March is Women’s History Month. Initially, women’s contributions to the United States were recognized in week-long, local celebrations, called Women’s History Week. President Jimmy Carter, in a Presidential proclamation, moved the celebration from local efforts to national recognition in 1980. In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month,” and since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”  The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) selects and publishes the yearly theme, and the theme for 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” According to NWHA, “the theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.”

Resources for Women’s History Month

• Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourts (HMH) provides lesson plans and activities for elementary students to engage in research, writing, vocabulary building, and  more.
• The National Education Association (NEA) shares lesson plans and activities across the K-12 continuum to support educators in bringing Women’s History Month to life for students. Resources include lesson plans around women’s suffrage, women writers, and historical contributions of women, to name just a few. 
• ReadWriteThink, by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), explores women’s contributions through the creation of a scrapbook highlighting the work of women throughout history. The suggestion for this grades 3-12 activity is to group scrapbook entries thematically, such as Women in Sports, Women in Politics, Women Writers, or Women in Science, as an example.  

As we pause to lift up and honor the contributions of women, here’s a poem, by Rupi Kaur, celebrating women for all they are, including, but not limited to, their beauty.

I Want to Apologize to all the Women

By Rupi Kaur

New and Noteworthy

THE WI-FI BUS ROLLS OUT 

School buses on rural roads can soon be outfitted with internet access using E-Rate dollars. The Federal Communications Commission is revamping the decades-old E-Rate program that leans on schools and libraries to get students online. The E-Rate program has a nearly $4.5 billion spending cap, and added flexibilities would pour some of those dollars into school buses.

You can find out more about the WI-FI Bus rollout in this Politico article, and you can find out about the E-Rate program and application deadlines on the Universal Service Administrative Co. website.

NEW: K-5 Newsletter

The Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment is launching a new quarterly newsletter for K-5 educators. This newsletter will provide resources, opportunities, guidance, and ODE updates tailored specifically to support the integrated and well-rounded instruction that elementary education entails. It aims to streamline information related to K-5 academic standards and instruction into one convenient communication. 

To sign up for the newsletter, click here

ODE Announcements

Register Now: Early Literacy Framework Implementation Webinar

Click this link to register

Research and Resources for Your Classroom

Oregon Open Learning Featured Resource for Women’s History Month: Women in Fiction / Women in Fact: Power and Worth Exposed by Pandemics As March is Women’s History Month, this month’s featured lesson highlights strong women throughout literary history and how they stretched historical boundaries in law, society, and economics. The lesson goes on to consider how females depicted in stories from various historical eras might reveal power and agency that is not revealed in laws or politics.

Library Corner

 OASL Continuing Education Scholarship

Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) supplies financial support to aspiring and current Oregon school library staff pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or certification programs in school library media or instructional technology.

To be eligible, applicants must: 

1. be a student currently enrolled in an accredited college or university program pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, or certification in library media or instructional technology;
2. be a current member of OLA/OASL (to become an OLA/OASL member, visit https://www.olaweb.org/ to join, and add OASL as a division affiliate);
3. live or work in Oregon; and 
4. have the intent to work in an Oregon school library after completion of coursework.

Scholarship Award & Payment

OASL intends to award at least one Continuing Education Scholarship of $1,000 per year. OASL will make payment directly to the award recipient, once proof of course completion is submitted. 

Application Deadline and Requirements 

The committee will accept 2024 applications from February 15–April 15, 2024. Applicants must include:

• a personal statement of 300 words or less that describes your professional goals in  school libraries, and how this award will enhance your ability to contribute to the field 
• a current resume OR list of work experience and education history, including current program of study
• details of membership in professional organizations such as OLA/OASL, OEA, AASL, or others. Indicate any leadership positions held or committee work.
• two letters of recommendation from people who know you well (using this format). It is your responsibility to ensure letters are sent by the deadline of April 15, 2024.

Submit all application materials and questions to scholarship@oasl.olaweb.org.

Free Webinar: AI and Libraries: Applications, Implications, and Possibilities The first Library 2024 mini-conference: "AI and Libraries: Applications, Implications, and Possibilities," will be held online (and for free) on Thursday, March 21st, 2024, from 12:00 - 3:00 pm US-Pacific Time. How has artificial intelligence (AI) impacted library services, resources, and work so far? How have libraries responded to these evolving technologies to better support their communities? It's been over a year since generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E have been introduced in public spaces and consciousness, but AI has been around long before these tools yet there are still lingering concerns, challenges, and considerations.  Join this free virtual conference to learn how libraries and library workers are engaging with artificial intelligence tools in their libraries from research support to information literacy to technical services. The conversations held in the conference will address the practical implications of these tools in the profession. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Education has developed guidance for Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms which can be a useful tool for schools and districts navigating AI use.

Free Online Course from Echoes & Reflections

Participate in this asynchronous online course for a guided, facilitator-led exploration of Echoes & Reflections resources that support the teaching strategies to help your students understand how to analyze propaganda and learn media literacy skills. Echoes & Reflections applaud your commitment to teaching this topic, and are eager to support you to ensure your students are able to engage in thoughtful, engaging, and historically accurate learning.

Course Details:

• Course opens on March 18th at 7AM EST; approximately 4 hours to complete in total – at no cost
• Proceed at your own pace, be supported by an instructor, and enjoy interaction with other educators
• Complete all activities for a 4-hour certificate 
• Graduate credit available through the University of the Pacific. Please visit their site for more information. 

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Apply a sound pedagogy when planning and implementing effective Holocaust education.
• Examine propaganda using media literacy skills.
• Identify opportunities to connect the lessons of the Holocaust with more current examples of hate propaganda. 
• Build confidence and capacity to teach about propaganda using media literacy skills. 
• Understand and construct activities that show the link between ideology and propaganda.

Register Here

Opportunities for Educators

Coming Soon: Literacy Leaders’ Network Meeting 

Our Mission: To build a literate society of readers, writers, thinkers, and listeners

Next Meeting: March 14, 2024

Meeting Facilitation: Co-hosted by Oregon Council of Teachers of English (OCTE), Oregon State Literacy Association (OSLA), Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Language Arts, Literacy, and Multilingual and Migrant Education teams, and WestEd.

To join, please register here to receive a Zoom link for the meeting.

Virtual Literacy Symposium hosted by the Oregon State Literacy Association (OSLA) * This free event is for ALL educators.     During the Symposium, you will:       collaborate with other literacy educators       learn classroom-ready ideas in Strategy Sessions (see the OSLA Website for session descriptions and to register)        discover current OSLA projects       hear from our Featured Guests: Dr. Charlene Williams, Director, ODE & Mandy Vance, Oregon Teacher of the Year Saturday, April 13, 2024 via Zoom; you must register to attend and receive the Zoom link.

IDA-Oregon’s 48th Annual Spring Symposium

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for International Dyslexia Association-Oregon’s Annual Spring Symposium: Literacy Toolbox for General and Special Educators: Practices, Assessment, Technology, and Feedback, presented by Dr. Valentina Contesse, Ph.D.

When: April 13, 2024 @ 8 :00 am – 3:30 pm Pacific Time (Light Breakfast and Lunch included)

Location: The University of Portland, Dundon-Berchtold Hall

This day-long symposium will focus on strategies for literacy instruction from the co-author of UFLI Foundations, Dr. Valentina Contesse.  

Presentation includes:

• Critical Features of Effective Foundational Reading Instruction 
• Using Data to Plan Targeted Intervention for Students with Dyslexia
• Tech Tools to Support Reading Instruction and Intervention 
• State of Oregon & Washington Literacy Updates
• Networking + Give-Aways!

Oregon Response to Instruction and Intervention (ORTIi) 2024 Conference Registration is Open The 2024 ORTIi Annual Conference registration is now open. The conference will be held at The Graduate in Eugene, OR on April 4th and 5th. More details about the lineup of presenters will be available this month. Scan the QR Code in the image above or click here to register. Plan ahead now for two learning filled days on April 4th and 5th. Topics include: The Science of Reading Effective Instruction Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Leadership Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports District Implementation Journeys

Science of Reading in Higher Education Summit–Save the Date

Join keynote speaker Dr. Ronda Fritz and other teacher preparation providers, on April 4, 2024,  for discussion, networking, and resource sharing. Spend the afternoon gathering information to enhance the science of reading in your courses and fieldwork. 

Note: This is an add-on event to the ORTIi conference. 

Click here to purchase tickets.

Free Early Literacy Class Through OSU

Oregon State University is offering an Early Literacy Class that is free to all K-2 teachers in the state of Oregon. The title of the class is Teaching Early Literacy from a Multilingual Perspective, and it will start in April. Enrollment Options: 1) The course can be taken as a non-credit course, with 80 PDUs/8 CEUs awarded upon completion. The non-credit option will be free of charge. 2) The course can be taken for 3 graduate credits, dependent upon participants’ registration as a non-degree student and submission of a portfolio assignment. Tuition is $1715 for the course. Educators who satisfactorily complete all components of the course (either for non-credit or graduate credits) will receive a $1000 stipend, which will be paid through their district. Here is the link if you are interested in learning more about the class.

Oregon ASCD Early Learning Conference Registration is Open The 2024 Oregon Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Early Learning Conference is April 10-12, 2024 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. The keynote speakers include national leaders in Early Learning including Dr. Charlene Williams, Dr. Rosemarie Allen, and Dr. Rick Solomon. The goal of the conference is to serve PreK-2 programs in Oregon with presentations on cutting-edge research and best practices from educators throughout the state. Join teachers, coordinators, principals and other early learning professionals. Click here to view more details and to register.

Oregon Teachers for the Dream Scholarship: Application Deadline EXTENDED Oregon Council of Teachers of English (OCTE) is excited to announce the establishment of the Oregon Teachers for the Dream $1000 Scholarship in recognition of the importance of having teachers of color and other historically underrepresented educators in the classroom, and as a response to the shortage in Oregon’s K-12 institutions. The application deadline has been extended to April 30, 2024. Pre-service teachers of grades K-12 accepted and enrolled in an accredited Oregon University Teacher Education Program are encouraged to apply the year before their student teaching.

Opportunities for Students

Write the World Writing Competitions for Students

Write the World helps “students develop the writing skills they need to succeed and make an impact” their world. There are seven writing competitions currently available. Check them out here.

Click Here for Recurring Features

Contact Us

If you have ideas for the newsletter or want to contact the ODE ELA specialists, please reach out:

Tina Roberts -- Language Arts Education Specialist

Tony Bertrand -- English Language Arts / Social Sciences Assessment Specialist

Sody Fearn -- K-2 Balanced Assessment Specialist

Sarah Thorud -- Early Language and Literacy Intervention Specialist

Mindi Helmandollar-Armatas -- PreK-3rd Grade Coordinator

Jennifer Fontana -- Multilingual and Migrant Education Specialist