Dear ELA Supporters,
The OSPI Bulletins on school expectations during the COVID-19 school closures call for continuous learning, what that looks like depends on your students, their needs and their access to online or print materials.
As with all lesson planning, begin with your standards and outcomes. Based on students’ progress before the closure, prioritize content and skills to be taught between now and the return to school. What will they most likely be able to work on without your direct support?
For these first couple of weeks this may mean focusing on review and practice of content and skills with which they are mostly independent. Example: this could include a new story that is similar to a previous read aloud or text that you used in the classroom. As you plan, keep in mind that students need to become comfortable with this new way of learning.
- Be as consistent as possible with previous classroom content and processes.
- Introduce new technology and/or assignment types in stages rather than all at once.
- Remember to break the work into manageable segments for the students.
- Format and organize with your student’s abilities and skills in mind.
The internet provides a world of resources, but the best is not always the newest or most creative-- the best is what will work for your students. Focus on the standards and outcomes and design your lessons from there.
Sincerely, The ELA Team
We have five sections of the newsletter:
OSPI Resources For Everyone!: This is our second wave of supporting you and we will continue to refine and add resources over the coming weeks.
Support for Educators, School Staff, Schools and Districts: this section is primarily directed to those currently working in a formal education setting. These resources may be helpful to parents, families, and caregivers.
Support for Parents, Families, and Caregivers: this section is geared toward members of our community who normally don’t teach/facilitate in a formal education setting. Everyone is welcome to use these resources.
Professional Learning Offerings: Here are a select list of professional learning offerings being offered by state partners and national colleagues.
Up-To-Date Information: this section provides up to date links from OSPI, The Governor’s Office, and Washington Department of Health.
Spring Poem by Langston Hughes
In time of silver rain The earth puts forth new life again, Green grasses grow And flowers lift their heads, And over all the plain The wonder spreads
Of Life, Of Life, Of life!
In time of silver rain The butterflies lift silken wings To catch a rainbow cry, And trees put forth new leaves to sing In joy beneath the sky As down the roadway Passing boys and girls Go singing, too,
In time of silver rain When spring And life Are new.
In response to school closures due to COVID-19, OSPI content experts have curated a selection of links to external organizations providing high-quality online educational materials – courses, lessons, videos, physical and outdoor activity suggestions, etc. Please note that in many cases, these resources are free to use online but are not openly licensed for wide scale reuse and adaptation.
These resources were carefully chosen for their alignment to Washington State Learning Standards (or a recognized equivalent) and/or direct experience with effective implementation with students. Particular attention has been given to identifying best practices and guidance in supporting ALL students in Washington.
We have two options for those who would like to have more specific support on designing continuous learning for your students.
1. Drop in to ELA Office hours. These are times for your questions. Stop by for a few minutes to ask questions and get ideas on your specific lessons or needs.
Grades K-5: Wednesdays 3:00-5:00 PM, Fridays 9:00-11:00 AM (until school resumes)
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/2066171872
Topics of discussion for the coming week:
- How can the Pathways in Early Literacy support continuous learning during the school closures?
- How can online resources support emergent readers and writers?
Grades 6-12: Mondays 3:00-5:00 PM, Wednesdays 9:00-11:00 AM (until school resumes)
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/6387576136
2. Join a community of practice. Designed as a community of practice (CoP), participants will share ideas, successes and challenges in teaching ELA virtually. Sessions will be live through Zoom and limited to 10 participants. Additional groups will be created according to meeting time preferences.
Three one-hour live, online sessions via Zoom. Participants must have a laptop or tablet with a stable internet connection. They will need to connect with a camera and microphone as well or a cell phone. Three one hour sessions are planned but may be extended if the group would like.
Grades K-5
Event #103035 Teaching English Language Arts Virtually for Grades K-5: Collaborating for Effective Practice (will be available on pdEnroller on Tuesday, March 30, 2020)
First option is April 9, 16, 24 from 3-4pm.
Grades 6-12
Event #102882 Teaching English Language Arts Virtually: Collaborating for Effective Practice
First option is April 7, 21, 28 2-3 pm. Click here to show availability for other times.
These online resources will provide continuous learning for your students and attend to the Washington State Learning Standards for English Language Arts
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Recommended Lesson Activities (That Don’t Require a Teacher!) presented by The Holocaust Center for Humanity.
Each of the Overview Lessons includes a brief reading, links to short video clips of survivor testimony (transcripts are provided if accessing video clips is not possible), and critical thinking questions. Each lesson can be downloaded and printed. Designed for students in grades 7 and up.
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ReadWriteThink sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
Looking for engaging ways to introduce your child to reading or to encourage your teen to write? Need some age-appropriate book suggestions… The materials here are your answer—all of them created by experts to be fun, educational, and easy to use outside of school.
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Here are a select list of professional learning offerings being offered by state partners and national colleagues.
Understanding Dyslexia by Glean Education
During the month of March, Glean Education is offering their Understanding Dyslexia course for free! Use the link below to access the course, enroll, sign in or register with Glean Education, and enjoy the course!
Link to Course:
OSPI is offering 2 free clock hours to educators who complete the course.
If you are currently registered on pdEnroller, please use the same email address when registering on the Glean Education platform. The ELA office will validate pdEnroller enrollment with Glean Education course completion to distribute the clock hours in the first week of April.
Link to pdEnroller:
Cost: Free
Dates: Available Free of Charge until March 31, 2020 at 11:30 PM
The 1619 Project: Activities for Student Engagement presented by the Pulitzer Center
Learn about The 1619 Project and the Pulitzer Center's resources for engaging students in this on-demand webinar, presented as part of the 2020 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference.
Cost: Free
Date: On-Demand
Web Seminars presented by National Council of Teachers of English
Learn from leaders in the field of English Language Arts Instruction and Learning from the comfort of your home.
Cost: $49-$99, per a course
Date: On-Demand
OSPI Website: www.k12.wa.us
Governor Jay Inslee's Office: www.governor.wa.gov
Washington Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov
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