April is here which means...so is the STAAR test!! Say it isn't so.
As a reminder, normally, we publish our newsletters on the first Monday of each month from September - May. Any other necessary communication during the month will come through our ELAR Listserv, so be sure that you have signed up using the button at the bottom of the newsletter.
In September 2023, TEA quietly announced that beginning December 2023, all EOC constructed response items would be scored using a new hybrid scoring process. The news of this big change was met with lots of questions and a bit of skepticism as very little was known about how this new scoring would actually take place. When districts received their data this past January, the results were shocking to say the least. Seventy-two percent of English I retesters and a whopping 84% of English II retesters scored a zero on their ECRs according to the hybrid scoring of the December EOC! As you might imagine, many of the districts were concerned.
So, what happened? The school districts certainly wanted to know...
"In the spirit of transparency, TEA provided LEAs with additional information regarding the December 2023 English I and II English ECR results. TEA developed a two-step process to give districts more insight into student performance, and LEAs had the option to schedule an appointment with TEA to view their responses in person" (March 24 TEA Presentation). During these meetings, only responses that received a score of zero were made available for viewing. Below are comments from several district representatives who participated in these insightful meetings.
ECR Evidence Pull
Do your students struggle with identifying and selecting the best evidence to support their thinking? Well, you're NOT alone. Try this activity on your next ECR Writing. It was a real hit at our RLA STAAR Bootcamp! Participants read a paired passage, wrote thesis statements for an ECR prompt, and were tasked with selecting strong evidence to support their selected thesis. The conversations were amazing!
Summer Roadshow Locations Announced!!
Each summer, Region 10 Consultants pack up and take our professional development on the road to locations around the region, making it easier for YOU to attend our sessions. This year's Roadshow dates and districts have been announced. More information about session titles and times will be released at the end of March. Until then, mark your calendars, and we hope to see you at one of our Roadshow events!
June 4 - 5: Cedar Hill ISD
June 11 - 12: Forney ISD
June 17 -18: Celina ISD
Registration Opens May 1st!! Check back soon...
Back That Thang' Up: Using Evidence to Support Constructed Response Gr 3-8
The new writing demands of the state assessments will require students to construct short responses to text-based questions. Students’ ability to clearly answer the questions asked and select the best text evidence to support their responses will depend on the number and quality of opportunities they have to practice these vital skills. In this session, participants will gain an understanding of the new STAAR assessment requirements for constructed response questions, learn strategies to create text-based questions based on the TEKS and help facilitate students’ abilities to compose written responses that provide appropriate text evidence.
Date: June 10, 2024 and July 11, 2024
Time: 9-4
Location: Region 10 ESC
Presenter: Chandra Shaw
Email: chandra.shaw@region10.org
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Twitter: @CShawR10
911 ECR Emergency Gr 3-8
Preparing students for the rigor of standardized tests can be daunting, especially when trying to equip your students with the essential skills needed to excel on the STAAR test's Extended Constructed Response (ECR) items. This session aims to alleviate the challenges by offering practical strategies, valuable insights, and collaborative activities designed to empower teachers with the tools to provide direct, explicit instruction that guides their students toward writing exceptional ECRs. Join me for a hands-on, interactive workshop designed to enhance teachers' expertise in effectively teaching ECR writing.
Date: June 24, 2024 and July 15, 2024
Time: 9-4
Location: Region 10 ESC
Presenter: Chandra Shaw
Email: chandra.shaw@region10.org
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Twitter: @CShawR10
The 411 on EOC ECRs
The Extended Constructed Response (ECR) on the English 1 and English 2 End of Course (EOC) exams set expectations that incorporate text analysis and evidence-based writing that is foundational to students' college readiness. In this session, participants will review strategies to promote text-based thinking before getting "the 411" on how EOC writing expectations align with various college-readiness standards. In order to inform instructional practices around writing, participants will take a deep dive into rubrics and samples of student writing craft. In this interactive workshop, participants will engage in reading and writing experiences that will foster authentic writing growth for increased success on EOCs and beyond.
Date: June 20, 2024 and July 15, 2024
Time: 9-4
Location: Region 10 ESC
Presenter: Jennifer Gunn
Email: jennifer.gunn@region10.org
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Twitter: @GunnTexas
April National Poetry Month!!
A few lines of poetry can reveal so much about a student's interests, experiences and inner world. Imagine a classroom where poetry isn't just a side activity, but a cornerstone of learning and a tool for building community.
In this episode, hear from Georgia Heard, author of the brand new edition of Awakening the Heart, and classroom teacher Megan Sloan, about how they've used poetry to help them get to know their students and ignite a sense of belonging and community in the classroom.
Download a sample chapter of Awakening the Heart 2e
Listen to the Podcast here.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
About Us
The Region 10 ELAR team provides literacy support through professional development services, instructional coaching, and technical assistance.
Twitter: @R10ELA
Dr. Pearl Garden
Email: pearl.garden@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1318
Twitter: @LiteracyPearls
Chandra Shaw
3-8 Literacy Consultant
Email: chandra.shaw@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1564
Twitter: @CShawR10
Jennifer Gunn
6-12 Literacy Consultant
Email: jennifer.gunn@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1080
Twitter: @GunnTexas