Imagine if after your students took a skill test, they were provided not only their scores and learning targets, but resources, materials, and a program of study! Introducing the Montana Digital Academy’s EdReady English! This free, personalized college readiness system is designed to support 9-12 grade students as they build and refine the reading, writing, and grammar skills required for success in college courses. Students can self-assess what they currently know, view study options, and follow a personalized study path to fill gaps in knowledge. Educators can see useful data to guide students to success, improve retention, and lay a solid foundation for college completion. Want to learn more? Sign up for EdReady's professional development and training webinars to learn how to help your students prepare for college. You can also check out their quality classroom resources made by expert Montana teachers or link to online instructional video database HippoCampus through the Montana Digital Academy or Contact Virg Hale at virg.hale@montanadigitalacademy.org or (406) 660-1512.

Engage your students in meaningful speaking and listening standards instruction this year! Montana Poetry Out Loud is a great way to offer dynamic instructional activities that culminate in a individual recitation performance that is all about student choice and resonance.  The Montana Arts Council partners with the National Endowment for the Arts to facilitate a nation-wide poetry competition.  Like the structure of the spelling bee, poetry competitions start in your classrooms and top performing students move on to compete at a schoolwide competition organized by participating teachers and school support staff. Regional contestants will then compete for the opportunity to go on  to the National Poetry Out Loud  competition. Classroom and school-wide competitions can be held in-class or virtually depending on your local school's guidance, while State and National events are scheduled to be held virtually this year. To find out more, see the Montana Arts Council Poetry Out Loud guidelines, watch the short video, email Arts Education Director Monica Grable at monica.grable@mt.gov, or contact her by phone at (406) 444-6522.

You're Invited! Please join us for our ELA virtual sharing session for secondary teachers of ELA and literacy starting at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, October 13th and 3:30 pm Tuesday, October 27th. These virtual Zoom meetings will include helpful teaching tools and resources, as well as provide you an opportunity to collaborate with other secondary ELA educators. Let's generate innovative ideas for creative solutions to the unique challenges we face in teaching ELA this year. Late arrivals and early exits welcome! Please visit our Calendar of Fall 2020 OPI Virtual Sharing Sessions page for contact information, Zoom meeting links and icalendar invites. 1 Renewal Unit per session. 

Looking for authentic writing tasks with a real audience for your students? Lead them through selecting a category, preparing for submission, and entering their work in The Scholastic Teen Art and Writing Awards! Students enter their original work in the following Writing Categories: 

Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash  Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Novel Writing, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Short Story, Writing Portfolio (graduating seniors only). 

Submissions are due for the West Region at large by 11:59 pm EST, Friday, December 4, 2020. All Student work is judged blindly by partner affiliates and top performing work is eligible to be considered for publication, awards and scholarships up to $10,000. 

 Get ready for the Awards and learn how to enter today!