MARESA Literacy Monthly - November 2022 Edition

 

spotlight on the essentials

Motivation and Engagement

We all know that students will experience significant gains and significantly more JOY when we focus on what we're doing as teachers to motivate and engage every child. Here's what the research says we should be doing every day in every classroom:

The teacher: 

• creates opportunities for children to see themselves as successful readers and writers 

• provides daily opportunities for children to make choices in their reading and writing (choices may be a limited set of options or from extensive options but within a specified topic or genre) 

• offers regular opportunities for children to collaborate with peers in reading and writing, such as through small-group discussions of texts of interest and opportunities to write within group projects 

• helps establish purposes for children to read and write beyond being assigned or expected to do so, such as for their enjoyment/interest, to answer their questions about the natural and social world, to address community needs, or to communicate with a specific audience 

• uses additional strategies to generate excitement about reading and writing, such as book talks and updates about book series. The teacher avoids attempting to incentivize reading through non-reading-related prizes such as stickers, coupons, or toys, and avoids using reading and writing as “punishment” (e.g., “If you can’t listen, I’m going to send you to sit and read in the library”).

What stands out to you? 

We created a Mini PD session around this topic: "Creating an Engaged Community of Writers." If that's something you're interested in, let your administrators know and we'll find a time to come to your district and share some strategies that will leave you and your students feeling inspired to write!

This month, try engaging your students by showing them how to keep a gratitude journal! It doesn't have to be a cutesy printable like this one, it could be simply stapling paper together to make a small journal that they fill up on their own. Encourage creativity, invented spelling, and authenticity. Give them time to reflect and write in their gratitude journals every day. Of course, you should write along with them. 

MARESA Literacy Mini pd

we'll come to you

We created a menu of mini-professional development options for your district to choose from. Topics include everything from "Writing is Healing" and "Honoring Students' Identities Through Writing" to "Incorporating Social Justice Standards Into Student Writing" and everything in between. We'll come to you and facilitate the learning based on your decision and your district's needs. Let us know what works for you. 

Engaging Families

Gratitude challenge

November is a great time to reflect on all the things in our life we have to be grateful for. Research has shown that intentionally practicing gratitude makes us happier. The world can always benefit from a little more joy! Share this 30 Days of Gratitude calendar with your families to encourage giving thanks at home and in the community. You could even work on creating a calendar in your classroom. 

What's Happening in MARESA

Spotlight on Lakeview 

Writing fills the hallways and classrooms of Lakeview Elementary. While it isn't always essential to publish every piece of writing that children create, it sure does make them feel proud when they see that you care enough to post their work. I just loved this little kindergartener's writing. "My monster's name is Jack. About my monster: Likes to run." 

FOR THE Love of Reading

Native American heritage month

Miigwech...thank you to Ann Marie Wellman, a 4th-grade teacher at KI Sawyer for sharing all the different ways you're incorporating Native American Heritage Month in your classroom and throughout the school. From using inclusive and culturally responsive literature during a read-aloud time that lends itself to rich class discussion, to planning an event for the entire school to participate in a drum circle, we see the hard and important work you're doing and appreciate you. 

Just a few of Ann Marie's November Native American books

Here's a timely read-aloud from the book Peace, Love, Action: Everyday Acts of Goodness from A-Z by Tanya Zabinski. This 5-minute clip tells the story of an Anishinaabe Water Warrior. I created this (and many other videos) for my students during the pandemic. It's found on my YouTube Channel - Yooper Schoolhouse! 

These are just some of the books I have on hand in my office to help honor Native American Heritage month. (There's more in my garage)

If you would like me to come as a guest teacher this month, I'm open most Mondays and Thursdays (or the days I'm in your buildings). I'd love to read and lead your students in a writing activity.

Go! Go! Gaby!

Sharing is caring, PLN finds for you!

As I go through some of my PLNs articles, and interactions every once in a while I find little (or big) gems that I feel you would love. Last week I came across two such gems I thought you would appreciate:

• A list of engaging and sometimes interactive sites that you can use in your classroom, this is an eclectic list that originally was named "tech fidget tools" I did some editing, and added a couple of my favorites. I don't agree with the title but I'll let you be the Judge. Click here
• A set of Google slide templates, they include graphic organizers, charts, etc. who doesn't love a good template? Click here

 WHAT WE ARE LEARNING FROM LETRS 

SOLD A STORY: How Teaching Kids To READ WENT SO WRONG 

Leveled Reading Groups...Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Go! 

As we dig deeper into the Science of Reading through LETRS and MTSS through our partnership with CAREI, we are discovering programs that are common practices in our schools, actually, make it harder for children to learn how to read, and were proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. How did we get here?  

Investigator, Emily Handford, in the American Public Media podcast; Sold A Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong tells the story of how influential authors; Marie Clay, Gay Su Pinnell, Irene Fountas, and Lucy Calkins, all authors from the same publishing company, Heinemann, made millions promoting practices not backed by research.  

Check out this podcast on Apple, NPR One, and Spotify podcasts or online. Transcripts of the podcast are also available. 

register for Cohort 4 by Dec. 2nd

Due to an increase in funding, LETRS eligibility has expanded from any Pre-K to 6 educators as well as pre-K-12 certified special education personnel employed by a public school district or public charter school. The deadline to apply for Cohort 4, starting in January is Dec. 2nd.  

• Register here

• Lexia MDE Web Page 

• What is LETRS? 

• LETRS Suite Brochure 

• LETRS for Early Childhood Estimated Time to Complete by Unit 

• LETRS K-5 Estimated Time to Complete by Unit

ALWAYS GROWING

Free MICHIGAN Professional Learning Opportunities

Visit this site to view webinars hosted by the Education department of the National Museum of the American Indian. Find topics that support teaching and learning about Native Americans. My art teacher friend, Melissa Hronkin from Houghton highly recommends them!

If you are interested in exploring additional virtual synchronous or asynchronous professional learning opportunities, check out our PD Padlet here!