April 2022
In this issue:
If you're looking for special units, lessons, or activities for April, here are some events and observances that take place this month. Celebrate them individually, or together (see the Earth Day bullet below for an example); the links below provide numerous ways to take part!
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 Read Across Oklahoma is almost here! On Tuesday, April 12th, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries will be hosting their annual event to celebrate literacy and encourage reading in our youngest learners. This event for Pre-K through 2nd-grade students features Oklahoma author Dennis Mathew reading his book My Wild First Day of School and singing songs with the kids, as well as numerous activities and crafts for the children to enjoy.
Read Across Oklahoma will be both in-person and virtual this year, with all of the in-person activities taking place at the Oklahoma City Zoo. All activities at the zoo are free with regular admission, and the first 1,000 students through the gates at the zoo will also receive a free book.
This is a wonderful way for our youngest Oklahoma learners to celebrate reading! Go to libraries.ok.gov/read for all of the Read Across Oklahoma information or contact Leslie Gelders at Leslie.Gelders@libraries.ok.gov or 405-522-3242.
Oklahoma Literacy Association's Annual Conference: This Saturday, April 2nd, at Rogers State University, Claremore
The Oklahoma Literacy Association's Annual Literacy Conference is in person this Saturday, April 2nd. The event will take place at Rogers State University in Claremore, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Tim Rasinski as well as several breakout sessions and vendor tables.
A registration fee includes a continental breakfast and boxed lunch. To register, visit the OLA Annual Conference page. For more details about the event and the keynote speaker, check out the OLA Facebook page.
Student-Focused Coaching Book Study: April 5, 12, 19
The Reading League Oklahoma is excited to announce a book study in collaboration with The Reading League New Jersey and The Reading League Pennsylvania.
Participate in event on April 5, 12, and 19 for a unique, free learning opportunity: reading and discussing Student-Focused Coaching in a three-part book study facilitated by authors Dr. Jan Hasbrouck and Dr. Daryl Michel.
Student-Focused Coaching helps teachers and instructional coaches work collaboratively to improve student outcomes using evidence-based practices. During the three-part book study Hasbrouck and Michel will help you master the key three roles of coaching: Facilitator, Collaborative Problem-Solver, and Teacher/Learner.
This online event is sponsored by AIM Institute for Learning & Research as an Access to the Experts offering. Certificates of completion are available for book study participants and CEU credits are available.
Registration for this book study is at this link:
https://bit.ly/studentfocusedcoachingb
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The Reading Comprehension Blueprint: The Why, The What & The How! Thursday, April 7, 6:30-7:30
The Reading League Oklahoma is sponsoring another great event! Featured speaker Nancy Hennessy will lead the session and help participants explore the why, the what, and bit of the how of the Reading Comprehension Blueprint.
Register for this free virtual event by visiting The Reading League Oklahoma's Facebook page.
Oregon Response to Instruction & Intervention's Annual Conference: Thursday & Friday, April 28-29
In addition to the keynote speakers, each day of this free virtual event will include breakout sessions by presenters including Kymyona Burk, Joan Sedita, Stephanie Stollar, and several more. Go to the Annual Conference Page for more information or to register.
Multimodal Literacies Professional Development: Saturday, April 30
The Oklahoma Writing Project is offering a free, virtual professional development opportunity on Saturday, April 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Brady Nash from the University of Texas will lead this virtual session called "Bringing Oklahoma Academic Standards to Life." Come to this session to learn how to incorporate multimodality across the writing process in ways that engage students and promote creative approaches to composition.
The Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
Registration Deadline: April 28, 2022
As a reminder, multimodal simply means a combination of two or more modes. Modes include:
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alphabetic: written language
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aural: spoken language
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visual: color, direction, and viewpoint in still and moving images
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spatial: proximity, direction, position, and organization of objects
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gestural: movement, speed, and stillness in physical expression and body language
For more information about multimodal literacies, go to pages 14-15 in the Appendix of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts.
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Writing Prompt of the Month: Alliteration
British author and illustrator Graeme Base celebrates his birthday on April 6. Base wrote and illustrated the book Animalia, a book that I used as a mentor text when teaching alliteration.
This month, ask your favorite librarian to secure a copy of Animalia for you and read it aloud to your students. Take time to look at the amazing illustrations and ask students to help you find all of the many items on the pages that begin with each letter. Then have your students use alliteration in their own writing. It just might be the start to your own class book!
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Reading Quote of the Month
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