August 2024
In this issue:
Dear ELA Teachers,
August means the chance to start again. When I was a student, I prepared for a new school year by getting new school supplies. After a trip to the store with our mother, my sister and I unpacked our folders, notebook paper, and pencils and spread them out on the living room carpet. Surveying all the bright and shiny supplies got me excited to begin another school year. (See picture at right, circa late 90s, from one of my first days of school.)
When I was a classroom teacher, I prepared for a new school year by taking stock of my classroom, deciding the best arrangement of desks, and organizing my shelves, which eventually were overtaken by a classroom library. I also mapped out my lesson plans for the first couple of weeks. Attending professional development and seeing my colleagues helped me to focus on the upcoming school year.
My biggest challenge was the year I moved from middle school to high school with only a few days' notice. I had spent all summer thinking I would again be teaching seventh- and eight-grade reading, and then I got a phone call asking if I would like to teach 10th grade English and an elective called reading for fun. I said yes, but I scrambled all school year to stay a week (or sometimes a day) ahead of my students.
Whether this is your first or twenty-first year of teaching, I wish you a wonderful year in the classroom. May your students. If I can be of any support to you, please reach out. My contact information is at the end of this newsletter.
Also, I have a favor to ask: Please check with your ELA colleagues to see if they received this newsletter. If not, forward it to them, and invite them to subscribe.
Sincerely,
Jason
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The Office of Standards and Learning at the Oklahoma State Department of Education is excited to announce free professional development workshops for the 2024-25 school year. These workshops will be held in different regions of the state and are designed to support educators with effective instructional strategies aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Space is limited, so register today!
Meaningful Secondary English Language Arts for All Students
Learn how to apply the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities in secondary ELA. Participants will reflect on exemplar lesson plans and brainstorm ways to incorporate UDL approaches into their lessons.
The in-person workshops will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The virtual workshop will be from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Registration Links:
- Wednesday, September 25, Atoka
- Tuesday, October 1, Oklahoma City
- Tuesday, October 8, Muskogee
- Thursday, October 10, Chickasha
- Tuesday, October 22, virtual (Microsoft Teams)
- Thursday, October 24, Enid
If you would like to return after lunch, you will have an opportunity to learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Dr. Karen Leonard, Program Manager of Educational Technology and Micro-credentialing.
AI in the Classroom: A Practical Workshop for Teachers
This hands-on session is designed to equip educators with practical strategies and tools for integrating artificial intelligence into their teaching practices. Participants will explore real-world applications, learn about ethical considerations, and gain confidence in using AI technologies effectively in educational settings.
The in-person workshops will be from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Registration Links:
- Wednesday, September 25, Atoka
- Tuesday, October 1, Oklahoma City
- Tuesday, October 8, Muskogee
- Thursday, October 10, Chickasha
- Thursday, October 24, Enid
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The ELA Framework website has new resources thanks to a dedicated team of teachers from around the state. They created exemplar lesson plans for each grade level for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry texts. For each grade band, they created a research unit. They also updated the engagement strategies for each grade band--including middle school and high school.
The middle school team was led by Dr. Kathryn Berry, Cleora Public Schools.
- Courtney Gagan, Bartlesville Public Schools
- Jauna Glasgow, U.S. Army
- Maggie Logan, Enid Public Schools
The high school team was led by Brianne Johnson, Bethel Public Schools.
- Rebekah Askew, Coweta Public Schools
- Amy Click, Maud Public Schools
- Rebecca Emert, Legacy Christian School
- Jesi Morrison, Jay Public Schools
A big thank you to all of these educators for creating instructional resources for Oklahoma's English teachers!
 Pictured above: the Grade 10 exemplar lesson plans page from the ELA Framework
After ChatGPT launched in November 2022, ELA teachers have had to consider how to respond. Have you acknowledged artificial intelligence in your classroom? Does your school district have a policy to help students understand when they can or cannot use AI?
OSDE released guidance on AI in schools earlier this year:
One of the resources in the guidance document was an AI Acceptable Use Scale, which is pictured below. Educators can use it as is in their classrooms, or they can modify it to meet their needs. Download a copy today.
Oklahoma English teachers spent part of their summer learning together online and in person. Six webinars were offered in June and July, and the InspireOK conference was held in Tulsa on July 15. Whether you attended online or in person, thank you for spending part of your summer learning instructional strategies about English language arts. I appreciate your dedication to your profession and students.
Below, you can find the workshop titles, descriptions, and resources.
 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. Thanks to ELA Framework team leads Dr. Kathryn Berry and Brianne Johnson for co-presenting this session with me, online and in-person, respectively.
The Power of Text Sets
Students can use teacher-designed text sets to build background knowledge that is complementary to a novel they study as a class or in a literature circle. Learn how to build a text set, see an example for The Outsiders, and plan a text set of your own.
Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts
English language arts (ELA) teachers can use the principles of universal learning design (UDL) to ensure that all their students have access to learning experiences in their classrooms. Explore the nine facets of UDL in an ELA lesson for your grade and leave with implementation ideas for your classroom.
The ELA Professional Development page has links to all of these resources along with slideshow presentations and other resources from years past.
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The Writing Contests page has been updated for the 2024-2025 school year. Two new contests recently got added to the list: Teen Ink and Skipping Stones.
Teen Ink's current Halloween writing contest has an August 31 deadline. If that's too soon for your students, then check out Write the World's scary stories contest in October.
There are contests for nonfiction, poetry, audio essays, and more. Review the list on the Writing Contests page and determine which ones you would like to advertise to your students throughout the school year.
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Registration for the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute opened August 1! The OFAI website has been rearranged and workshops are categorized by literary, visual, and performing arts, and the dates are listed on each workshop.
Creative Writing teachers may be especially interested in the Fiction Writing workshop with Lou Berney, scheduled for October 10-13:
In this fiction writing workshop, we’ll explore a full range of craft elements (e.g., voice, character, plot, point of view) while also focusing on the process of writing itself (brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising). Discussions will cover both our own creative works-in-progress and contemporary examples of short fiction. This fun, freewheeling course is designed for writers with lots of experience – or none! It will also provide teachers of creative writing with new tools and approaches. All skill levels are welcome!
Online registration opens August 1, 2024, and will remain open as long as space is available. Priority in workshop placement will be given to educators whose teaching areas are closely related to the workshop's subject matter.
Any individual currently employed as an Oklahoma public school teacher or administrator may be considered for a full scholarship to attend a workshop. Scholarships will be awarded by August 30. For scholarship consideration, applicants must complete an online registration form, which includes a brief scholarship application. Scholarship evaluation will begin on August 26, so it is recommended to submit an application prior to that date for full consideration. Please see the Educator Scholarships page for more information.
From Jason: When I taught high school creative writing, I attended the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute multiple times. The learning was immersive, the setting was magical, and the colleagues were wonderful.
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Rachel Keith, an Ada High School English teacher, is this year's Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Keith received the honor at a gala in Tulsa on July 15.
She has taught for 19 years and most recently taught AP English Language and Composition, mock trial, and humanities. The state Teacher of the Year traditionally spends the following year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The state winner also becomes a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.
Keith says she is thrilled she gets to represent Oklahoma educators. "I'm just so blessed and overwhelmed, said Keith. "I love Oklahoma, I love Oklahoma students and I love Oklahoma schools. To be able to represent teachers across Oklahoma, this is the biggest blessing I could have in my life." [source]
This marks the second year in a row that an English teacher was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Traci Manuel of Tulsa Public Schools received the honor last year.
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Writing Prompt
 At the American Writers Museum in Chicago, one digital exhibit showcases featured writers from each state. Oklahoma has five featured authors:
- Ralph Ellison (1914-1994)
- Woody Guthrie (1912-1967)
- Stephen Hillenburg (1961-2018)
- Tony Hillerman (1925-2008)
- Will Rogers (1879-1935)
Pick a writing prompt:
- Which of the five featured authors do you know the best? Write down what you know for three minutes, research for two minutes, and then record any new facts for one more minute.
- Which of the five featured authors do you know the least about? Research him for three minutes and then record five interesting facts about him and his work.
- Which Oklahoma writer would you add to this list? Why? Provide at least five reasons.
Reading Quote
 Image from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore
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