How do we interact with digital text?

     I've often wondered how to interact with digital text in a way that might be similar to holding traditional text in hand with my pen and sticky notes.    I've discovered Diigo. Diigo allows highlighting, annotation, and bookmarking of webpages. Readers can use it solo, belong to a group, such that the highlights and annotations they add to a webpage are instantly visible to other group-members who view that webpage.

The version of Diigo for educators allows:

For class use, you can create student accounts for an entire class with just a few clicks (and student email addresses are optional for account creation).

Students of the same class are automatically set up as a Diigo group so they can start using all the benefits that a Diigo group provides, such as group bookmarks and annotations, and group forums.

Privacy settings of student accounts are more restricted.

Ads presented to student account users are limited.

To learn more about how Diigo is being used in classrooms and to get some lesson ideas, please check out:

         Using Diigo in classroom >>

         Using Diigo for Intentional Learning >>

         Power of Diigo for building a PLN >>

         Diigo in Education video >>

         Save, Share, and Teach with Diigo >>

Resources for CCSS

     You may have a few resources on CCSS for educators, but how much do parents know about these standards that are changing our curriculum and instruction?   The National PTA provides parent guides on the ELA and Math CCSS. These include what students should be learning in ELA and Math now, how parents can support this learning at home, and how to build relationships with teachers.   These are free to download.

 Professional Development

     The WISD offers both Reading Apprenticeship and Washtenaw Writing Collaborative training in April.  See the WISD registration site and the AI Team Weebly site for all information. 

     Webinars are gaining popularity, and many are free! Check out the following sources for a list of upcoming and archived webinars for educators:

• PBS Teachers- topics include literature, social studies and technology.

• The Center for Learning - topics include CCSS, instruction and technology

• Education Week- topics include CCSS, technology, instruction, parental involvement. 

Integrating Technology in the Classroom

    When using technology in the classroom, the same factors for effective strategies are true as traditional methods.  The technology must meet the needs of various learners, with audio, video and accessibility. It must also keep the learner engaged and motivated to learn the topic.  If the technology breaks down, the teacher must have a back-up plan, just as in the traditional classroom. 

     Integrating web based technologies makes me think about which tools are the best to use in my environment, for my audience, and for my teaching style. While PowerPoints aren't always the answer, new technologies such as Camtasia may be more flexible and better hold the attention of the audience. 

      I've met my goals by adding to my toolbelt of available technologies to use.  I find myself getting stuck on the same few technologies (Blogs, Wikis, PowerPoints), and rarely venturing out of my comfort zone.  I used a Weebly for an assignment, as well as revisited Webquests. 

     I would like to re-do my StAIR project to be a truly stand alone resource. If done well, perhaps on Camtasia or a Weebly, I believe it could be a good resource for teachers learning CCSS and literacy resources in the content areas. 

Using Technology Tools

     A Handy Tool

     Working with teachers face-to-face is always the best when presenting new information or instructional practices, but what happens in between the time we meet face-to face?   How do we stay in touch, share information, collaborate on plans, or review what was done in our sessions?   I've found a Wikispace to be quite helpful in this instance.  The Wikispace I've created for work with teachers holds all of our meeting agendas, meeting minutes, presentations, plans, and links to related resources.  I can edit and add, but so can any member of our group.  Everything we need for our current projects can be stored on a Wikispace, and can remain in existence even if the group doesn't get to meet in person.\, so past work can be archived here.
    A Wikispace used in this way helps teach follow-up content on best instructional practices by posting video of teachers demonstrating a specific instructional practice (ie. Anita Archer and explicit instruction of content area vocabulary).  If teachers want to tape themselves and get feedback on their teaching practice, they may also post video to the Wiki of themselves.  This collaborative space can meet the needs of providing additional training and feedback when often teachers cannot all physically meet at the same time and place due to busy schedules.

A Not-So-Handy Tool?  

     One thing I always question with the use of this Blog is how do I know it is useful in my work with teachers?  I post, I have some followers, but do teachers really take the time (or have the time?) to read it and go to other related links I post here?  I'm wondering if Blogs are "old" technology and simply not interactive enough to get the most use out of for the purposes of teaching.  Rather than sit and read an online journal, I'm wondering if teachers (and students) would rather access a game, webquest, or use something more interactive like VoiceThread, or simple website to gain information quickly and move-on to use in their practice. Blogs simply require more time to read and ponder before implementing.  Do current students have patience for a blog when there are other tools which may offer more instant gratification?  

Using Wikis!

Did you know East Lansing Public Schools is on Wikipedia?   Take a look!

You can add information about ELPS!   I noticed our many Parent Organizations were not mentioned, so I added that.  If you want to add something, just edit the page and save!

Don't Forget Our ELPS Literacy Wiki

If you haven't seen it, visit it here. This Wiki is meant to be a companion to this Literacy Newsletter Blog and is a place we can store materials, share materials, and collaborate on our current projects.

Here you will find materials for our current projects, such as the RAISE work being done with a group of ELHS teachers, but also past professional development materials, both K-6 and 7-12, CCSS materials, commonly referenced research on reading and writing instruction, and materials you can distribute to parents and/or students.

Please navigate to the various pages by clicking on the links to the right. If you are looking for something, and cannot find it, please do not hesitate to contact me!

UDL: Adolescent Literacy in the Content Area

To meet the needs of all learners, and make learning possible, I have modified my lesson in the Universal Design for Learning model (UDL).  The changes reflect considerations for recognition, strategic, and affective areas.

Goal-directed Instructional Design Plan - Adolescent Literacy in the Content Areas Author - Melissa Brooks-Yip

1       A problem or a need – With Common Core State Standards requiring literacy in all content areas, teachers will need to solidify their understanding of disciplinary literacy and reading for understanding.

2       A real-world performance – how the learning objective fits into a real-world activity or need. Teachers will be aware of, understand, include in their lesson plan, and implement one or more of the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects.

3       An instructional objective – the objectives are based on the final outcome, activity or test. These objectives will each be different for the four types of knowledge; performing skills, recalling facts, identifying examples of concepts, and applying principles. Teachers will read and understand the Common Core State Standards for literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects. Teachers will solidify their understanding of the “Big Five” of adolescent literacy. Teachers will create a lesson plan to incorporate one a reading, writing, speaking, or listening strategy into their content area literacy.

4       A set of essential content – the basic ideas and skills that will allow the learner to complete the task or understand the content Teachers will need to read/review the elements of adolescent literacy in the content area through research articles available online, and other online resources. ·       UDL: Summarize and provide main points in another format. ·       Find or create a webcast explaining the findings of research, or a PowerPoint or other presentation format to include visual/audio cues. http://improvingadollit.weebly.com/ Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practice Reading in the Disciplines Webcast on Adolescent Literacy The role of content area teachers in literacy Content area teachers share tips on literacy instruction Review of professional development sessions on adolescent literacy: UDL: Provide paper copies to those who need it. Vocabulary Comprehension Comprehension 2 Engagement and Motivation Text Dependent Questions After reading the articles, webcasts, and reviewing the professional development presentations, teachers will create their own lesson plan incorporating one of the elements into a lesson in their content area.

5       An evaluation consisting of a test or observation – an assessment, observation or product showing that the objectives can be accomplished in the real-world setting Teachers will submit their final lesson plan to our Companion Wikispace.  The lesson plan must be in the Backwards Design model (Wiggins and McTighe) format and focus on incorporating one of the five elements of adolescent literacy into their content areas, and meeting at least one CCSS. Teachers will deliver the lesson to their students and video tape the teaching.  A follow-up lesson will be to watch and reflect upon the lesson with their TLT partner (Teachers Learning Together).

6       A method to help participants learn – the method to deliver the content; a lesson. In addition to meeting with me personally after reviewing our past professional development sessions as outlined above, teachers may use the following resources for ideas and examples: *UDL: for continued support, Provide chat sessions (Adobe Connect, Google Hangout). -Provide one-on-one time on the telephone. Utilize Google Docs to provide feedback on student work and/or work on it with them. Adlit.org Classroom Strategies ReadWriteThink

●      Motivation: ○   Meaningfullness – content and activities must have meaning for the learner. This lesson and activity begins to meet the CCSS expectations for teachers to incorporate literacy in the content areas.  Administrators look for this upon teacher evaluation. ○   Pleasant consequences – the effects that achieving the goal will have on the learner Knowledge of meeting teaching objectives, CCSS, and the needs of their students as learners. ○   Novelty – an attention-getting, humorous or curious manner that relates to the useful information in your lesson Several online resources are available: Blogs, videos, and example plans, in addition to face-to-face time with myself (literacy consultant/instructional coach) and a peer/fellow teachers. Literacy Newsletter Blog Companion Wikispace Adlit.org ReadWriteThink

●      Socialization - a strong motivator for student learning Teachers work with their TLT partner, formerly arranged through work Kevin Feldman training around student engagement and motivation.  These partners frequently work together on plannig and observing each others teaching.  Trust has been built between these teaching partners.

●      Audience – For what audience are you designing this lesson? Consider the following: ○   Age:  Adult learners- content area teachers ○   Skill level (including technology skills).  All adults are college educated, although technology skill level may vary. ○   Prerequisite knowledge (including technology background): Teachers will need to know basic lesson plan design, and how to access our past professional development on our Blog and Wikispace. UDL: Provide some background knowledge of the lesson plan structure and technology (via article or video) or one-on-one support.

●      Technology Needs – the computers, software, programs (such as Angel or other CMS’s) printers, equipment, Internet access, time in the computer lab will be needed to successfully complete your technology-rich lesson. Teachers may use the PC with internet access available in their classrooms.