Michigan Learning Channel Update
March 2025
NEW RESOURCES for IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION!
MAISA's partnership with Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) helps to bring the Literacy Essentials to life through the MLC/PBS literacy broadcast series, Read, Write, ROAR!
Read more about the Literacy Essentials here!
This month we offer you three NEW resources to support your literacy work using Michigan Learning Channel's no-cost resources:
1. Read, Write, ROAR! Home Connections
2. Building the Reading Brain Facilitator Guide and Discussion Posters
3. MLC Read, Write, ROAR! Playlists are available in MiStrategy Bank through MiRead
PLUS - Read about MLC/MAISA presentations at Michigan Reading Association and COP ESD!
Session 1: Lit Everywhere: Dynamic Research-Supported Literacy Tools for Learning In and Out of School
- Presenters: Erin Pell and Annie Spear
- Goal: Demonstrate how Read, Write, ROAR! Playlists can be used to support at-home learning for families. This allows an expert "in the room" without asking parents to be literacy experts themselves.
- BONUS: Erin Pell (MiRead/MiStrategy Bank) and Annie Spear (MLC/Literacy Essentials) worked with Detroit PBS to get playlists made and curated into MiStrategy Bank so individual, skill-specific Playlists can be assign in an Independent Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP).
- Feedback: Educators in attendance shared their appreciation to learn about Michigan Learning Channel AND to get actionable tools to support their daily work.
Link to presentation here.
Connect with us! Erin Pell: epell@gomaisa.org or Annie Spear aspear@gomaisa.org.
Read, Write, ROAR! YouTube Playlists - An Asset for At-home Learning
Check it out here.
Erin Pell, Project Director for Instructional Applications (MAISA)
Erin demonstrates how an IRIP in MiRead can be populated with Read, Write, ROAR! YouTube playlists that align to student's assessed needs.
Session 2: Science of Reading + Birth to Age 5 Educator, Family, and Community engagement = Building a Reading Brain
- Presenters: Robin Pizzo (WKAR), Annie Spear (MAISA), and Dr. Laura Tortorelli (MSU)
- Goal: Screen the film Building the Reading Brain to create awareness and share tools that educators and literacy leaders can use to support learning in their local space.
- Feedback: The film was very well-received and the Facilitator Guide and Discussion "Posters" were, too. Many emails and phone calls are coming to get access and/or to create opportunities for a learning experience.
- Connect with us: If you are interested in more information about these tools or to have a discussion about a screening or professional learning offering, please reach out to Annie Spear (aspear@gomaisa.org) or a local Michigan Learning Channel Engagement Team member.
Link to presentation here.
Annie Spear, Robin Pizzo, and Dr. Laura Tortorelli
Robin Pizzo, Education Director (WKAR) and creator of the idea for the film shared the story behind it. Dr. Tortorelli, featured in the film, joined us to expand on the research. Annie shared the Literacy Essentials connections and tools for future use with the film.
Facilitator Guides
Each participant left with a Facilitator Guide.
Get yours here.
Discussion Posters and Cards
These were designed to facilitate conversations with the film and were designed with adult learning principles in mind. They can be downloaded and printed for use at your ISD/ESD/RESA. Click here.
RWR as a resource to support teachers...
Thank you to Literacy Coaches Kim Peters and Bridget Reagan (COP ESD), for inviting Annie to join 18 literacy leaders to talk about Michigan Learning Channel and Read, Write, ROAR! In this one hour presentation Annie was able to share big ideas about what Michigan Learning Channel is, provide snapshots of the different Read, Write, ROAR! series, and share ways that this no-cost asset can be used in and out of school!
Link to presentation is here.
Read, Write, ROAR! - A Model Lesson to Support Coaching
During the presentation with COP ESD, Annie shared that a bonus of Read, Write, ROAR! episodes is having certified educators doing the teaching that aligns to literacy research. This means the lessons can be used as a model for educators for themselves or in a low stakes situation to watch with a literacy coach.
During our COP session, Kim Peters shared that she has used Letter Heroes lessons during coaching for teachers to see a research-supported alphabet instructional model in action. Thanks, Kim, for telling us how this worked to support your coaching at COP ESD!
If you would like to read the Enhancing Alphabet Knowledge (EAK) research by Jones and Reuther (2012) behind this lesson type click here.
Please reach out if you would like Annie to share these no-cost resources that are aligned to our #MichiganLiteracy PreK to Grade 5 Essential Instructional Practices for your group! (aspear@gomaisa.org)
Production for Read, Write, ROAR! Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5) is wrapping up! The new series offers several segments within one episode and aligns to Literacy Essentials practices.
- Find the latest full episodes on PBS (26:46 minutes)
- YouTube Playlist - now with 41 segments! (each segment ranges from 2:00 - 6.5 minutes)
REVISED! K to 3 Literacy Essentials: Read, Write, ROAR! - Word Builders 1, Version 2.
RWR Lesson Types: Word Ladders & Mystery Words
Register here! Version 2 of the course represents new content, updated resources, and new videos connected to the updated Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Grades K to 3. Both the first and second version of the course hold a 5 star rating with positive teacher feedback!
NEW!! K to 3 Literacy Essentials: Read, Write, ROAR! - Word Builders 2
RWR Lesson Types: Letter Heroes & High-Frequency Words
This course has a 5 star rating and lots of positive educator feedback.
Contact us!
MAISA's partnership with Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) helps to bring the Literacy Essentials to life through the MLC/PBS literacy broadcast series, Read, Write, ROAR!
Read more about the Literacy Essentials here!
If you have any questions about this content, please contact Annie Spear, MAISA Project Director, Michigan Learning Channel (aspear@gomaisa.org).
Please reach out to Annie Spear, MAISA, Project Director, Michigan Learning Channel: aspear@gomaisa.org.
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