April

Quick Reads on Literacy Instruction 

• This Edutopia article gives us five reminders about best practices in literacy instruction in all classrooms.  Read the entire article for more details on audience, interests, conversations, modeling and accountability around literacy in the classroom. 

• This TeachingHistory article gives us tips on how to teach reading of primary documents. 

• This article on teaching content area literacy and disciplinary literacy highlights the importance of both as well as differences between the two.

Summer Learning Opportunities

Disciplinary Literacy Institute 

•  for teachers of all subjects grades 6-12   
•  June 28, 29, 30  at Eastern Michigan University
• $25-  SCHECHS available

SOEL- Study of Early Literacy 

• for teachers in PreK- grade 3    
• August 1-5   8:30-3:30 at Pathfinder School, Pinckney  
• FREE for WISD/LESA teachers-  SCHECHS available

*See flyers below for information and registration.

March

March is Reading Month 2016 is all about reading for EVERYONE- students of all grade levels, in every content area, and all educators, too!  View the two minute video from our state superintendent, Brian Whiston, and then check out the plethora of resources at the MDE March is Reading Month website  and the Michigan eLibrary (MeL). 

Upcoming Professional Learning

Assessing Student Metacognition

March 7, 9:00-3:00 at WISD

     This professional development course is for teachers who would like to teach their students to demonstrate metacognitive thought processes through text annotation. This one day class is divided into three parts: first, we consider what metacognition is by looking at the brain science behind the concepts of short term memory and executive function; then we share classroom practices for direct teaching of specific metacognitive reading and writing strategies through text annotation; and finally, we practice how to assess students’ annotations with tools like the Curriculum Embedded Reading Assessment.  
                                    $40.00  Register HERE

Writing Collaborative:  SAT Essay Edition

March 11, 2016    9:00-3:00  at WISD

This workshop aims to form an understanding of the SAT Essay in order to support students in:

- differences in ACT and SAT writing;

- examining authors claim;

- analysis of writing;

- looking at the structure of argument in writing;

- resources for support;

- how the SAT Essay is scored

$25  Register HERE

Reading, Thinking and Writing About History

A Virtual Book Chat with author Dr. Chauncey Monte-Sano

Join us April 21 from 4:00-5:00 on Adobe Connect to learn about Reading, Thinking, and Writing About History.  You need not have the book to join the conversation.  Register HERE!

Summer Professional Learning

SOEL Summer Institute: Registration is now open!

February

Literacy Networks of WISD/LESA

SOEL 

The Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) network for PreK-3 educators is in the third year of practice. We now host meetings on sight at SOEL teacher's schools which allows us to see SOEL practices in action. The Big Learnings of SOEL are proving successful for student growth in early elementary classrooms and are aligned to top literacy researchers, Dr. Nell Duke and Dr. Tanya Wright.   

**SAVE the DATE for the SOEL Summer Institute August 1-5 in Pinckney to join the SOEL network.  More information to come soon. 

IDLL 

The Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning (IDLL) Network is in the first year of practice. IDLL, for secondary teachers, builds on the Reading Apprenticeship and Writing Collaborative foundations by diving into more recent research around disciplinary literacy.  Our Disciplinary Literacy Showcase at EMU last month provided the opportunity to talk with mathematicians, scientists, and writers about their authentic writing practices. Teachers shared lessons from their classroom, and listened to a college student panel explain experiences with writing in the disciplines as young adults.   *SAVE the DATE for the Disciplinary Literacy Institute June 28, 29, 30 at EMU.  

Upcoming Professional Development

Reading Apprenticeship Training: 5 Day Cross Content 

This training is a full five days: February 22, 23, 24 AND March 22, 23 at WISD  REGISTER HERE 

This updated training includes five full days of content with three trained facilitators, a binder of materials to use during and after the training, and a copy of the best-selling and newly updated book, Reading for Understanding, which describes the Reading Apprenticeship framework with examples from many subject area classrooms, ranging from middle school through community college.

$250     SCHECHS Available.

Assessing Student Metacognition

March 7, 9:00-3:00 at WISD

     This professional development course is for teachers who would like to teach their students to demonstrate metacognitive thought processes through text annotation. This one day class is divided into three parts: first, we consider what metacognition is by looking at the brain science behind the concepts of short term memory and executive function; then we share classroom practices for direct teaching of specific metacognitive reading and writing strategies through text annotation; and finally, we practice how to assess students’ annotations with tools like the Curriculum Embedded Reading Assessment.  $40.00 (Free with 5 Day RA registration).

Register HERE

Writing Collaborative:  SAT Essay Edition

March 11, 2016    9:00-3:00  at WISD

This workshop aims to being an understanding of the SAT Essay in order to support students in:

- Differences in ACT and SAT writing

- Examining authors claim

- Analysis of writing

- Looking at the structure of argument in writing

- Resources for support

- How the SAT Essay is scored.

$25  Register HERE

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SAT ESSAY.  OTHER PORTIONS OF THE SAT WILL NOT BE COVERED.

January

Vocabulary is Where It's At!

One of the key indicators of students' success in school, on tests, and certainly in life, is their vocabulary.  There are many ways to approach the teaching of vocabulary. Check out this ReadWriteThink collection for ideas at every level, including concept sorts and Word Walls. 

     Professional Development in 2016! 

BLiC-  Blended Learning in the Classroom 

*One face-to-face meeting January 20th 4:30-7:30, followed by 15 weeks online.

 This free Blended Learning in the Classroom course is led by a highly trained instructor and will prepare participants to effectively create their own blended environment. Through active and timely praxis, participants will engage in learning, application, review, and revision of their own blended environment. This course is for classroom teachers of students of all ages, covering the theory, pedagogy, and technical elements of online work in the blended classroom. Please see the informational video here.

*SCHECHS available 

 Register HERE 

Reading Apprenticeship Training:5 Day Cross Content 

This training is a full five days: February 22, 23, 24 AND March 22, 23  REGISTER HERE 

This updated training includes five full days of content with three trained facilitators, a binder of materials to use during and after the training, and a copy of the best-selling and newly updated book, Reading for Understanding, which describes the Reading Apprenticeship framework with examples from many subject area classrooms, ranging from middle school through community college.

 Reading Apprenticeship® is a research-based and research-proven instructional framework for improving the academic literacy of middle school, high school, and college students.

Three recent randomized controlled studies found that students in Reading Apprenticeship classrooms made significant gains in literacy and disciplinary knowledge. They also developed more positive academic identities and dispositions for reading and learning.

$250     SCHECHS Available  

Assessing Student Metacognition

     This professional development course is for teachers who would like to teach their students to demonstrate metacognitive thought processes through text annotation. This one day class is divided into three parts: first, we consider what metacognition is by looking at the brain science behind the concepts of short term memory and executive function; then we share classroom practices for direct teaching of specific metacognitive reading and writing strategies through text annotation; and finally, we practice how to assess students’ annotations with tools like the Curriculum Embedded Reading Assessment.  $40.00

Register HERE

The 4T Virtual Conference: May 21-23, 2016

Apply to present

Register to Attend

Happy Holidays to IDLL and SOEL!

SOEL and IDLL Holiday

4T Virtual Conference!

The 4T Virtual Conference: May 21-23, 2016

Apply to present

Register to Attend

December

The IDLL Network

The Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning met November 19 on the topic of disciplinary writing.  Our article for that day was Teaching with a Disciplinary Stance, examining the difference between content area literacy and disciplinary literacy. This will prepare the group for the Disciplinary Literacy Showcase on January 14, 2016 at EMU with professors and students.   

Teachers have SOEL! 

Classroom Snapshot #1: Study of Early Literacy elements of Vocabulary, Authentic Purposes for Literacy, & Integration

Text Set

In a collaboration between a K and a 1st grade SOEL teacher, their combined classroom spent time on a very intentional, and relevant project of campaigning and the election process.  Students learned to read, write, and speak about the election process using specific vocabulary words such as campaign, polling booth, debate, election, registration, and ballot, all collected in a journal.  The teachers acted as candidates themselves, modeling slogans and announcement speeches in their running for best Pumpkin Baker. After learning about the election and campaign process through modeling, text sets, and real world examples, students were able to sign up for specific jobs to run a campaign and election process, such as debate team, registration team, and being in charge of ballots. 

   At the end of the project, students created brochures to explain the election process which were then made available to voters on election day, since their school was used as a polling location.  This is purposeful and authentic literacy in action with our youngest learners!

Winter 2016 Professional Development 

BLiC-  Blended Learning in the Classroom 

*One face-to-face meeting January 20th 4:30-7:30, followed by 15 weeks online.

 This free Blended Learning in the Classroom course is led by a highly trained instructor and will prepare participants to effectively create their own blended environment. Through active and timely praxis, participants will engage in learning, application, review, and revision of their own blended environment. This course is for classroom teachers of students of all ages, covering the theory, pedagogy, and technical elements of online work in the blended classroom. Please see the informational video here.

*SCHECHS available 

 Register HERE 

Reading Apprenticeship Training:5 Day Cross Content 

This training is a full five days: February 22, 23, 24 AND March 22, 23  REGISTER HERE 

This updated training includes five full days of content with three trained facilitators, a binder of materials to use during and after the training, and a copy of the best-selling and newly updated book, Reading for Understanding, which describes the Reading Apprenticeship framework with examples from many subject area classrooms, ranging from middle school through community college.

 Reading Apprenticeship® is a research-based and research-proven instructional framework for improving the academic literacy of middle school, high school, and college students.

Three recent randomized controlled studies found that students in Reading Apprenticeship classrooms made significant gains in literacy and disciplinary knowledge. They also developed more positive academic identities and dispositions for reading and learning.

$250     SCHECHS Available  

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

October

The IDLL Network

Our Inquiry into Disciplinary Literacy and Learning (IDLL) group met for the first time on September 24. With our foundation of Reading Apprenticeship and Writing Collaborative, we are coming together to take a deeper dive into the latest work around disciplinary literacy in grades 4-12. We read Collaborating for Success: The Vital Role of Content Teachers in Developing Disciplinary Literacy with Students in Grades 6-12.  Read with us if you'd like to get a taste for what IDLL is all about!

A Network with SOEL

The Study of Early Literacy (SOEL) network welcomed new members on September 30, launching our third year of learning and practice around early literacy instruction in grades PreK-3.  Some of our studies will include Dr. Tanya Wright's (MSU) All About Words and Dr. Nell Duke's  (UM) Information in Action.   

Finding Informational Text

Research has proven that students in all grades should be reading informational text throughout their day, but sometimes it is difficult to find appropriate informational texts outside the textbooks. ReadWorks.org has a collection of K-12 science articles, searchable passages by topic and lexile and grade level articles.

Upcoming Professional Development

SAVE THE DATE for the 4T Virtual Conference!