WCCUSD Elementary ELA Planning for 2014-15 Areas of Focus and Resources for Success! July 31, 2014.

WCCUSDElementary ELA

Planning for 2014-15

Areas of Focusand Resources for Success!

July 31, 2014

Word Warm-up

Try the Word Puzzle – How Many “Time” words can you make?

• What phonological skills and strategies did you use to complete the puzzle?

• Did the Puzzle get easier or harder as you found more words?

Our Goals for Today

• Set up expectations/Areas of Focus For 2014-15

• Develop, refine and reinforce capacity in areas of focus

• Build agendas/have tools and draft plan of action for August 12 and 13

Key Areas of Focus for 2014-15

• Using more informational reading and writing and citing evidence from text to develop students’ competencies in critical thinking, reading, and writing

• Increasing student discourse (collaborative conversations) and academic vocabulary to support more engaged learning

• Using genuine formative assessments to guide instruction

Getting Ready for the Work

Activity: CCSS Word Hunt• Find a partner (or two)• Select only 1 (one) of these Standards

RI: Reading Standards for Informational Text K – 5W: Writing Standards K – 5 SL: Speaking and Listening Standards K – 5

• Re–read your selected standard and find 5 Key words that embody the essence of the standard

• Add your favorite word(s) to the Linoit page sometime during our work today (see green directions sheet)

Close Reading: What and Why

• Let’s read – “Jump In”• Let’s think:– What’s the stated purpose of the first reading?– What’s the stated purpose of the second reading?

• Let’s talk – tell your partner

Purpose of Multiple Readings

• The first reading is about figuring out what the text says.

• The second reading is about figuring out how the text works.

illiterate or untaught?

energetic or fidgety?

old

or a

ntiq

ue?

CONNOTATION AND WORD CHOICE 

moc

ked

or im

itate

d?

unwise or foolish?

Close Reading: What and Why (cont)

• Authors’ Word Choice – A powerful decision in the construction of effective text

• Let’s read again– Why did Shanahan use the word “gleaned” in the

fourth paragraph– Why did Shanahan begin the fifth paragraph with

the word “Thus”?• Let’s talk – tell your partner

Close Reading – Making it work for our students – A Bookmark Tool

Student Discourse – A Tool

Student Discourse – What and How

“Why Talk is Important in Classrooms” - Douglas Fisher

Purposeful Student Talk includes:• Teacher Modeling• Guided Instruction• Collaborative Tasks• Independent Tasks

Tasks:• Read third page of article for more details • Discuss using 1 “Think and Discuss” and 1 “Listen and

Respond” sentence stem from Bookmark Tool

What do these Standards look like in action: A Tool….

The Instructional Practice Guide:

• Helps to distill salient features of standards• Is a communication tool for teachers with

teachers about what CCSS practices include• Is a communication tool for Principals with

teachers to support use of CCSS practices• Is NOT an evaluation tool….

What do these Standards looklike in action: Let’s watch

• Find someone with a “similar symbol”

• Watch classroom video here

• Talk:What connections can you make between the articles we’ve read today, the Instructional Practice Guide AND the classroom video?

Formative Assessments - Critical Opportunity!

• Illuminate provides options for teacher- created “Quick Check” mini tests

• District CCSS-based Benchmark assessments • Teacher daily observation

Informational Reading, Student Discourse and Assessment:

The Connection to Treasures

• Lots of informational text• Vocabulary support and resources• Multiple readings – leading to deep questioning• Built in Student collaboration• Writing tasks include Author – Reader Focus• Quick check and formative assessments with “If……Then……” support• CCSS Teacher Resource Book – Activities for Close Reading,

Collaborative Conversations, Writing and More!!

Resources, Resources….

Materials from today are on main Ed Services page at:http://www.wccusd.net/Page/4584

Lots of other support materials are on the ELA –Elementary page at:

http://www.wccusd.net/Page/3847

“Ticklers and Teasers” are in the left hand pocket of your folder