We're a little late this month, but here's Novembers Newsletter!! 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.

Click on the link below to see the complete list of our face to face and Zoom session offerings for Fall 23.

These sessions give teachers who have participated in and/or are participating in the reading academies the opportunities to put the content learned in the phonological awareness (6) and pre-reading (7) modules into action. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities related to the content they have learned or are learning related to the science of teaching reading and research-based reading instructional best practices.

Date: Nov. 10

Time: 9-4

Presenter: Dr. Pearl Garden

Register: here

Email: pearl.garden@region10.org
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Twitter: @LiteracyPearls

Preparing students for the rigor of standardized tests can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to equipping your students with the essential skills 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 they need to guide their students towards writing exceptional ECRs. Join me for a hands-on, interactive workshop specially crafted to enhance teachers' expertise in teaching ECRs effectively.

Date: January 19, 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 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: November 28, 2023 or January 25, 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

• Starting with STAAR EOC December administration – TEA will implement Hybrid-scoring of all ECR and SCR Items.
• No changes in the way the scores are determined (use of current rubrics) other than the scores will be computer generated.
• Hybrid scoring is NOT AI.
• For each response, an educator committee will be convened and those educators will give input on how the responses should be scored in order to make sure the automated system scores appropriately.
  
• A 25% random sampling will be scored by human raters who will monitor and adjust the automated scoring system by checking the reliability of scoring metrics.
• Additional information, including a process document, will be provided by TEA prior to the December EOC administration (mid to late November).

House Bill 1605 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023) requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop rubrics in consultation with and approved by the State Board of Education that will be used to evaluate the quality of instructional materials.

TEA was directed by the SBOE to develop rubrics for K–8 English language arts and reading, K–6 Spanish language arts and reading, and K–12 mathematics. TEA is seeking your feedback on the draft IMRA rubrics and is hosting focus groups for educators, education service centers, and publishers. If you would like to attend, please register for one of the sessions below.

Educator Focus Groups

• English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading
  • Monday, 11/20/2023, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, 11/28/2023, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
• Mathematics
  • Tuesday, 11/21/2023, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Monday, 11/27/2023, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

Education Service Center Focus Groups

• English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading
  • Monday, 11/20/2023, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, 11/28/2023, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• Mathematics
  • Tuesday, 11/21/2023, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Monday, 11/27/2023, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Publisher Focus Groups

• English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading
  • Monday, 11/20/2023, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, 11/28, 2023, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Mathematics
  • Tuesday, 11/21/2023, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Monday, 11/27/2023, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Early Registration Ends December 15.

Check out this new section of our monthly newsletter. Here, we will highlight a podcast that we find interesting and hope that you might too. This month's podcast is from The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast Series by Jennifer Gonzales. Listen to the latest episode, Your Teachers Need a Win.

Be sure to sign up for the RLA TRS Listserv: https://bit.ly/R10RLATRS

The Region 10 ELAR team provides literacy support through professional development services, instructional coaching, and technical assistance.

Email: chandra.shaw@region10.org
Website: https://www.region10.org/programs/english-language-arts-and-reading-program/overview/
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: (972)348-1564
Twitter: @R10ELA

Gr K-5 Literacy Consultant

Email: pearl.garden@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1318
Twitter: @LiteracyPearls

3-8 Literacy Consultant

Email: chandra.shaw@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1564
Twitter: @CShawR10

6-12 Literacy Consultant

Email: jennifer.gunn@region10.org
Phone: 972-348-1080
Twitter: @GunnTexas

• September 2023
• October 2023