Inside the ELA Classroom

As we prepare to start the 2020-21 school year it is evident that all the traditions we have been used to may not happened as planned. We are reaching deep into our creativity to find new ways to embrace technology and media. During these pandemics we have reimagined what they Coweta Way means.

Thank you to all who served diligently on the Digital Resource and Curriculum Development Teams. The participants worked throughout the summer with this new school year in mind. Years from now, 2020 will be remembered as the year we learned to live and teach at a distance. Our expertise continues to grow as we ensure that all students will be able to experience academic success where virtual or face-to-face instruction.

Remember:

• Raz Plus and Vocabulary A-Z are Learning A-Z products available to all elementary students.
• Renaissance STAR has an updated platform which is available to grades 1– 9. STAR reading measures students' understanding of multiple reading skills across a variety of domains. Your commitment to ensuring the success of our students is awe-inspiring.
• The CommonLit digital lesson library provides search capability by genre, theme, literary devices, standards, and language. Assign text-dependent questions about reading passages and analyze student performance.
• The ReadWorks platform offers free content, curriculum and resources for reading instruction from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

Find more resources through the Coweta County Curriculum Website under Digital Learning.

If you have forgotten your password for Renaissance STAR, please select FORGOT PASSWORD. An email will be sent to the User with a temporary password. Once you enter the site - reset the password.

Click o HERE to access some step-by-step processes to help maneuver the new platform.

Don’t forget, we have the online support of Renaissance

• Live Chat: The link for the live chat is in the upper right-hand corner of your Renaissance home page when you are logged in.
• Email Support: Email us at answers@renaissance.com.
• Renaissance Refresher: Subscribe to the bi-weekly E-Newsletter and stay informed about key updates. The newsletter includes tips and resources.

Focus Skills are—simply put—the building blocks of student learning. Based on extensive research into how learning progresses in reading and mathematics, Focus Skills provide a roadmap for closing learning gaps as you move every student toward greater mastery.

Focus Skills are fundamental to student understanding, involving concepts that students must master in order to advance to the next step.

Because Focus Skills are prerequisites for future learning, focusing instruction on these skills provides the greatest return in terms of student growth.

Focus Skills are identified through a detailed study of the GSE standards of learning—and reflect your state’s grade-level expectations.

Click HERE to watch a webinar on using Focus Skills.

Star CBM assesses the building blocks of reading and math that are crucial for developmental growth and set the stage for future achievement.

This 1:1 assessment can be administered in-person or remotely.Star CBM can be administered quickly—only one minute per measure—leaving more time for instruction.

Multiple forms are provided for each measure, so you can administer Star CBM as often as weekly to track students’ development.

Click HERE for more information on Star CBM.

Grade specific curriculum pacing guides are easily found on the ELA website. Each year teacher leaders revise the pacing guides originally crafted by the ELA ambassadors with representation from every school in the district. These guides help teachers stay on track and ensure curricular continuity across schools in the district. The emphasis is placed on curriculum guidance and provide links to exemplary curriculum materials, lessons, and instructional strategies.

Updated Curriculum Pacing Guides and resources are available through the Curriculum Website. Check out the site! Return often for updates.

Direct links to the Learning Resources (Shared folders) and grade level pacing guides can be accessed by following the directions below. To access all information, it is important to use your Coweta County email address.

The Digital Plans are linked on the appropriate grade level pacing guide.

A bitmoji is a personalized cartoon avatar to add fun to communication. Social media is the indication, Bitmoji are becoming a teacher obsessions with remote learning. Use the Bitmoji app to create avatars, and other tools like Google to build the backdrop to present a welcoming space. Remember you can decorate your classroom or work space with virtual furnings. Each item in the classroom can be linked to a video or audio recording or website/activity creating interesting interactive learning centers.

Google Classrooms are available for teachers to share resources, best practices, and ideas. Digital resources for all grade levels have been uploaded to the K-1, 2-3, 4-5, Middle Grades, and High School ELA Google Classrooms.

With a new school year beginning soon, now is the perfect time to get students back in the habit of regular reflection and writing. These special prompts for August are the perfect way to help students think about the places they’ve been—and more importantly, the places they’re going.

1. Although this summer may have been different, there are experiences to share. We are living through what will become history. Write about some good experiences from this summer. Remember to include details so that the reader can imagine being there with you.

2. Reflect on the last movie you watched. Rewrite the ending.

3. Write about a secret that you’ve kept for someone else. Is it hard to keep secrets? Have you ever told a secret that you were supposed to keep?

4. Think about the first few days of school. We may be virtual, but we are learning and growing. What events made you laugh. How do you feel when you write about these things?

5. Write about three things that you would like to see happen by the end of the year. What can you do to start making these goals reality?

6. Research the history of your favorite candy. Did you learn anything you didn’t know?

7. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963. In his speech he called for an end to discrimination. Beginning with the words "I Have a Dream," write a speech about your hopes for your class this school year.

8. Describe a time that you had to solve a problem with a friend or family member. What was the problem and how was it resolved?

9. Write about a time when you set a goal and managed to complete it. How did you accomplish your goal? How did you feel when it was completed? Do you think this strategy would work with a new goal?

10. How do you feel when you finish a major project or task? Are you good at finishing things you’ve started or do you get easily distracted and move on to something else?

11. Share something about yourself that is unique. How does this character trait make you different from others? How does it feel to have a unique quality?

12. Write about a nice thing you did for someone else this week. Did you help someone or compliment someone? How did you feel while helping others? How do you think they felt?

13. Share something you’re afraid of. Where do you think your fear comes from? Do you think others share the same fear?

14. August 30th is "National Toasted Marshmallow Day." Write a poem about your favorite sweet treat.

15. What five things did you learn in school last year?

16. Imagine the perfect summer vacation. Where would you go? What would you do?

17. The Internet has lots of great websites. If you could create your own website, what would it be about? What would it be called? How would you use it to help others?

18. August is the only month without a major holiday in it. Create a new holiday that will occur in August.

19. As August comes to a close, look back on the last month. How has journaling each day helped you? Do you feel more aware of your ideas and feelings? Do you feel like you’re a better writer? Why or why not?

20. Describe something you’re proud of doing. How did you feel when you accomplished it? Do you feel good when you reflect on the experience?

Please review your Professional Learning Schedule. Dates and meeting locations may changed based on pertinent information.

Bennington College offers a competition in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First place winners receive $500.

Age Group: 10th–12th grades

How to Enter: The contest runs from September 1 to November 1, so stay tuned to the website for information about how to submit entries.

Each year, students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades are invited to enter in one of the following categories with the following submission:

1. Poetry: A group of three poems

2. Fiction: A short story or one-act play (1,500 words or fewer)

3. Nonfiction: A personal or academic essay (1,500 words or fewer)

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A first, second, and third place winner is selected in each category.

Awards & Rules

First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $500; second-place winners receive $250; third-place winners receive $125.

• All entries must be original work and sponsored by a high school teacher.

• Judges include Bennington College faculty and students.

The competition runs annually from Sept. 1 to Nov. 1. Winning entries are posted by April 19.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. Through the Scholastic Awards, teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) from public, private, or home schools can apply in 29 categories of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited and published. Beyond the Awards, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers produces a number of programs to support creative students and their educators, including the Art.Write.Now.Tour, the National Student Poets Program, the Scholastic Awards Summer Workshops and Scholastic Awards Summer Scholarships programs, the Golden Educators Residency, and much more.

Students may begin submitting work in September by uploading it to an online account.

The American Foreign Service Association’s national high school essay contest completed its twenty-first year with nearly 700 submissions from 41 states and five countries.

Age Group: 9th–12th grades

How to Enter: Each year a new prompt is published in September. Stay tuned to the contest web page so you can find it when school begins. Winners receive full tuition to the Semester at Sea program as well as a trip to Washington, DC, to meet with a leader at the Department of State.

Engineer Girl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world. Students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and allows teachers to incorporate an interdisciplinary project into the curriculum. The new contest prompt is published in October. Check out the educator’s page for more information about how to support this contest at your school.

Age Groups: 3rd–5th grades; 6th–8th grades; 9th–12th grades

How to Enter: Students submit their work electronically. Word limit varies by grade level. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here.

Contact Dr. Paula Baker, ELA/Literacy Content Specialist with any questions, comments, or concerns.

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." ~ James Baldwin

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

~Nelson Mandela

Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.

~Anatole France

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Email: paula.baker@cowetaschools.net
Website: http://curriculum.cowetaschools.org/
Phone: 770-254-2810
Twitter: @PBakerEducates