LiteracyEssentials.org site.

In this video, you'll see longtime SOEL member, Roshawda Miller talk about coaching reading in small groups.

Responsive Teaching Institutes

On January 17th, the AI Team of WISD welcomed several guest speakers to another Responsive Teaching Institute.  With over 70 educators attending, many saw Dr. Ernest Morrell present on Critical Media Pedagogy: Culturally Responsive Pedagogies for Diverse Classrooms. 

Join us February 14th  8:30-3:30 at Saline Liberty School to process learning and plan forward for Culturally Relevant Teaching as part of our next Planning and Implementation Day.  Also, save the date for the next Responsive Teaching Institute on March 14th at EMU when we will host Dr. Dorinda Carter Andrews, Dr. Laura Jimenez, Dr. Terry Flennaugh, and Kimberly Wardell Stone.  

Teacher Action Research

Are you interested in learning about Teacher Action Research?  The 4th in our SOEL Teacher Action Research Webinar Series with Dr. Cathy Fleischer will be on February 13th at 4:00.    

No registration is necessary. 

Join us at:  https://zoom.us/j/189529059

**If you missed previous webinars, catch up HERE!

Echoes and Reflections 

Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process, and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. The Holocaust is more than a historical event; it’s part of the larger human story. Educating students about its significance is a great responsibility. We partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world.

Join us February 25th 4:30-8:30 or March 5th 8:30-3:30
FREE.      Register HERE

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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