Language+Arts


 * Session 1: Introduction to the Pennsylvania Reading, Writing Speaking and** **Listening Standards.** **Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**

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 * Why is it important to get your students to become familiar with the standards?
 * Why do you feel a review of SAS is imperative and what are the reasons to teach literacy skills across all content areas?


 * What do you think is the accountability of the teacher to establish literacy skills across the curriculum?


 * What is the responsibility of the teacher to teach students to write across all content areas?


 * How do you know when you should ask for assistance in teaching literacy skills across the curriculum?


 * How do you assist a teacher to identify the need for students to comprehend text and provide them with encouragement to motivate them?


 * Whose responsibility is it to examine the rights of the student to know what behaviors they need to engage in and how becoming an excellent reader will enable them to succeed in all phases of life?


 * Whose responsibility is it to examine the rights of the student to have a teacher who will take the time to teach them how to become successful in all content areas?

1. Discuss how Pennsylvania’s current standards align with Common Core. The Pennsylvania State Board of Education has academic standards in 12 subject areas.
 * Session 2: Introduction to the Common Core Standards** **Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**

The following websites will link you to information regarding the Common Core and the alignment to Pennsylvania Standards. [] []

The website below will allow you to effectively answer the questions. []
 * Session 3: Crosswalk of Pennsylvania Standards and the Common Core Standards**
 * Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.** 1. Discuss the standard bands for Grade levels for K–8; grade bands for 9–10 and 11–12.
 * 1) . The website below will allow you to effectively answer the questions.[]

2. Discuss research based perspectives on catering to the diversity and needs of ESLstudents and struggling readers.
 * Session 4 and 5: Practice of Effective Literacy Instruction in the Classroom** **Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**
 * 1) Discuss three effective elements in literacy practice.

3. Discuss balanced literacy instruction focusing on independent learning. 4. Identify the environment that is needed for optimum literacy learning. 5. Discuss balanced literacy instruction and tailoring instructional strategies to the specific needs of each student. Read the article from the link below - What are your thoughts regarding Balanced Literacy Instruction? After reading the article, answer the questions below, and post to the discussion board. [] 1. Discuss the phonics versus whole language debate.

2. Discuss the balanced instruction? Discuss the importance of writing to a variety of texts. 3. What is your opinion regarding science to the rescue? I **Session 6: Students’ Active versus Passive Involvement** **Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.** [|http://ezinearticles.com/?Break-Out-of-the-Passive-Reading-Habit-and-Get-Active!&id=93243] [] What is your opinion on the active versus passive involvement in reading? 1. Discuss the need for multilevel, flexible, and small –group instruction. 2. List and discuss the importance of professional development in literacy in all content areas. 3. Explain and discuss the importance of approaching reading and writing as a developmental process. 4. Discuss the importance of teachers learning more about their students as readers and writers. 5. What are your thoughts regarding the link below and the set up of a differentiated classroom and lessons.
 * Session 7: Importance of Implementing Literacy Development**
 * Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**

[] Comprehending is a complicated process, as we have discovered and explored in this article. Yet it is one of the most important skills for students to develop if they are to become successful and productive adults. Comprehension instruction in schools, beginning in kindergarten, is therefore crucial. Discuss how comprehension works. 1. Identify how to get the reader to engage in some form of text. 2. Discuss the importance of teachers learning how to support readers.
 * Session 8: What Every Teacher Should Know about Comprehension** **Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**[]

3. How do you think you can build and activate prior knowledge.

4. How do you think you can motivate students to read. 5. How do you think you can engage students in personal responses to text.

6. How do you think you can understand the importance of teaching text structures. 7. How will you create visible reading/writing connections. . [] Terry Salinger offered definitions for what high school literacy is, discussed problems from students', teachers', and systemic perspectives, and suggested solutions. View both her video and power point presentation. After viewing both, what are your thoughts on helping students with Literacy Issues. Also, what do you think of her perspective on this issue? By Kelly Gallagher, Richard Allington The following website is from a new book written by Kelly Gallagher. This is the first few chapters of the book. Based on what you have read, what are your thoughts on Kelly Gallagher's perception on what high schools are doing to hurt reading.
 * Session 9: Literacy Issues in the High School.** **Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**
 * Session 10-14: Readicide: how schools are killing reading and what you can do about it**

[|http://books.google.com/books?id=-Pemw9rwdo8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=readicide&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=CvkJTobUJ-Pm0QHxyvGWAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resnum=1&ved=0CDoQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false] 2. Discuss how more reading time can be placed into the teaching schedule. 3. Identify and discuss the importance of monitoring instruction of literacy in all content areas.
 * Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.**
 * 1) Discuss the importance of providing professional development in literacy strategies.

4. Identify the importance that all teachers are teachers of literacy.

5. Discuss the importance of encouraging students to analyze and question texts and media to ascertain the author’s purposes and messages.

6. Discuss the importance of looking for students’ proficiencies outside class and incorporating them into teaching. 7. Discuss the importance of interdisciplinary and real-world projects that allow students to learn concepts, apply information, represent knowledge and use technological tools.

1. Discuss methods for providing time set aside for reading in all content areas. 2. List and discuss ways to develop students’ skills and strategies for reading complex texts.
 * Session 15: How Districts can Promote Literacy**

3. Identify and describe the importance of providing diverse materials. .

4. List and identify methods of using positive support to encourage students to continue being effective problem solvers, how to increase a student’s self-esteem, creating a more positive reading environment for both the teacher and students.

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session 15
[|bdaniele01] Nov 11, 2015 Session 15: How Districts can Promote Literacy

1. Discuss methods for providing time set aside for reading in all content areas.

For me, adding reading to all content areas is easy because I teach all subjects. We use Nonfiction emergent readers in our content units that students can read about social studies and science topics. We also write using lists, labeling, descriptions, and sentences/paragraphs on all subjects that we learn about. I read the class stories and we do comprehension activities after every read aloud. I think it would be more difficult to make reading a priority if you taught a specific content area. It would be easy to just give everyone information to read but harder to make it differentiated. You could find articles, books, leveled readers and place students in groups to read and then share or complete a project on the reading.

2. List and discuss ways to develop students’ skills and strategies for reading complex texts.

Students develop skills by reading and writing often. Provide many opportunities to practice all aspects of balanced literacy in the classroom. Divide your time so that you can add a read aloud, shared reading time, Independent reading on individual levels every week or day depending on your schedule. Placing students in Guided Reading groups can make it easier to get students on their correct level daily. Students can read books appropriate for their ability. Teachers can also add in word work daily to develop skills. Vocabulary development is important for reading and writing. Teachers should also add time for shared writing, writing about texts, and individual writing for students. Comprehension work should accompany reading. Activating prior knowledge, fluency, decoding skills, and encouraging personal responses can get students to comprehend more of what is read. The more students develop language skills, the better they will get at reading and comprehending complex texts.

3. Identify and describe the importance of providing diverse materials. .

Diverse materials are important to be able to reach all students at their level. It will incredibly difficult to teach students through reading material on a subject of they cannot read it. All that would do is frustrate the students who have difficulty anyway. Diverse materials can allow all students to be successful and it will help them build their reading/ literacy skills as they complete the work.

4. List and identify methods of using positive support to encourage students to continue being effective problem solvers, how to increase a student’s self-esteem, creating a more positive reading environment for both the teacher and students.

I love having guided reading/ small group instruction with my class. It gives me time to give students more of my attention and they feel successful because we are learning specifically at their level. In the smaller groups, I can really praise and compliment students on their specific abilities. Showing sincere positivity at a student’s accomplishments makes them feel good. When students feel good they will be motivated to learn more. It will also make them love school and want to be there. That can be half the battle. Again, I feel this is easier at my end of the school spectrum. Generally, 5 and 6 year old kids love to learn and be at school. They get to be with friends, learn fun and exciting things, and show off new successes. I think it would be more challenging to keep kids motivated once they hit the teenage years. I still think creating ways to make kids feel successful will be motivating. When they feel they can do well they will want to do well. When people are successful they feel good about themselves and that helps their self esteem grow. I know I feel good going to a place where everyone wants to be there and they are excited to learn. Their positive energy can lift me up even after a bad morning. I hope to be able to do the same for my students. Post

Session 10-14
[|bdaniele01] Nov 11, 2015 Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.

1. Discuss the importance of providing professional development in literacy strategies.

Professional development can provide opportunities for teachers to learn new ways of introducing literacy skills. It can also provide groups of grade level teachers a chance to discuss what works or doesn’t work. My favorite professional development sessions are ones that give us time as professions to learn from each other. It can also introduce new techniques or strategies that are researched based and have been proven effective. Sometimes it is hard to know where to go with struggling learners. New research based literacy strategies can help open up a new world of possibilities for these students.

2. Discuss how more reading time can be placed into the teaching schedule.

If reading was implemented in all content areas, students would have more time to read each day. They could develop skills in reading non fiction using content area texts. It is also important to give students time for free reading. Reading purely for enjoyment is rarely added to the school day anymore due to standardized testing. Reintroducing this type of reading could help develop a students love of reading and help that continue into adulthood.

3. Identify and discuss the importance of monitoring instruction of literacy in all content areas.

Literacy development should be implemented in all content areas. This adds to understanding and development in non fiction and informational content areas. Literacy can be monitored extra closely during small group times when the teacher is teaching at a students level. It is easier to monitor student growth or lack of when working with only a few students at a time. Small group can also be a time when teachers can monitor problem areas and offer specific instruction on the issues.

4. Identify the importance that all teachers are teachers of literacy.

Literacy is used in every content area. Even math can help develop writing and reading skills when used with word problems. Content areas such as social studies, science, and health can use reading and writing to help build and reinforce literacy skills. Because of this, all teachers should think of themselves at literacy teachers and find ways of incorporating it into daily lessons. Content areas can be broken down to reading levels and ability grouping in any subject. Students will better comprehend and understand the content as they develop these skills.

5. Discuss the importance of encouraging students to analyze and question texts and media to ascertain the author’s purposes and messages.

It is important to get students to question and think about text and media. Most media is presented to demonstrate a viewpoint. It is important to question and analyze what they are telling you on tv and in the media because not everything they say is true. It is presented in order to sway the viewer’s opinion.

6. Discuss the importance of looking for students’ proficiencies outside class and incorporating them into teaching.

Finding things that students are good at is important for building self esteem. When students fell good they will enjoy school more. Creating a love of learning is important because it will carry into adulthood. It is also great to find things that interest students and bring that into the classroom. Keeping kids interested is half the battle!

7. Discuss the importance of interdisciplinary and real-world projects that allow students to learn concepts, apply information, represent knowledge and use technological tools.

Interdisciplinary projects make children think about things in real world terms. In my adult life, no one has asked me to find evidence in a book I have read for pleasure. I book I read may prompt me to challenge my own outlook on a particular subject and think inwardly about how the new information has affected me. When I worked in retail, no one asked me to round prices in my head to estimate costs but I was able to do it to solve problems brought to me. Real world problems do not come packaged neat and tidy the way test questions present themselves. It is our duty as teachers to prepare students for the world they will meet on the outside of the school walls. Teaching them how to work through multistep and interdisciplinary issues/projects will help them transition into the working world where they will need to troubleshoot their own set of problems. Post

Session 10
[|bdaniele01] Nov 11, 2015 Session 10-14: Readicide: how schools are killing reading and what you can do about it

By Kelly Gallagher, Richard Allington

The following website is from a new book written by Kelly Gallagher. This is the first few chapters of the book. Based on what you have read, what are your thoughts on Kelly Gallagher's perception on what high schools are doing to hurt reading.

I found this book, at least the first few chapters, compelling. What an important topic and one that is not brought up enough! With so much emphasis on creating readers so that they can pass a test, is it any wonder that kids do not enjoy reading? I never really thought of this as such a problem because I am on the fun end of the spectrum. As Gallagher stated, kids love reading in Kindergarten! I consider myself lucky to be a kindergarten teacher. Kids come to school and learn to love reading and learning. We have fun and learn new things at the same time. The standards put on teachers is felt here too, believe me. I am not free of data analysis and goals to get all of my students reading at a certain level by the end of the year either. The difference is my students still enjoy it and get excited to read new books each day. I think part of the trouble comes when every time they read they need to talk about it, or create questions, or text render, etc. etc. Sometimes kids need to read because it’s fun! They need to read because it’s a good book. They need to develop a love of characters such as Clifford, Little Critter, or the Bearenstein Bears (Yes, I still read all of those to my class). I think when we expect something in return for reading it diminishes the fun and turns reading into work. Teachers are forced to teach to the test by state and local administration who is focused on standardized tests instead of developing well rounded human beings. I would love to read the rest of the book to build my understanding of why this is happening and what could be done to change it. Post

Session 9
[|bdaniele01] Nov 2, 2015 The link was unavailable. [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015  Sorry, just move on to Session 10. I will try to update the link. Post

Session 8
[|bdaniele01] Nov 2, 2015 Session 8: What Every Teacher Should Know about Comprehension Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board. []

Comprehending is a complicated process, as we have discovered and explored in this article. Yet it is one of the most important skills for students to develop if they are to become successful and productive adults. Comprehension instruction in schools, beginning in kindergarten, is therefore crucial.

Discuss how comprehension works.

1. Identify how to get the reader to engage in some form of text.

First, have students engage in text. This begins in Kindergarten when we first begin teaching reading. We can get the reader engaged by using read alouds, shared reading, and small group instruction.

2. Discuss the importance of teachers learning how to support readers.

Teachers providing supports to the reader allows them to grow and develop as readers. They develop skills and become more accurate and fluent readers. Reading by itself is not enough though- students need to be able to comprehend what they have read. This can also be supported by teachers. Teachers can help them by teaching decoding, vocabulary, and fluency. They can also connect the reading to prior knowledge.

3. How do you think you can build and activate prior knowledge.

I like to ask students to predict the content of books. We look at the title and pictures in the books to make our predictions. We then discuss what students know about the topic and have a small group discussion. It is good to develop speaking. listening, and comprehension skills.

4. How do you think you can motivate students to read.

Being excited to read with kids makes them excited to read. I teach kindergarten so motivation is not that much of a problem. I try to pick books they will like and I get excited to read with them. I give them opportunities to share and read to me which they love to do.

5. How do you think you can engage students in personal responses to text.

Using a station to have students talk about or write about texts that they have read. Depending on students’ skill development, the teacher can set up stations that require discussion and a written response to the text.

6. How do you think you can understand the importance of teaching text structures.

Text structures can help students understand what they are reading. There are various text structures that are set up to inform the reader in various ways. Teaching these clues can help student comprehension.

7. How will you create visible reading/writing connections.

That is also a great thing to put in a station. After reading, give students a writing to complete in order to make a visible connection. Writing helps make connections between the reader and the text. [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015  Excellent response. I like the connections you make to elicit understanding. Post

session 7
[|bdaniele01] Nov 2, 2015 Session 7: Importance of Implementing Literacy Development

Read the following questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.

1. Discuss the need for multilevel, flexible, and small –group instruction.

All three of these things go hand in hand. Small groups are effective because they teach students on their level. There would be no point in teaching small group if it was not multi-level. On that note, students should be able to move in and out of groups based on their level and needs.

2. List and discuss the importance of professional development in literacy in all content areas.

Professional development is important because new research proves new methods of best teaching practices. It is also a great way to discuss things that work or do not work with colleagues. Developing good literacy teaching practices for all content areas will make it easier to incorporate all subject areas into the school day. Often, there is so much focus on reading and math that other subjects barely get taught.

3. Explain and discuss the importance of approaching reading and writing as a developmental process.

Reading and writing are core literacy skills. They must be developed over time and need to be taught one step at a time. You cannot skip skills and expect learners to grow. If literacy is approached as a developmental process students can continually build on what they already know.

4. Discuss the importance of teachers learning more about their students as readers and writers.

When teachers know more about their students, they can better meet their needs. This makes for more learning and happier students! Teaching to a whole group means some students are going to be bored, some learning, and some will be unable to keep up. Using small group instruction allows teachers to get onto each student’s level and see how the students are progressing through the smaller group sizes.

5. What are your thoughts regarding the link below and the set up of a differentiated classroom and lessons.

We use the FCRR resources in small group instruction at my school. They are great for building on what a student already knows. They are interactive and fun to students. It makes it easy to differentiate what students are working on based on their needs. [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015  Great Response....... Post

Session 6
[|bdaniele01] Nov 2, 2015 Session 6: Students’ Active versus Passive Involvement Read the following articles and questions, and post your responses to the discussion board.

[]

[]

What is your opinion on the active versus passive involvement in reading?

Active reading allows the reader to recall and form opinions on what they have read. The reader should feel as they read and allow the text to move them. Passive reading is just trying to get through the text. The reader may sit and read information straight through just to get it done. Active reading allows for more information to be retained. I think active reading is going to be a better option because the reader will retain more and be able to have a better understanding of what they read. [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015  Nice response.... Post

Session 4/5
[|bdaniele01] Nov 2, 2015 1. Discuss three effective elements in literacy practice.

Phonics, writing, read alouds

2. Discuss research based perspectives on catering to the diversity and needs of ESLstudents and struggling readers.

Guided reading has been shown to offer students, even struggling readers and ESL students, major benefits. Guided reading is used to teach reading to small groups of students instead of an entire class. Teachers can see what level each student reads on and then group them based on their ability. This method allows teachers to teach reading to small groups of children and it focuses on their individual levels. It isn’t a “one size fits all” approach.

3. Discuss balanced literacy instruction focusing on independent learning.

Balanced literacy has many components. It focuses on teaching reading through many different methods. For example, read aloud, guided reading, shared reading and reading workshops focus on building reading skills. Interactive writing, shared writing, writing workshop and word study helps students develop writing skills. All of these techniques help students develop their ability to read and write fluently and allows them to develop it on their own levels.

4. Identify the environment that is needed for optimum literacy learning.

Students need an environment that is stimulating and supportive. They need books and materials that are on their level to support their reading growth. The most important thing a teacher can do, is give them a positive attitude about learning and their abilities.

5. Discuss balanced literacy instruction and tailoring instructional strategies to the specific needs of each student.

Balanced literacy allows the teacher to tailor the support based on student needs. The teacher can guide students during shared and interactive writing and then use that as a guide for how much support students need. The centers and stations that students attend can scaffold for those that need more support or less support. The teacher can pull a small group of students to work with them if they need more support in building literacy skills.

Read the article from the link below - What are your thoughts regarding Balanced Literacy Instruction? After reading the article, answer the questions below, and post to the discussion board. []

1. Discuss the phonics versus whole language debate.

Phonics is based on reading precision and whole language focuses on understanding more than accuracy. I think the real answer lies in between these two approaches. Yes, we want children to be accurate when they read because their texts become more and more complex as they become more fluent. It will be more difficult to read inaccurately and still understand what they read. Phonics has the student read word by word verbatim the text in front of them. They can sound out words but are not to make up words just because they make sense to them. The real answer is balancing the approach to include phonics instruction and whole language skills.

2. Discuss the balanced instruction? Discuss the importance of writing to a variety of texts.

Balanced literacy focuses on both reading and writing. Writing to a variety of texts helps students in several ways. First of all, it is easier to make writing interesting if it is not the same repetitive lesson over and over. Writing to respond to a variety of texts makes it interesting because it changes. It also helps students think about what they have read. They are often answering questions about the text or are asked to think beyond the text to develop reading comprehension and analyzing skills. Writing also develops phonemic awareness which helps when reading.

3. What is your opinion regarding science to the rescue?

Science to the rescue tells that research is proving a combination of the two approaches is probably the best approach to teaching reading. I agree that we should not limit our horizons. [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015  Excellent response.... Post

Session 9
[|JLudwig6] Oct 31, 2015 the website did not work Post

Session 15
[|JLudwig6] Oct 31, 2015 1. Discuss methods for providing time set aside for reading in all content areas. In all content areas, scholastic provides stories in all subjects and on all grade levels. If a teacher would be discussing how apples grow, a teacher could have students read a leveled book at their level, and then make a KWL chart and discuss what the students already knew, what they want to learn, and after reading the story discuss what they learned from reading the book for a science lesson.

2. List and discuss ways to develop students’ skills and strategies for reading complex texts. IF the students are able to write or highlight in a book, or use post-it notes, I would encourage students to maybe write down what they are thinking or highlight words that sticks out to them to remember what the page said. Dictionaries would be a good reference for students to use if they are still unsure of what a meaning of a word is after using context clues. Create a KWL chart would be beneficial for them if it is about a subject they are a little bit familiar with.

3. Identify and describe the importance of providing diverse materials. All students are different learners, and providing diverse materials in the classroom allows the student to learn at their level and their own may. If a student was having difficulty with math, touch math could be provide, manipulatives could be used, or if they still didn't know their numbers play-doh could be used for the tactile learners.

4. List and identify methods of using positive support to encourage students to continue being effective problem solvers, how to increase a student’s self-esteem, creating a more positive reading environment for both the teacher and students

1. being effective problems solvers- if a student needs a number line in math, and knows they are struggling with their numbers they could ask the teach to place a number line on their desk instead of struggling and giving up during the lesson.

2. increasing student's self-esteem- Teachers should encourage positive behaviors in the classroom, and provide prizes( in the younger grades) to show the class how their peers should be treated, award the students who show role model behaviors and rewards students who are trying to build self-esteem

3. Reading environment- create a inviting classroom full of books, allow time for students to read and have students read to other students who may be struggling. Find what interests the students have, and maybe pick books at the end of the school day, and put a couple of the books you think the students would enjoy reading on their desks, and when they come in on the next day they will have books there ready for them to read! [|cmcgrane] Nov 10, 2015