Literacy Professional Learning- Summer 2017

Please click and scroll through each Smore flyer to read all information and access registration links. 
 Contact Melissa Brooks-Yip at mbrooksyip@washtenawisd.org /734-994-8100 ext. 1266  with questions. 

April

 Diverse Books in your Classroom

 We Need Diverse Books helps educators identify books and other materials that reflect children's backgrounds, personal and cultural experiences.  Visit the WNDB site for lists of books and where to find them.   WNDB also offers grants for educators! 

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

SAVE THE DATE! MAY 20-22, 2017

The 2017 4T Virtual Conference will be held on May 20, 21, and 22.  Register HERE

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June 27, 28, 29, 2017 at EMU Student Center

This workshop will help you become part of the school reform conversation as you learn to develop your own personal stories into a public narrative. By day three, you'll have an action plan to take back. Register here.  Facilitated by Dr. Cathy Fleischer, co-director of the EMWP and author of Teachers Organizing for Change. 

March

Interactive Read Aloud

   If you are new to Interactive Read Alouds, March is Reading Month is a good time to start making it a routine in your classroom.  

Disciplinary Literacy:  

A Shift that Makes Sense

University of Michigan School of Education Dean and Researcher Elizabeth Moje (2010) deepens the definition of disciplinary literacy by arguing that disciplinary learning doesn't just build knowledge but actually produces or constructs it. 

Read Disciplinary Literacy: A Shift that Makes Sense by ReLeah Lent for more on the disciplinary literacy shift.  

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

February

World Read Aloud Day is February 16!

 World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words and creates a community of readers taking action to show the world that the right to literacy belongs to all people. 

World Read Aloud Day is celebrated by millions of people in more than 100 countries thanks to people like you who participate and spread the word across the globe!

To get excited for World Read Aloud Day 2017, or to rev up your read aloud routine at any time of the year, download World Read Aloud Day 2017 materials. 

Read Aloud. Change the World.

What could Read Aloud look and sound like? 

Professional Learning Opportunities

REMC Events-   Educational Technology & Professional Learning

February 2017, TRIG/Dell Online Professional Development Courses Each free course is 4 weeks requiring a total of 6 hours work. There will be two webinars during the course. Registration open until 2/10/17. SCECHs are available. February 13 - June 1,  Technology in Leadership Series: 21 Things 4 Administrators  A "Just in Time” training through an online interface for K-12 administrators. Choose one or all five Capstone experiences related to the International Society for Educational Technology Standards for Administrators (ISTE-A).   February 23, Research Writing Rewired Step into a high school classroom where students generate their own inquiry questions, explore a variety of texts from novels to non-fiction, from podcasts to photographs and, through their work, rewire the research process.. March 16 & 17, REMC “SAVINGS MAKER” booth #613, MACUL Conference. Cobo Center, Detroit. Play our game, win prizes and get “hands-on” with the Classroom Maskers kit materials.  August 1 & 2, The REMC Association of Michigan is excited to announce MI Moot 2017 – Transforming Classrooms, Lansing Community College West.  We've transformed the MI Moodle Moot conference to better meet the needs of educators committed to implementing effective change within their classrooms.  Sessions will focus on using free resources and tools, including Moodle, to provide an energizing and impactful experience for all participants.

Copyright © 2017 REMC Association of Michigan, All rights reserved. Visit us on the web at  http://www.remc.org/

Additional Opportunities in our area: 

Disciplinary Literacies Showcase-
How to Really Prepare Students for College and Career Writing
February 11 (Saturday), 9 am – 2 pm

EMU Student Center

Join colleagues from across the disciplines and subject areas at both the secondary and college level to talk about writing—and about how we can help our students make smooth transitions across the grade levels and into the workplace

Please register for the event here.

*This workshop is free to all participants

January 2017

2017- A Year to Use Our Literacies to Make a Positive Difference!

  Our reading, writing, speaking, listening and thinking skills are used to make sense of our everyday world.  How can we use them as thoughtful educators in today's classroom? How can we teach students to use them to care for themselves and for those around them?   

* Thanks to the National School Reform Faculty (NSRF), the creators of Critical Friends Groups (CFG), newsletter for featuring several resources on this topic and to nycore.org. 

Speaking and Listening to Make a Difference-

YES Magazine outlines 8 Strategies for Confronting Hate that teach us to utilize our speaking and listening skills to combat hate:

• Educate yourself
• Be the first to speak
• Practice being conspicuous
• Ask for help
• Find a heroic role model
• Make connections with people different from you
• Ask people what they really need
• Press the mental pause button

Critical Reading and Thinking to Make a Difference- 

Teaching Tolerance provides resources for teachers to help students use critical reading and thinking strategies to read Beyond Taglines and Headlines:

1. Determine a topic of relevance to your current classroom objectives or a current event.
2. Find two to three recent news sources (preferably from varying points of view) reporting on the topic. Do some fact-checking to make sure they’re real sources.
3. Read the articles with students.
4. Then, use the following questions to engage students in critical analysis of the articles.

• To analyze sources and evidence
  How does the author’s position, attitude, beliefs or point of view affect the validity of this source in relation to the topic?

• To make connections
  How do the attitudes, beliefs or points of view of the author or speaker connect to history and to other sources?

• For chronological reasoning
  How might the author and their message have been influenced by what was happening at the time this source was created?

• To create and support an argument
  How might the author’s or speaker’s attitudes, beliefs or points of view affect the argument or claim they made? How does my positioning relative to the author, topic or speaker affect my critique of this source?

Writing to Make a Difference-

On page 18 of WriteOn! Writing for Social Justice, the authors provide a collection of multi-grade level lesson plans, writing prompts, student writing, classroom activities, and other resources to encourage writing for social justice.   

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Upcoming Professional Learning

Additional Opportunities

Digital Discoveries for Black History Month with MeL. Find out where to locate material that can be used in the library and classroom during Black History Month.  This webinar is geared toward Media Specialists, teachers, and other K-12 staff.

There are two times for this hour-long webinar.  Please be sure to register and save your spot:

• Thursday January 19, 2017:   10:00 AM (EST)

• Thursday January 19, 2017: 4:00 PM (EST)

Disciplinary Literacies Showcase:
How to Really Prepare Students for College and Career Writing
February 11 (Saturday), 9 am – 2 pm

EMU Student Center

Join colleagues from across the disciplines and subject areas at both the secondary and college level to talk about writing—and about how we can help our students make smooth transitions across the grade levels and into the workplace

Please register for the event here.

*This workshop is free to all participants

Happy Holidays to SOEL and IDLL!

December

Holiday Gift Guide: Build a Children's Book Library in Every Room!  

From Scholastic Blog

Share with parents the importance of books in the home!  

Scholastic Reading Club editors created a “top book picks” list for every room in the home and every age group from ages 0-17.  

Share this holiday gift list to help find the right book for every child. Happy Holidays!

CHILD’S BEDROOM

• 0-5 years: How to Dress a Dragon by Thelma Lynne Godin, illustrated by Eric Barclay
• 6-8 years: Goodnight, Grizzle Grump by Aaron Blecha
• 9-11 years: Jingle by Gordon Korman
• 12-14 years: Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle, illustrated by Jason Katzenstein
• 15-17 years: Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe  by Benjaamin Alire Sáenz

FAMILY/LIVING ROOM

• 0-5 years: Over the River & Through the Wood by Linda Ashman
• 6-8 years:  Too Many Toys by David Shannon
• 9-11 years: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling
• 12-14 years: Ghosts and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
• 15-17 years: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

PLAYROOM

• 0-5 years: Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall
• 6-8 years:  Lego Pop-Up by Matthew Reinhart
• 9-11 years: Gaming Live! by Scholastic
• 12-14 years: The World of the Hunger Games: The Official Coloring Book  by Scholastic
• 15-17 years: Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

HOME OFFICE

• 0-5 years: This Little President by Joan Holub; illustrated by Daniel Roode
• 6-8 years: Fly Guy Presents: The White House by Tedd Arnold
• 9-11 years: Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire by Sundee T. Fraizer
• 12-14 years: Geek Girl: Picture Perfect by Holly Smale
• 15-17 years: In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero & Michelle Burford

DINING ROOM

• 0-5 years: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! By Lucielle Colandro, illustrated by Jared D. Lee
• 6-8 years: Judy Moody and Stink: The Wisbone Wish by Megan McDonald; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
• 9-11 years: Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
• 12-14 years: Getting Over Garrett Dulaney by Abby McDonald
• 15-17 years:  To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

BATHROOM

• 0-5 years: Pigeon Needs a Bath! By Mo Willems
• 6-8 years: There’s a Zombie in My Bathtub by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
• 9-11 years: Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000by Dav Pilkey
• 12-14 years: The Fashion Book by DK Publishing
• 15-17 years: Trapped by Michael Northrop

KITCHEN

• 0-5 years: If You Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff; llustrated by Felicia Bond
• 6-8 years: The Cheese Experiment by Geronimo Stilton
• 9-11 years: Pie by Sarah Weeks
• 12-14 years: The Omnivore’s Dilemma for Young Readers by Michael Pollan
• 15-17 years: Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

Upcoming Professional Development

January 25:  No More Reading Instruction Without Differentiation    

**This is in support of Essential #3 of the Essentials of Instruction in Early Literacy 

Click title for flyer

February 23:  Research Writing Re-Wired with Dr. Troy Hicks   
*For secondary teachers of all subjects.  Click title for flyer.


March 6, 7 and 21:  Reading Apprenticeship 3 Day Workshop
* Open ONLY to Washtenaw and Livingston County. Click title for registration.


SAVE the DATE:   March 23-   Reading, Writing, Speaking and Thinking Within the Disciplines with Releah Lent.   Registration to come!  

****For registration help, please contact Teri May at 734-994-8100 ext 1222 or tmay@washtenawisd.org****  

November

Engaging and Motivating Readers! 

In No More Reading for Junk: Best Practices for Motivating Readers, Marinak and Gambrell point out the research against extrinsic rewards for reading, such as tokens or food.  

Reading rewards should be related to reading!   
  
Reading related rewards include: 

• "Book Blessings" (promoting books)
• Encouraging social interaction around books
• Allowing students choice of where and what to read
• Honoring all print (books, comics, newspapers...)
• Promoting reading for a variety of purposes
• Encouraging honest critiques
• Showing examples of a book you didn't like- and explain why. 
• Celebrating all reading- not just completion of books. 

To learn more, read No More Reading for Junk.

Upcoming Professional Learning

October

No Longer Invisible: How Diverse Literature Helps Children Find Themselves in Books, and Why it Matters

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Council Chronicle published this piece last month. It showcases K-12 teachers around the country who have worked to include diverse literature in their classrooms and what a difference this is making in teaching and learning.   Also included is a resource list for teachers seeking to use more diverse texts.  See the article HERE.

Upcoming Professional Learning for October and November

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!