English Language Arts: Literacy Instruction Standards

On October 7, 2021, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) as outlined in Section V of SB 387: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021. The LIS serve as a framework for the development and alignment of curriculum and instruction for all public schools. These standards are defined as a level of quality and equity to be used consistently within core literacy instruction statewide. While the NC Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) sets student expectations, the LIS and their associated instructional practices set expectations for teaching literacy.  The LIS are organized by grade-band and can be used to ensure that all teachers across North Carolina have a common understanding and delivery of literacy instruction.

While the LIS have been developed by grade bands, they should be used in tandem with appropriate grade-level texts of increasing complexity in order for students to fully meet the demands of the NCSCOS. This LIS framework does not indicate an exhaustive list of literacy instruction practices and may not fully capture all instructional practices that have the potential to positively impact students’ literacy achievement in K-12. New literacy research could modify and/or add to the instructional practices listed.

For information regarding the LIS, be sure to sign up to receive LIS First Friday Updates. Also, please visit the Literacy Instruction Website and view the timeline that details the progress of the LIS implementation

NCDPI K-12 Social Studies On-Demand Professional Learning Sessions

Implementation of the K-12 Social Studies Standards began in August 2021. To support districts, schools, and teachers, the NCDPI Social Studies team released four on-demand professional learning sessions during the 2021-2022 school year.  The following is a description of each session and a link to access it:

• The first on-demand professional learning session is on Using the Unpacking Documents. This recorded PD will allow social studies educators, curriculum leaders, and administrators to gain a better understanding of how to use the Social Studies Unpacking Documents as a tool to plan for, teach, and assess the Social Studies Standards.  
  • Webinar Recording: Using the Unpacking Documents 
    •  Password: Socialstudies!1 (case sensitive)

• The second on-demand professional learning session is on Using the Social Studies Strand Maps. This recorded PD will help you better understand the purpose for, the structure of, and some meaningful ways to use the Strand Maps. Those participating in this training module will gain a better understanding of how to use the Strand Maps as a tool to teach and assess the Social Studies standards. This module will focus on some of the most meaningful uses for the classroom teacher and the curriculum leader.  
  • Webinar Recording: Using the Social Studies Strand Maps
    • Password: Socialstudies!1 (case sensitive)
      
      
• The third on-demand professional learning session is an Introduction to Revised Bloom's Taxonomy (RBT). This recorded PD will help you better understand the purpose of RBT, the difference between the Original Bloom's Taxonomy and the revised versions, how the RBT verbs were used in writing the Social Studies Standards, and the importance of using the RBT verbs to make instructional decisions. 
  • Webinar Recording: Introduction to Revised Bloom's Taxonomy (RBT)
    • Password: Socialstudies!1 (case sensitive)
      

• The fourth on-demand professional learning session is on Integrating Inquiry and the Skills Indicators into your Classroom Instruction. This recorded PD will help you better understand what Inquiry is and the purpose of the Inquiry Indicators in the Social Studies Standards.  Those participating in this training module will gain a better understanding of how to integrate the NC Inquiry Indicators into instruction effectively.
  • Webinar Recording: Integrating Inquiry and the Skills Indicators into your Classroom Instruction
    • Password: Socialstudies!1 (case sensitive)

Resources

• Use this link to access social studies related information that may be useful throughout the school year
• Use this new link to access these recorded sessions and other  K-12 Social Studies Professional Learning Resources and Tools

NCCAT Professional Development Programs

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (www.nccat.org) (NCCAT) provides free professional development to NC educators in residential, online, virtual, school, and regional settings. The professional learning is designed to help educators gain knowledge and skills to support student learning. 

NCCAT's instructional programs incorporate relevant state standards. They reflect the broad range of unique professional development topics for public school teachers and other educators. Challenging formats, combined with professional learning communities, shape the NCCAT offerings.  The seminar faculty model best practices for application to the 21st century classroom.

Spaces fill up quickly. Make plans today to join NCCAT for timely, research-based professional development. Explore some social studies and global education related offerings:

November 7, 2022 - November 10, 2022

16277 Using Social Studies Picture Books as Entry Points - Cullowhee

Picture books are engaging resources that strengthen instruction across subjects, and social studies is no exception. Join this program to explore how children’s books can serve as entry points to elementary social studies concepts. Using social studies picture books as anchors, we will learn reading and writing strategies that deepen students' knowledge of social studies concepts. Teachers will also develop lesson plans to take back to their classrooms. This session is designed for instructional coaches and teachers in grades 3-5.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

November 11, 2022 - November 18, 2022 
16211 Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Reflection - Washington, D.C.

The aim of this program is to gain an understanding of the precursors, events, and consequences of the Holocaust and to grapple with the problem of how best to convey this history and the meaning that it can have in the lives and civic practices of our students. To accomplish this goal, we will explore the exhibits and other resources of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Participants will meet our bus at predetermined locations across the state and then journey together to Washington for this intensive week. Under the guidance of museum staff and teacher fellows, we will study in the museum which has earned an international reputation for the quality of its contents, presentations, architecture, and technology. This program is for educators involved or interested in teaching about the Holocaust to students eleven years of age and older. Please note, two participants will lodge in a hotel room. Additionally, participants must be physically able to walk up to 1 mile over level ground, stand for extended periods, and ride up to 8 hours on an excursion bus without detriment to their health. Five days of substitute teacher costs are covered. Applicants must exhibit a seriousness of interest in the subject matter as expressed in an essay that is reviewed by NCCAT staff as a part of the application process. Please complete the essay using the comments section of the application. This program is designed for educators teaching students in 6th through 12th grade.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

January 9, 2023 - January 13, 2023

16287 Global Ready Schools - Ocracoke

Is your school interested in using the NC Global-Ready Schools Implementation Rubric for school improvement or to receive the NC Global-Ready Schools designation?  During this planning institute, schools will review the attributes of the Rubric, consider what each attribute means in the context of their individual school, assess the school’s readiness, draft a strategic plan and develop next steps for school improvement or to apply for the NC Global-Ready Schools designation. The institute will include whole group discussion to learn from best practices across the state and individual school team planning. Who should attend:  School teams of three to five (including a required administrator). Schools which currently have a Global focus or have previously applied for the NC Global-Ready Schools designation but did not receive it will benefit the most from this institute.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

August 29, 2022 - September 1, 2022 

16190 Crafting Social Studies Inquiries: Grades 6-8 - Ocracoke

Join NCCAT to explore the components of the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) and create compelling inquiry opportunities for students. We will focus on developing supporting questions, gathering and evaluating sources, and using evidence to develop claims in the social studies classroom. This session is designed for social studies teachers in grades 6-8.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

The Global Educator Digital Badge

The NCDPI Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB)  provides an opportunity for educators to focus their professional development on developing their own global context and understanding of how to integrate global education throughout curricula. It also provides the opportunity to build global competency in students. The State Board of Education approved North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB) is available for the following educator categories: 

• Teacher 
• Teacher Leadership Specialist 
• Library Media Coordinator 
• Instructional Technology Facilitator 
• School Counselor 
• Career Development Coordinator 
• School Social Worker, School Psychologist 
• Speech-Language Pathologist 
• Instructional Central Office Staff 
• Principal/Assistant Principal, Superintendent 

In this short video,  educators, who have earned the NCDPI Global Educator Digital Badge (GEDB), shared their thoughts on the benefits of getting the badge and how it has impacted their teaching.  The words of wisdom from the GEDB recipients may help you to make a decision about applying for the badge. For more information on the Badge (SBE Policy, FAQs, Process Flyer, Implementation Guide, MOA), please visit our website or email NCGlobalEducation@dpi.nc.gov.