November 2025
The Office of Standards and Learning enjoyed traveling across Oklahoma and connecting with incredible educators. Each stop was a reminder of the passion and dedication that drive teaching and learning across the state.
The Power of a Sentence - Now Online
Missed the in-person session? A shortened virtual webinar version of the elementary ELA session, The Power of a Sentence, is now available for viewing here. The slideshow and session resources can also be found on the ELA Framework in the Professional Learning Vault, along with many other ELA presentations for grades K–12.
Share and Shine
Did you attend a fall regional session? Share classroom experiences using the featured strategies by emailing Christie.Barris@sde.ok.gov. Your experience may be spotlighted in an upcoming newsletter!
The ELA Framework is a helpful website created by Oklahoma ELA teachers for Oklahoma ELA teachers that supports educators with resources that promote implementing the standards with fidelity. Over the years, this resource-rich website has grown to include objective analyses, literacy progressions, proficiency levels, universal design for learning, exemplar lesson plans, writing resources, and engagement strategies. The project managers of ELA recently created a new overview video, explaining all the resources and where to find them. Spend a little bit of your planning period to see all the amazing supports!
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 Before students begin writing, they need time to think like writers. In the Critical Thinking strand of Joan Sedita’s Writing Rope, idea generation supports the development of clear and focused writing. As students explore topics, brainstorm ideas, and plan what they want to say, they practice skills such as organizing their thoughts, planning ahead, and making choices that contribute to writing with clarity and awareness of their audience.
Common Challenges in Generating Ideas
- Some students don't know what to write about or where to begin.
- A lack of background knowledge can make it hard to come up with ideas for writing.
- Students may list random thoughts without a clear focus.
- Students may be afraid of being wrong which can stop creative thinking.
- Some depend too much on teacher-generated topics instead of thinking creatively.
- Familiar or simple topics are often chosen, and students may not explore them in depth.
Teaching Tips for Generating Ideas
- Model using brainstorming or picture prompts to help students get ideas flowing.
- Read aloud, show short videos, or have class talks to give students background before writing.
- Show how to group ideas and pick one main focus before starting a draft.
- Make writing a safe space where all ideas are welcome and valued.
- Give students a few broad themes or idea choices to encourage creative thinking.
- Ask open-ended questions like “What makes this topic interesting?” or “Can you tell more about that part?”
Helping students generate and organize ideas gives them the tools to write with clarity, focus, and confidence while developing critical thinking and planning skills that strengthen their overall writing.
Generating Ideas: Grades K–2
Look and Think: Show a picture, object, or story starter. Ask students, “What do you see? What could happen?”
Say or Draw Ideas: Have students talk to a partner or draw quick sketches of their ideas. Emphasize that they don’t need to be perfect.
Pick Three Ideas: Guide students to list three ideas they like the most.
Choose One Idea: Ask students to select the idea they want to write about.
Add Details: Prompt them to think about who, what, when, where, and why to make their idea stronger before writing.
Implementation Tip: Model each step with your own example first. Encourage students to share ideas with partners before writing individually.
Generating Ideas: Grades 3–5
Explore the Topic: Present a prompt, picture, or topic. Ask students, “What do you know about this? What could I write about?”
Brainstorm Freely: Have students list or sketch all ideas without worrying about order or perfection.
Organize Ideas: Teach students to group similar ideas and highlight the ones that seem strongest.
Choose Your Focus: Ask students to select one idea to develop into a writing piece.
Add Details: Encourage them to expand on the who, what, when, where, why, and how before writing.
Implementation Tip: Model the steps with an example first. Encourage peer discussion and visual organizers (webs, charts, or lists) to strengthen planning skills.
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 2025-2026 Ed Chat Sessions
4:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/472BSpB
7:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/4lUjzYw
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When: The first Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
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Where: Via Zoom
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Note: You only need to register once to attend all sessions.
Upcoming Sessions:
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November 4, 2025: Movement in the Classroom
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December 2, 2025: Gifted Education
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January 6, 2026: Computer Science and Math
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February 3, 2026: World Languages
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March 3, 2026: Building Background Knowledge with Social Studies and ELA
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April 7, 2026: Science Education
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May 5, 2026: Avoiding the Summer Slump with Family Engagement
Past Sessions:
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August 5, 2025: Play-based Learning: Recording Link
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September 2, 2025: AI in the Elementary Classroom: Recording Link
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October 7, 2025: Fine Arts Integration: Recording Link
- If you are unable to attend a session, recordings will be available here.
My Favorite Book Contest 2025-2026
Students are asked to write a personal letter to the author of their favorite book, series, or story. The letter should go beyond summarizing the plot and instead focus on the student’s own experience as a reader. Students are encouraged to describe how the writing influenced them—whether it inspired new ideas, offered comfort during a difficult time, or opened their eyes to a different perspective. The goal is to reflect on the power of literature and how it can shape the way we think, feel, and see the world around us.
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Opens: September 15, 2025
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Deadline to Enter: December 12, 2025
For information on eligibility and how to enter, visit here.
Write to Win Contest
Join the Oklahoma Writing Project in this statewide contest for Oklahoma teachers and students.
For more information, visit Oklahoma Write to Win Contest.
Don't forget to check out the extensive resources found at the ELA Framework Website.
The Literacy Progressions includes 27 literacy skills and shows how they develop from PK–12. Each skill is linked to specific objectives, which are listed in chronological order, with any new details bolded to highlight how the standard changes over time. Use these progressions to align curriculum, and understand what students are expected to achieve at each grade level.
The example below is the Literacy Progression for Main Idea.
Each month, our newsletter will highlight an English Language Arts teaching tip or strategy from one of our state’s educators. Teachers have a wealth of innovative ideas, and we all benefit from collaboration and sharing.
Share your own idea or nominate a colleague who has done something outstanding in ELA, please email Christie Barris at christie.barris@sde.ok.gov with your submission, including:
- Your Name
- School District
- ELA Skills Addressed
- Grade Level
- Description of the Tip or Strategy
Feel free to include pictures as well! Let’s inspire one another and create engaging classrooms that foster a love for reading and writing. Thank you for being a valued member of the ELA community!
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