Welcome to our December ELAR newsletter! As the year winds down, we’re excited to share tips, highlights, and resources to keep the joy of reading and writing alive this holiday season. Let’s finish the year strong and inspire a love for literacy in our learners. Happy Holidays!
Our Spring ELAR Session Flyer is here! Sign up now. You know the seats go fast!
Continue to look for our newsletters on the first Monday of each month, but expect a few changes to the format! See you in the new year.
Our Spring ELAR Session Flyer is here! Lot's of new webinars for you to attend at convenient times.
Sign up now. You know the seats go fast!
As a reminder, most of our sessions are available at the campus/district level upon request. To request a session, simply fill out the Session Request Form found at the bottom of the newsletter. This form may also be used to request ELAR Coaching.
Click on the image below to view our Spring 2025 PD Offering Flyer!
Region 10 STAAR Bootcamp Is Back!
While it is important to expose students to test formatted items so that they are prepared for the state assessments, this does NOT have to be a boring and stressful process. In fact, studying for the STAAR 2.0 RLA test can be quite fun and engaging for both students and teachers! In this session, participants will learn strategies to improve students’ conditioning and stamina for STAAR Reading, Constructed Response, and Revising and Editing, and how to organize those activities into a rewarding 2 or 3 week bootcamp which will offer a welcomed break from the old “drill-n-kill” methods used by some which only add to teachers’ and students’ anxiety and frustration levels.
PLEASE NOTE: If you attended last year's Bootcamp, you do not need to attend this year's Bootcamp, as it will be the same presentation. Please allow other participants who did not have a chance to attend last year to have available seats. SPACE IS LIMITED!
Thank you,
Registration IS Open: Feb. 25, 2025 or Feb. 28, 2028
Time: 9:00 - 4:00
RLA SCR Strategy & Scoring
In this Zoom session, participants will explore expectations and scoring guidelines for both the RLA STAAR reading and the RLA writing short constructed responses. Participants will evaluate sample prompts, rubrics, and student samples as well as connect constructed response skills to other elements of the RLA STAAR and EOC exams. Additionally, participants will explore instructional strategies to support student growth.
Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m. 2665240
Jan. 15, 4:15 p.m. 2665241
Jan. 30, 11:30 a.m. 2665245
Jan. 30, 4:15 p.m. 2665243
Scores “0”verboard! How to Maximize Points on Constructed Response Items Gr 3-8
Set sail toward STAAR success by mastering strategies to help students navigate constructed response items. In this session, discover how to anchor effective ECR and SCR responses in strong evidence, chart clear explanations, and reel in maximum points. Don't let low scores sink your ship!
Format: 1 hr Webinar
Date(s): 1/14/25; 1/21/25; & 2/5/25
Time: 5-6 or 4:30-5:30
Presenter: Chandra Shaw
Looking for ways to inspire your high school students to write more? Perhaps #TeenWritersProject is what you're looking for!
What is #TeenWritersProject?
Their mission is to provide a collaborative and engaging space for teens to write, be published, and get paid. They provide prompts and texts, spotlighting creative opportunities and organizations, and showcase the work of high schoolers.
Have your students submit to their quarterly Lit Zine? Check out the submission guidelines here! To access prompts and writing inspiration for your classroom, check out Mixed Ink Mondays, Writing Wednesdays, and Feature Fridays here for multimedia prompts multiple times a week!
Click on the button below to learn more about them.
Check out their latest technotes blog. It's filled with writing prompts and ideas for the Holidays!
TEA Instructional HB1605 Overview
Join Associate Commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction Nicholas Keith for a deep dive into the new Bluebonnet Learning instructional materials, explanation of additional instructional materials funding through HB 1605, and discussion of LASO Cycle 3 grant opportunities. Time for Q&A will be provided throughout the presentation.
Date: Dec. 12, 2024
Time: 1:00 - 3:00
Format: Zoom or Face to Face (You will be asked to select which format when you register.)
Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) Annual Conference
Prepare for an unforgettable experience at Tall City TALE: Inspiring Literacy Everywhere! Whether you're looking to network, learn from literacy experts, or hone your craft, this is the event you will want to attend.
Dates: February 21-22, 2025
Location: Bush Convention Center in Midland, TX
Keynote Speakers: Gretchen Bernabei, Dr. Elsa Cadenas-Hagan, Chrissy Beltran, and Angela Henderson-Smith
Why Attend?
- Expert-led and practitioner-led sessions
- Networking opportunities with literacy educators from across the state
- Hands-on workshops and breakout sessions
S2.Ep.8: Integrating Holidays into Curriculum - Thematic Teaching
In this episode, Nancy is tapping into the excitement of the season, and how teachers transform ordinary lessons into extraordinary adventures. Joining her is Carlanda Miller, also known as The Magical Teacher.
Carlanda Miller, is a distinguished educator with 13 years of experience across various grade levels and leadership roles. She leads nationwide Professional Development and delivers inspiring keynotes to students and educators. To learn more about Carlanda's efforts, check out her website and Instagram.
Listen to the podcast here.
Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity
Dr. Dalton-Smith shares seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, creative-and why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Sacred Rest combines the science of rest, the spirituality of rest, the gifts of rest, and the resulting fruit of rest. It shows rest as something sacred, valuable, and worthy of our respect.
How can Region 10 best serve you? We want to know.
Purpose: Allows school staff at all levels to provide feedback and input for upcoming professional learning opportunities
Directions:
- Complete the survey yourself
- Share link/QR code with your district’s instructional staff (including teachers, counselors, librarians, instructional coaches, campus administrators, district administrators, etc.)
Link: https://region10.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b3j38qWodvkf6Ki
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