Hello! I'm Christie Barris, the new Project Manager for Elementary English Language Arts in the Office of Standards and Learning at the Oklahoma Department of Education.

With over 31 years in education, my career began in Arkansas before I returned to Oklahoma to teach in Oklahoma City and Newcastle Public Schools. My experience spans teaching grades K-3 and serving as an instructional coach in OKCPS, where I assisted teachers with effective classroom strategies. I am honored to have been named Teacher of the Year for Newcastle Public Schools in 2013-14 and recognized as second runner-up for Teacher of the Year in 2006-07 for Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Beyond the classroom, I've contributed to developing new resources for the ELA Framework, focusing on Proficiency Levels, UDL strategies, and Elementary Writing Resources. Recently, I've been involved in reviewing the new Exemplar Lesson Plans for ELA on the Framework website.

Family holds a special place in my life, and as a proud grandmother to five granddaughters, I find great joy in witnessing their growth as young learners. This fuels my commitment to providing excellent resources for students and educators in our state. As an avid reader passionate about literacy, I am eager to promote reading and writing initiatives.

I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Oklahoma schools and educators to advance English Language Arts practices statewide. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or if you need assistance. My contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.

Join us at the inspireOK 24 conference at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa on July 15, where educators come together to innovate and inspire! Dive into a day of collaborative learning, sharing insights, and crafting transformative teaching practices tailored for Oklahoma schools. Reserve your spot now by registering HERE, and remember to print your ticket for hassle-free entry to all sessions HERE.

• Session Titles and Descriptions
• Download Conference Program

Check out these English Language Arts Sessions for Elementary.

English Language Arts Standards & Framework: Refresh yourself on the 2021 Oklahoma Academic Standards for ELA and explore the resources on the ELA Framework website, including the newly added exemplar lesson plans and updated engagement strategies. (Session 1)

Oklahoma's Early Literacy Legislation: This session will address the requirements of Oklahoma's early literacy law for students in kindergarten-3rd grade, as well as any legislative changes that might be applicable for this year. (Session 1) 

Literacy Instruction in the Elementary Classroom: This session will provide an overview of the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts, the ELA frameworks, and the elements of effective literacy instruction for foundational skills, comprehension, and writing. (Session 2)

Do This, Not That for the Science of Reading: This session will explore implementation practices in literacy that are supported by research from the science of reading. Participants will also discuss practices that should be abandoned and how to replace those practices with more effective strategies. (Session 3)

Focusing on Comprehension in Elementary: The session will provide an overview of best practices related to comprehension instruction in the elementary classroom and showcase the new exemplary lesson plans on the English Language Arts framework. (Session 4)

Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts: English language arts (ELA) teachers can use the principles of universal learning design (UDL) to ensure all their students can access classroom learning experiences. Explore the nine facets of UDL in an ELA lesson for your grade and leave with implementation ideas for your classroom. (Session 5)

What is the Science of Reading?: The term "science of reading" is often used, but there are various understandings of this. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the evidence that supports effective instruction in literacy, including those for students with reading difficulties (including dyslexia). ( Session 6 )

We hope to see you in Tulsa on July 15th!

IES Practice Guides

The Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) has published Practice Guides that present recommendations for teachers to address the challenges found in most classrooms. They are based on research, teacher experience, and advice from education experts.   On pages 12-13 of this guide, you will find a handy table explaining some effective strategies to engage your students in text comprehension. 

• Activating Prior Knowledge/Predicting
• Questioning
• Visualizing
• Monitoring, Clarifying, and Fix UP
• Drawing Inferences
• Summarizing/Retelling

Every month, we’ll spotlight an outstanding ELA teaching tip or strategy shared by one of our state’s exceptional educators. Teachers have a wealth of innovative ideas, and we all learn better when we collaborate and share with one another.

To participate, email your favorite ELA teaching tip or classroom success story to Christie.Barris@sde.ok.gov .  Let’s inspire each other and make our classrooms even more engaging and effective!

Thank you for being part of our supportive ELA community!