February 2020
In this issue:
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is excited to share Spanish-language versions of the Oklahoma Family Guides for English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science and Social Studies for Pre-K through sixth grade.
The OSDE Family Guides are resources aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards and developed specifically for Oklahoma families to complement classroom learning. They illustrate what is expected of students at each grade level in different content areas along with activities families can do at home to further support children's learning experiences.
The content information in these family guides is a snapshot of learning in the individual grade levels. For a complete set of academic standards for ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, visit the Oklahoma-academic-standards.
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Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 16th-23rd. Spread kindness all week long by choosing from the engagement ideas listed below. Incorporating kindness and mindfulness lessons is easy and can further your impact! Check out some sample lessons on kindness and mindfulness here:
*Special thanks to Shana Classen, Director of Health and P.E. for sharing this information!
Oklahoma Writing Project's
INVITATIONAL SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 2020
APPLICATIONS: Twelve outstanding teachers will be selected to attend the Oklahoma Writing Project 2020 Invitational Summer Institute to be held at the Moore-Norman Technology Center in Norman. Teachers of all subject areas and of all levels of instruction--kindergarten through university--interested in teaching composition or incorporating writing into their regular subject matter instruction may apply. The important consideration is a strong commitment to teaching of composition and helping students' understanding through writing.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: Teachers who are selected should have these qualifications:
- Outstanding teaching record.
- Strong commitment to growth in teaching composition.
- Willingness to develop a formal presentation on topics related to writing instruction and to share those presentations with other participants at in-service workshops.
- Willingness to do the writing, research, and reflection that will be asked of all participants during the Summer Institute.
- Demonstrable success as a teacher of writing and promise as an equally successful teacher of other teachers.
- Willingness to be an active participant in the Oklahoma Writing Project and its professional and in-service programs.
- Above all, a strong and open approach to ideas.
OUTCOMES:
- Creation and delivery of literacy presentation to be shared at your home school and with other Oklahoma teachers
- Portfolio of your own writings as you experience the writing process and best classroom practices
- Your published writing in the 2020 Summer Institute Anthology
- Collection of ready-to-use literacy strategies and best classroom practices aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards
- Over 45 hours of professional development
- Become part of a network of teachers focused on improving literacy practices with Oklahoma students
STIPEND: Up to $1,000 stipend for each participant who completes all the required components of OKWP Summer Institute
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 11, 2020. Applicants invited to interview will receive an appointment sign-up email by March 29, 2020.
IMPORTANT:
- Start saving your student writing samples now. You will need student samples for your interview and during the Summer Institute. Be sure and save high/low ability examples from your writing lessons. Originals are great but copies are fine.
- At the interview, you will bring your professional vita and some of your student writing samples.
The online application has further details, including the dates of the summer institute, if you are interested.
*Special thanks to Jason Stephenson, Director of Secondary English Language Arts (ELA) and Deb Wade, Director of Elementary ELA for sharing this information!
Children develop at their own pace. Your child is growing in ways you can and cannot see is the message from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA and Read Aloud 15 MINUTES developed a free toolkit, which details communication skills parents and caregivers should expect to see in their child by age and tips for how to encourage development through reading daily. The toolkit targets ages birth to five.
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." – Fred Rogers
Early childhood classrooms play a critical role in development for children between prekindergarten and third grade. What kind of play helps children learn the best? Play that really engages them – play that they will focus on and stick with even when problems arise – is the kind of play that helps children develop their approaches to learning and ways to respond to learning situations. Curiosity about the world, initiative and problem solving, and focused attention and persistence are a few approaches to learning that children develop through guided play. Although play may be a difficult concept to define, it is very easy to recognize. Children actively involved in play may be engaged in a variety of activities independently, with a partner or in a group. Because independent and guided play is closely tied to the cognitive, social-emotional and motor development of young children, it is an important part of any well-developed early childhood program.
For a brief to share on the importance of play, access the early childhood PDF at this link on the OKSDE Early Childhood page.
The Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southeast is part of a network of 10 regional educational laboratories funded by ED’s Institute of Education Sciences. REL Southeast has developed a teacher’s guide to supplement the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade. A Kindergarten Teacher’s Guide to Supporting Family Involvement in Foundational Reading Skills complements and extends the practice guide by providing step-by-step guidance for teachers to support families in practicing foundational reading skills at home.
The guidance in the links below is based off of information provided by the vendors, and is provided to assist districts and teachers in quickly finding essential information for using the screening instrument to meet the requirements of the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA). The information includes how the assessment may be administered, the average length of time for administration, required assessment components, and grade level benchmarks.
Benchmarks are the minimum performance levels students are expected to reach by certain points of the year in order to meet end-of-year performance goals. The end-of-year benchmark typically represents the minimum level of performance required by state or local standards. Benchmarks are always grade specific, e.g., the 3rd grade benchmark. Teachers may find the benchmark information helpful in conferencing with families and/or caregivers and as they plan for reading instruction.
Melissa Ahlgrim, Director of RSA, has made a great one page PDF guide for families to help understand and explain RSA. You can find the guide at this link. For more information on RSA, access the Oklahoma State Department of Education RSA page.
OETA Ready to Learn ~ Family & Community Learning Training
An opportunity to connect with passionate early childhood professionals, and learn about innovative tools, resources, and strategies! OETA will be hosting a FREE 3-hour training on its PBS KIDS Family Community Learning resources for area librarians, in-home child care providers, child care center providers, and after-school program providers, and others. PBS KIDS Family Community Learning workshops are family engagement sessions centered around PBS KIDS television content where parents and caregivers are provided the time and space to utilize the tools, strategies, and best practices presented to create a supportive environment for their child's home-based learning experience.
**Mobile devices will be limited, please B.Y.O.D (Bring Your Own Device)**
Register at links below!
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