English Language Arts (ELA) Parent Academy

English Language Arts (E/LA)
Parent Academy 3-6
SOUTH HARRISON TOWNSHIP
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DECEMBER 4, 2014
PRESENTED BY:
THE REGIONAL CURRICULUM TEAM
Introductions: Partnering in South Harrison
Administrative Partners
 Dr. James J. Lavender,




Superintendent
Ms. Patricia Calandro,
Chief Academic Officer
Ms. Rachael Anderson,
Elementary Supervisor
Ms. Stefanie Fox-Manno,
ELA Supervisor
Ms. Suzette DeMarchi,
SPED Supervisor
Teacher Partners
 Mr. Rob Rosenheim,
5th grade & Curriculum
Lead
 Ms. Sarah Brown, 3rd
grade
 Mrs. Beverly Donofrio,
4th grade
 Ms. Jane Conroy,
SPED
Tonight’s Agenda
What tonight is not…
What tonight is...
 A political discussion of
 Understanding
the reform agenda
 A focus on state
assessments
 A “sell” on standards
 To scare you…
learning in relation to
the ELA Common Core
State Standards (CCSS)
 Knowing how to
support your child’s
learning and progress
Important Distinctions
 Standards: Responsibility of the State

Describe what students should know and be able to do at each
grade level (since the 1980s)
Common Core State Standards (2010) – CCSS – (ELA & math)
 New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards – NJCCCS

 Curriculum: Responsibility of the District


All district ELA and math curricula was revised collaboratively
with teachers summer of 2014 (available on our website)
NOT TEXTBOOK or PROGRAMS – these are resources
 Lessons & Instruction: Responsibility of the teacher

Follow the curriculum of the district using the resources &
instructional strategies with help from the district administration
What Does this Mean?
 Flexibility:
 South Harrison has the flexibility to organize and
implement the standards through the curriculum
development process.
 Instruction:
 Integrated into South Harrison classrooms ensuring the
highest level of student achievement can take place
 Fostered through professional development
 Curriculum & Resources:
 We have the ability to research, pilot and purchase the
instructional materials based upon the needs of our
students.
Questions?
ANY QUESTIONS YOU ARE
HOPING TO HAVE ANSWERED
TONIGHT?
PLEASE WRITE YOUR
QUESTIONS ON THE POST-IT AT
YOUR TABLE.
Understanding
the Common
Core State
Standards:
A focus on reallife application
for our children
How Did Common Core Come About?
 https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-
core-standards-ela
 Why does this matter?
 “Shift Happens”: This brief video describes why changes in
education are imperative. https://www.youtube.com/watch
v=XrJjfDUzD7M&noredirect=1
English Language Arts CCSS
Writing
Reading
 Read Closely
 Write arguments
 Make Inferences
 Write
 Cite Specific Textual
informative/explanatory
text
 Draw evidence from
literary/informational
text
 Assess credibility &
accuracy of sources
evidence from complex
text (literary &
informational/nonfiction)
English Language Arts CCSS
Speaking & Listening
Language
 Range of conversations
 Conventions of
& collaboration
 Present clearly &
persuasively
 Adapt speech to variety
of contexts
standard English
 Knowledge of language
 Vocabulary acquisition
& use
Common Core for Special Needs
 Special needs students will continue to
participate in assessments as stated in their
Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)
 Classroom academic & assessment
accommodations and modifications will continue
to be made through students’ IEPs
 Common Core will provide a change in
curriculum, but no changes will be made to
special education laws
Summary
 More instructional time on informational
text
 Emphasis on reading, writing, and speaking
based upon evidence / justification of
responses
 Writing assignments will focus on
 Opinions/Arguments
 Informative/Explanatory Texts
 Narratives
How Does Common Core
Enhance Learning?
WHAT ARE YOUR ELA MEMORIES?
(TURN & TALK)
HTTPS://WWW.TEACHINGCHANNEL.ORG/VID
EOS/ANALYZING-TEXT-BRAINSTORMING
What Does this Mean for
My Child?
SUPPORTING MY CHILD
IN THE CLASSROOM
&
AT HOME
Reading at Home Matters!
 Common Core Standards ask students to spend 50%
of their time reading nonfiction texts
 Nonfiction builds background knowledge
 Statistics on the Benefits of Reading:



20 minutes per day = 1.8 million words per year
4.6 minutes per day = 282,000 words per year
1 minute per day = 8,000 words per year
Vocabulary develops at a much greater rate when
students read!
Language Acquisition Occurs…
Through…
 Reading—by adult to child and independent
reading by child.
 Authentic writing activities—journal, letter
writing, or written explanations or labeling….
 Conversation—usually initiated by an adult, but
with near equivalent participation…
 Experience —this is perhaps the most important
vehicle for language acquisition…
Supporting Vocabulary Development at Home
Create experiences to build vocabulary!
 If you visit a museum, or monument, read and
discuss the text related to the exhibits.
 Television and movies are FULL of examples—
Identify and discuss how language impacts the
storyline.
 Read as a family!! Talk about what you are
reading. Have “listen to this…” moments!!!
 Expose your child to different types of
literature and text and guide them to notice text
nuances.
“Don’t steal the struggle.” - Allow them to
struggle! The insight is in correcting the missed
opportunity to find an accurate answer, which
helps them to gain a better understanding.
 Ask them to explain the information to you.
 Provide them with a print rich
environment. Make sure they have access to
Nonfiction in addition to Fiction. (e.g. Magic Tree
House resource guide in addition to the Magic
Tree House book)

Activities to Support Learning
VISIT THE SCHOLASTIC WEBSITE
WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM/PARENTS/
WWW.NEWSELA.COM
CCSS Resources for Parents
 Why Does this matter?

“Shift Happens”: This brief video describes why changes in education are imperative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrJjfDUzD7M&noredirect=1
 New Jersey School Boards Association: Parent Connections
 A 3-part video series explaining common core and how parents can
assist their child/children.
http://www.njsba.org/parents/student_achievement.php?pc=4
 New Jersey Department of Education: This link provides a
multitude of resources and additional links to understanding
and implementing Common Core.

http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca/resources/parents.htm
 Teaching Channel
 Presents 3 1-hour videos about the CCSS as well as lessons of teachers
who are integrating common core successfully in the K-12 classroom.
www.teachingchannel.org
PARCC in 2015
TH E N E XT G E N E R A TI O N O F
TESTI N G
PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF
READINESS FOR COLLEGE & CAREERS
South Harrison Twp.
Common Core Timeline
“Transitional Assessments”
Spring 2012
NJ ASK
Aligned to
NJCCCS
Spring 2013
Spring 2014
NJ ASK
NJ ASK
Aligned to the
CCSS
Aligned to the
CCSS
(except gr 6-8
Math)
SY 2014-15
Full
administration
of PARCC
assessments
The Next Generation of Testing: PARCC
Assessments (3rd- 6th)
 Students in grades 3-6 will take PARCC in 2015
in ELA & math
 Computer-based
 Each student will take 2 summative tests:
1.
2.
Performance-Based Assessment (PBA)
March 2nd-27th
End-of-Year Assessment (EOY)
April 27th- May 22nd
PARCC Assessments
Performance-Based
Assessment:
End-of-Year
Assessment:
 Tests critical thinking
 Short answer items
 Reading
 Reading
comprehension
 Writing in response to
reading
 Research Simulations
 Real World
Applications
comprehension
 Math conceptual
understanding and
skills
How Much Time Does It Take?
Performance-Based
Assessment:
End-of-Year
Assessment:
What Does a Testing Session Look Like?
 Classroom or Technology Room
 Administered by your child’s teacher
 Teachers can help with tech if a student is struggling
 Teachers can clarify directions
 Students can review and change answers
 Computer will be “swapped out” if there is a problem
 Classes who are not testing will have a regular day of
classroom instruction
Scoring: How is PARCC different?
NJASK/HSPA:
PARCC:
 3 Levels
 5 Levels
 Scale of 100-300
 Basic data
 Received in Fall of
following year
 Ceiling score
 Scale of 1-5
 Rich data
 Year 1: receive in Fall of
following year
 Years after: receive by
June of current school
year
 Score beyond grade level
SCORING
• Take 2 tests
(March and
May)
• Receive one
score for
Math and one
score for ELA
Technology Skills
 Use technology to determine student understanding
in authentic ways








Drag and drop
Shade text
Cut and paste
Move items
Use of math tools
Online calculators (6-11)
Graphing tools
Type written responses in ELA and Math
ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
Accessibility Features
for All Students:
Accommodations
(SE/ 504/ ELL):
 Blank paper
 Text to Speech
 Highlight
 Response
 Magnify
 Scribe
 Color Contrast
 Translation
 Extended time
Sample Test Items
Literary Analysis Task:
Research Simulation Task:
 Read 2 stories.
 Grade 3
 Answer multiple choice
questions.


Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary
 Write essay based on
stories read.

2 articles or digital source
 Grade 4-11

3 articles or digital source
 Answer multiple choice
questions.


Reading comprehension
Vocabulary
 Write essay based on
articles/ source.
Sample Test Items
Narrative Writing Task
Literacy
 1 story
 Encourage children to read
 Answer multiple choice
questions


Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary
 Write a narrative story
 Read all kinds of texts
 Stories, Newspapers,
Magazines, Biographies,
Science/ History
 Talk with your child about
what they read
 Ask your child questions
about what they are
reading
 Practice computer skills
South Harrison Twp.
Old Test vs. New Test
South Harrison Twp.
Old Test vs. New Test
South Harrison Twp.
Valuable PARCC Resources to Support Students
PARCC Newsletter: Sign up today for up-to-date information
http://www.parcconline.org/PARCC-Updates-Newsletter

Download Report