Welcome to the November ELAR Newsletter! As the season shifts, we're excited to continue fostering a love for ELAR and keeping you informed and up to date by sharing best instructional practices. Let's make this month one for deepening connections through reading and writing—bringing warmth, creativity, and inspiration into our classrooms.
Thanks to our friends in Duncanville ISD, we've got a great Talk Read Talk Write Activity shared from the MetroCREST Meeting and Dr. Pearl is dropping some new Reader Response wisdom for our K-2 teachers in this month's PD in 15! Also, check out the TEA RLA Newsletter for important updates regarding Bluebonnet Instructional Materials stakeholder meetings from TEA.
Continue to look for our newsletters on the first Monday of each month from September - May of each school year. 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.
District ELAR Spotlight, Duncanville ISD
On November 1st, Duncanville ISD hosted MetroCREST. Metrocrest is a monthly meeting for local ELAR curriculum supervisors and leaders across the DFW area. This meeting offers a chance to learn and share instructional strategies and practices to plan for district educator support, collaborate, and discuss important TEA updates.
Duncanville ISD's Curriculum and Instruction team, led by Kiesha King, K-5 RLA Coordinator, and Jason Brumfield, RLA 6-12 Coordinator, presented a demonstration of a great new district initiative aimed at increasing academic discourse and writing practices across content areas. They've rolled out district-wide implementation based on the book, Talk Read Talk Write by Nancy Motley. Check out resources from the activity we experienced using a fabulously relevant cross-curricular connected text.
Thanks to ALL of our participants who have attended our Fall PD sessions so far!
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 Fall PD Offering Flyer!
This session will be offered for two different grade level bands, (Gr 3-7 and 8-EOCII)
Register for this session below
Dates:
Time: 9-4
Presenters: Chandra Shaw & Jennifer Gunn
Description: In today’s demanding educational environment, teachers often face overwhelming stress, anxiety, and burnout. This session is designed to empower educators with practical strategies to understand the 7 types of rest and reclaim their well-being to enhance their overall effectiveness in the classroom. Teachers will leave equipped with a holistic approach to self-care that not only reduces burnout but also fosters a more sustainable and fulfilling teaching career. Join us to prioritize your well-being and become a well-rested, resilient educator.
This session is for ALL educators. Invite a non ELAR friend to join!
Register for this session below:
Date: November 12, 2024 Time: 4-5 PM
Date: December 10, 2024 Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
Presenter: Chandra Shaw
Register for this session below:
Date: November 11, 2024 Time: 9-12 PM
Date: January 24, 2025 Time: 9-12PM
Presenter: Dr. Pearl Garden
This month's session comes from our very own Dr. Pearl Garden. In Reader Response: Focusing on Oral Language, Dr. Garden helps our K-2 educators understand the important role they play in developing students' evidence-based discussion skills. The full 3hr version is available by request at the campus and district level. Simply fill out the Session Request Form found at the bottom of our newsletter.
Watch this month's PD in 15 below by clicking on the image or the button below it.
Do you struggle to get kids to turn in work?
Do you wish students put forth more effort on the work they turn in?
Do you feel like students are failing and they don’t care?
Well, this month's podcast spotlight is for you! In this week's episode of This Teacher Life with Monica Genta, How to Get Students to Turn in High-Quality Work and the Simple System to Ensure No Kids Fail, Monica discusses ways to get students to put forth their best effort on the first try. Who couldn't use this information?
Listen to the podcast here.
Why Don't Students Like School?
In this new edition of the highly regarded, Why Don't Students Like School? cognitive psychologist Daniel Willingham turns his research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning into workable teaching techniques. This book will help you improve your teaching practice by explaining how you and your students think and learn. It reveals the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences.
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