5 Access Points to The Academic Focus

1. Writing from Sources

2. Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction.

3. Reading, Writing, and Speaking Grounded in Evidence from the Text

4. Regular practice with Complex Text and Academic Vocabulary

5. Balanced Literacy/Gradual Release of Learning to Scaffold Students to Independence

GA Milestones Assessment Dates for ELA Courses

6-8 ELA EOG...................April 15-16

American Lit EOC..........April 29-30

9th Grade Lit EOC ........May 7-8

Resources:

GA Milestones Words To Know

Practice Test and Student Learning Videos

Have you used the Anthology Alignment Project's lessons from the ELA SharePoint site? Have you ever used lesson plans from www.achieve.org? Watch teachers who’ve selected exemplar lessons from Achieve.org’s website and tailored them to fit the needs of their own classrooms.

Video Length: 7 minutes

Lesson Objective: Discuss and rank rhetorical devices in preparation for writing

Questions to Consider

• How does the "Smart Chart" deepen student understanding of rhetorical devices?
• What are the benefits of having the students collaborate on the ranking activity?
• How does each step of this lesson prepare the students for their writing assignment?

*Want to know if your lessons are aligned? Submit your own materials to EQuIP for a panel review. (It's free!)

Bunche Middle School

Congratulations to Mr. Watkins, Dr. Naja Freeman, and her students at Bunche MS for participating in the Office Depot and USA Today “Dream Up Curriculum and Essay Contest” and being awarded a free weekly subscription to USA Today. Kudos to Alahji Barry, an 8th grader at Bunche, for being a finalist for this contest. Only 5 students were chosen from around the entire country! As a reward for his outstanding research and writing, Alahji will spend a day shadowing his dream profession. USA Today is searching for a willing Brain Surgeon who will allow Alahji to live a day in the life of this important profession. USA Today will follow them around and cover the story. Please click here to read the official press release!

Inman Middle School

Congratulations to Dr. Bockman, Ms. Melissa Nunnink, and her students at Inman for earning the Georgia State Top 10 School March 2015!! Every month, thousands of schools across the US and Canada compete in the Vocabulary Bowl. Winning these awards at www.vocabulary.com is quite an achievement. Keep up the good work!

School Library Month - April 2015: http://www.ala.org/aasl/slm

School Library Month (SLM) is the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) celebration of school librarians and their programs. First celebrated in 1985 (as School Library Media Month; the name was changed to School Library Month in 2010), every April school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student's educational career. Shares the theme of National Library Week. Contact ALA's American Association of School Librarians (AASL, a division of ALA) with questions.

D.E.A.R - Drop Everything and Read - April 2015

D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. You may remember that Beverly Cleary wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Since then, "Drop Everything and Read" programs have been held nationwide on April 12th in honor of Mrs. Cleary’s birthday. We figured, why not "drop" the "day" and celebrate our beloved author, her timeless stories, and the joy of reading for the full month. So, "drop" by this website all month long in April and anytime you want to make reading a priority! D.E.A.R. is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA); Parent Teacher Association (PTA); ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of the American Library Association}; Reading Rockets; The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC); the American Press Institute; First Book; HarperCollins Children’s Books; Read Kiddo Read; Walden Media and Ramona Quimby.

National Library Week - April 12-18, 2015: http://www.ala.org/nlw - The 2015 theme is Unlimited possibilities @ your library®.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries -- school, public, academic and special -- participate. Contact National Library Week Campaign Coordinator Megan McFarlane of the ALA Public Information Office with questions.

Future National Library Week dates are on the National Library Week/School Library Month Fact Sheet.

National Library Workers Day - April 14, 2015 (Tuesday of National Library Week): http://ala-apa.org/nlwd

The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA), the organization for the advancement of library employees, annually sponsors National Library Workers Day, which falls on the Tuesday of National Library Week. First celebrated in 2004, the purpose is to recognize all library workers, including librarians, support staff and others who make library service possible every day. Contact ALA's Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment with questions.

National Bookmobile Day - April 15, 2015 (Wednesday of National Library Week): http://www.ala.org/bookmobiles

First celebrated in 2010 by the American Library Association Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Service (ABOS), and the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). National Bookmobile Day is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities. Contact ALA's Office for Literacy and Outreach Services with questions.

Celebrate Teen Literature Day - April 16, 2015 (Thursday of National Library Week)

First celebrated in 2007 by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of ALA) under its original name, Support Teen Literature Day. The purpose of the renamed (starting in 2013) Celebrate Teen Literature Day is to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today's teens as well as showcase some award-winning authors and books in the genre as well as highlight librarians' expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials. Contact the ALA's Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of ALA) with questions.

Money Smart Week® - April 18-25, 2015: http://www.moneysmartweek.org

The American Library Association (ALA) joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make Money Smart Week® @ your library a national initiative, which was first held April 2-9, 2011. Celebrating its 14th year in 2015 (and its fifth as a national ALA initiative), Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across the country including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and covers all facets of personal finance from establishing a budget to first time home buying to estate planning. The effort was created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002. Contact Don Wood of ALA's Chapter Relations Office (CRO) with any questions.

6-12 Literacy Coordinator

ELA SharePoint: http://tinyurl.com/apsELAsite

Remind Updates: Text @aps612 to (678) 866-1954

Email: arhill@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Website: atlanta.k12.ga.us
Phone: 404-802-2702
Twitter: @DrAlishaHill