September

K-12 Digital Resources for Text

Check out CommonLit for texts for upper level students.  Users can search by Lexile, grade level, genre, and theme. There are also paired texts and each passage includes text-dependent questions. 

Another wonderful free resource for text comes from MeL.org.  

Administered by the Library of Michigan in partnership with Michigan's libraries of all types, the Michigan eLibrary (http://mel.org) will provide all Michigan residents with free access to online full-text articles, full-text books, digital images, and other valuable research information at any time via the Internet; and provide an easy-to-use interlibrary loan system to allow Michigan residents to borrow books and other library materials for free from participating Michigan libraries.

Fall Professional Learning Opportunities

Middle and High School Teachers!

IDLL begins September 22! 

The Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning is a professional learning network for secondary teachers of all subject areas. 

Through book study, lesson study, guest speakers and teacher practice, we will examine:

• What reading, writing, speaking and listening looks like in the disciplines.  
• What we can do to best prepare students to meet the disciplinary demands of college and career reading and writing, with attention to standards.
• Dates: September 22, October 27, January 26, March 23, May 25

Register HERE

Life's Better...When You Blend

October 5, 2016    $25

Register HERE  and see more information
*This session, for grades 6-12 teachers of all content areas, will evaluate how blended learning can be used to personalize learning for students. 

Writing Collaborative Three Day Workshop

October 13, 14 and November 3   $125   Register HERE and see full description *This is most useful for grades 4-12 teachers of all subject areas.  It is centered on writing in the content areas. SCHECHs available

Essentials Instructional Practices in Early Literacy 

October 26, 2016 

PreK-3 Administrators, Literacy Coaches, and Literacy Leaders-

join us for learning about the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy!

There is considerable interest across the United States in increasing the number of children who are reading at grade level by the end of third grade (e.g., Rose, 2012). Some responses to this interest, such as mandatory retention policies, are not supported by the weight of research evidence (e.g., Reschly & Christenson, 2013). In contrast, research offers substantial support for the impact of professional development, coaching, and specific instructional practices on literacy growth (e.g., Carlisle & Berebitsky, 2011; Purcell-Gates, Duke, & Stouffer, in press; Yoon, Duncan, Lee, Scarloss, & Shapley, 2007).

In Michigan, an Early Literacy Task Force has been formed to support professional development, coaching, and the use of research-supported instructional practices statewide.

The Essentials rely heavily on research and focus on high-utility instructional practices. Participants will get an awareness of the Essentials and determine the strengths and challenges of literacy instruction in their own schools in relation to these. 

** See flyer and register HERE

Echoes and Reflections & Wiesel's Night

November 2, 2016  $25 Register HERE and see full description *This is most useful for middle and high school ELA  and social studies teachers. SCHECHs available

Writing Collaborative:  SAT Essay Edition

November 17    $25 Register HERE and see more information *High school ELA and Social Studies teachers  will understand SAT writing in order to support students. SCHECHs available ********************************  STAY TUNED for Winter Professional Learning offerings! Reading Apprenticeship 3-Day Training  (interest survey)

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Click to find out! 

November

Connected Reading

  On October 8th, Dr. Troy Hicks led a workshop on approaches for digital texts. As we adopt smartphones and tablets for 1:1 instruction, we need to review our efforts at comprehension instruction for all kinds of digital texts. Based on a survey of over 800 adolescents, Troy and participants discussed principles of "Connected Reading" and how we can adapt existing comprehension strategies in digital spaces, and explored new opportunities for finding, managing, and reflecting on digital texts. See our whole day documented on the companion Wikispace.

The SAT Essay  

4T Virtual Conference Needs Presenters!

     We are seeking motivated, imaginative, and forward-thinking educators to present at our 4T (Teachers Teaching Teachers about Technology) Virtual Conference in May 2016. These K-12 teachers and administrators use technology to enhance communication and learning in their classrooms and schools. Read more and apply HERE!

     Upcoming Professional Development

September

International Literacy Day

This happens to fall on our first day of school this year!  The International Literacy Association has named this year "People Power: Start a Literacy Movement." ILA provides an activity kit for all ages inspired by their focus country, the Philippines. You can also build a Little Free Library as a service project to celebrate literacy all year round. If you celebrate International Literacy Day, ILA asks that you share on social media with #ILD15 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

Michigan Reads! One Book One State Children's Book Program

This year's book is Do Unto Otters: A Book about Manners by Laurie Keller.  Are you new to Michigan Reads?  Check out the video , overview, and programming guide available from the Library of Michigan. 

Upcoming Professional Development

At Eastern Michigan University

EdCamp EMWP:

Total Contact Literacy

October 24, 2015

8:00am-4:30pm

Pray-Harrold Hall

Eastern Michigan University

More details at

http://edcampemwp.blogspot.com

June

It's June!  

How do you Keep Calm and Teach On at this time of year? 
K-12 Teachers from our literacy networks shared many suggestions in our May meetings that keeps kids engaged so you can teach on:

• Get outside!  This is a good time for students to write using the five senses, nature observations, the health benefits of being outdoors or a myriad of other things that come to us with a change of scenery. 

• Reflect!  Teachers and students need to reflect upon all the hard work done throughout the year.  Take some time to review all of that and write reflection letters to yourselves or parents.  

• Storytelling!    If you feel you didn't read aloud as much as you wanted to this year, or your students like oral storytelling, make time for that now. It's engaging for all age groups.

• Try a new tool!  Exercise skills learned throughout the year with a new tool:
• Pinterest for creating food groups/healthy meal boards
• This I Believe writing
• Kahoot game based learning
• Aurasma presentations for augmented reality
• Wonderopolis to explore the many questions kids have.

Summer Reading

Keep your students reading this summer with these SUMMER READING LISTS 
and SUMMER READING PROGRAMS.   

Summer Professional Development

  Writing Collaborative

June 16, 17, 18     WISD     8:30-3:00     Open to all grade 4-12 teachers      $125

REGISTER HERE

 Helping teachers and students understand writing in the content areas in order to make explicit the processes and strategies needed to improve student writing.

**All trainings are three days in length: 

 Lunch not provided.  SCHECHS available.

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The Study of Early Literacy  

 August 3-7    8:30-3:30  WISD   FREE

 ( Open to PreK-3 Livingston and Washtenaw Educators only) 

The Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) is a committed group of PreK-3 educators learning, researching, and applying best practices in the teaching of early literacy.  While SOEL gears up for our third year, we are pleased that our work has led to a publication in the Michigan Reading Journal.  

Interested in joining us this summer and for the 2015-2016 school year?  Read and complete this form or contact me at mbrooksyip@washtenawisd.org or 734-994-8100 ext. 1266.

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Echoes and Reflections:  Holocaust Education

August 27, 2015   8:30-3:30 at WISD. 

Open to ALL Social Studies teachers in grades 6-12  FREE SCHECHS availableLunch not provided.

Echoes and Reflections is a comprehensive Holocaust education program that delivers professional development and a rich array of resources for middle and high school teachers. Echoes and Reflections prepares educators to teach about the Holocaust in a way that stimulates engagement and critical thinking while providing opportunities for students to see the relevance of this complex history to their own lives. 
See more information HERE 

REGISTER HERE

December

The Early Language Gap is About More than Words

      Our Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) group here at WISD has been deep into reading recent research and learning from top experts at local universities.  Dr. Tanya Wright from MSU shared this video illustrating the importance of teaching more than just vocabulary words. Look below the "tip of the iceberg" to reveal what is included in truly understanding the meaning of a word.

*from the Shanker Institute

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Writing Collaborative: Addressing Instruction for 21st Century Writing Skills

Writing Collaborative was developed at WISD by five Washtenaw County teachers. The mission of Writing Collaborative is to understand writing in content areas in order to make explicit the processes and strategies needed to expand and improve student writing. Writing Collaborative believes that:

•        Teachers should maintain ownership for their                         students’ writing in their content area.
•        An interdisciplinary approach is key to improving                   student writing.
•        Content area teachers who understand their own                   writing processes are the best mentors for their                     student writers.
•        Teachers are the best teachers of other teachers.
•        Educational practice should be balanced with theory             and research.
•        Students should have flexibility and choice when                   writing.
•        Reading Apprenticeship provides a foundation for                 better writing instruction. 

Interested in training?  

     During the initial 3-day training, Writing Collaborative helps teachers help their students determine:

Ø  What we do when we write

Ø  The practices of successful writers

Ø  How to help students attend to their metacognition and
      make thoughtful choices as writers

Ø  Four Sure Things Teachers Can Do to Improve Student Writing

·       Mind the GAP:  genre, audience, purpose

·       Use models and modeling

·       Increase opportunities for students to write

·       Give appropriate feedback

*See the bottom of this post for dates and registration info. 

*We are interested in learning more about the needs of teachers in the area of writing instruction.  Please take this SHORT SURVEY to help us continue quality professional development in this area. 

*Have you already been trained in Writing Collaborative?   If you are a secondary science or social studies teacher looking to work more on your content area writing instruction, Dr. Chauncey Monte-Sano and Dr. Leah Bricker at the University of Michigan are offering opportunities. Contact Melissa Brooks-Yip at mbrooksyip@wash.k12.mi.us or 734-994-8100 ext 1266

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Finding the Right Books for Common Core-

Aligned Reading

            In  Reading Today, Lauren Aimonette Liang (University of Utah), Naomi Watkins (University of La Verne), and Deanna Day (Washington State University/Vancouver) suggest ways to find challenging, high-quality texts that match the criteria of the Common Core State Standards. “Be aware of the various types of nonfiction, and strive to include a variety in classrooms,” they urge. Teachers should also consider different formats: picture books, magazines, novels, how-to guides, and a variety of informational texts. 

They suggest the following websites as resources:

• Booklist: http://booklistonline.com/commoncore

• International Reading Association: www.reading.org/elacommoncore

• Hornbook’s Nonfiction Notes:

www.hbook.com/notes-from-the-horn-book-newsletter/nonfiction-notes-from-the-horn-book

• School Library Journal: www.slj.com/category/standards/common-core

• Text Project: www.textproject.org

• World of Words: http://wowlit.org

In addition, Liang, Watkins, and Day recommend the following books (each with a Lexile level):

• Island: A Story of the Galapagos (J. Chin, Neal Porter/Roaring Brook, 2012 – 900L)

• Lincoln’s Grave Robbers (S. Sheinkin, Scholastic, 2012 – 930L)

• Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk Into Treasure (M. Wolfe, Feiwel and Friends, 2013 – 1030L)

• Frog Song (F.Z. Guiberson, Henry Hold & Company, 2013 – 950L)

• The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure (M. W. Sandler,

Candlewick, 2012 – 1270L)

• Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure (J. Murphy,

Clarion Books, 2012 – 1200L)

“Selecting Quality Nonfiction Classroom Texts That Meet CCSS Qualifications” by Lauren Aimonette Liang, Naomi Watkins, and Deanna Day in Reading Today, October/November 2013 (Vol. 31, #2, p. 25-27), www.reading.org; the authors can be reached at Lauren.Liang@utah.edu, naomiwatkins@laverne.edu and dday-wiff@vancouver.wsu.edu. 

**Shared from Marshall Memo #511

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Upcoming Literacy Professional Development

Writing Collaborative (grades 4-12):

February 6, 7, and March 7, 2014 at WISD 8:30-3:30

April 29, 30, and May 16, 2014 at WISD 8:30-3:30  *See flyer here  

Reading Apprenticeship (grades 4-12):

January 28, 29 and February 12, 2014  at WISD 8:30-3:30

April 22, 23 and May 14, 2014 at WISD 8:30-3:30  *See flyer here

Speaker: Dr. Timothy Shanahan on elementary literacy and the CCSS.  March 11th , 2014  12:30

*All details, costs, and registrations can be found on WISDGoSignMeUP!