2012 English/Language Arts Updates, Curriculum, and Resources Jill Martin

Originated in SMITH Magazine Six Word Memoirs

All things considered, I’m doing well. Writing brings me back to me. At a spork in the road. Spectator, not player. Working on that. Suffered from listlessness…started a new list. Missing most of life’s free throws

Teacher and Student Examples Write Like This, Kelly Gallagher (2011). Teach, grade, travel, speak, write: tired. Started a family, surrounded by girls. Read a book; smarter than yesterday. Eat. School. Cheerleading. Work. Sleep. Repeat. My dream is what I’ll be. Thinking of six words is hard. Gold medalist. Sixteen. Black like me. (

Books over boredom, my perfect day. Girls grew up. We’re playing again! Now you try…

Our Goals for 2012 and Beyond! Tracy Robertson- DOE English Coordinator Pay attention to WHAT the SOL says and TEACH it! Integrate writing into everything! Every time students read, they are provided with an example of writing. Strong formative assessment must be ongoing in classrooms!

In New SOLS You Will Find… Strong vertical alignment in grades 4-12 Reading is divided into fiction and nonfiction strands Research will be tested in writing instead of in reading SOL Reading reporting categories: Word Analysis and Word Reference (vocabulary) Comprehension of fiction Comprehension of nonfiction

Grades 4 through 12 Reading Strand Vocabulary Standards Instruction should emphasize common Greek and Latin roots and affixes. Instruction should include word study in authentic text. Denotation-The strict dictionary meaning of a word. Connotation-The emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word. The associations that people make with a word. cheap vs. inexpensive thin vs. lanky Vocabulary will be tested in passages and stand alone questions

ROOTMEANINGEXAMPLES act (l)doaction, actor, react, transact, enact agri (l)fieldagriculture, agrarian, agronomy alt (l)highaltitude, altimeter, alto alter (l)otheralternate, alternative, altercation ambul (l)walk, goambulance, amble, preamble ambi or amphi (l)both, aroundambidextrous, amphibian amo, ami (l)loveamiable, amorous, amateur, amity ang (l)bendangle, triangle, quadrangle, angular anim (l)life, spiritanimate, animosity, animal, inanimate ann, enn (l)yearannual, biennial, anniversary, annuity anthr (g)mananthropology, philanthropist arch (g) chiefmonarch, archbishop, archenemy arch (g)primitive, ancientarchaeology, archaic, archive

Grades 4 through 12 Reading Strand Fiction and Nonfiction Standards In grades 5 through 12, there will be more nonfiction than fiction content on the SOL Grades 6-12 include comparison of forms and genres (fiction vs. nonfiction text with similar topic or theme) Nonfiction includes emphasis on text structures and organizational patterns

Grades 4-12 Reading Blueprint

SOL Question Changes Technology Enhanced Items (TEI) What is it asking? How is it being asked? RIGOR IS INCREASING-Formative Assessment in our classrooms must mirror this rigor

Here’s What It Will Look Like

Grade 3 Reading Question Example SOL Test SOL Test

Grade 8 Reading Question Example SOL Test SOL Test

End of Course Example SOL Test SOL Test

How will this change reading instruction and assessment in your classroom?

Read Like Writers. Write Like Readers.

Grades 4-12 Writing Strand Writing revolves around mode, purpose, audience, and process Each grade level has a composing/revision standard and an editing/grammar standard Emphasis is put on elaboration, unity, central idea, organization, tone and voice

From the DOE... * Teaching writing is an expectation of every grade, not only “tested” grades. * SOL writing at any level DOES NOT require 5 paragraphs. * Provide students with opportunities to compose using computer technology and to use the Online Practice SOL Writing Tool (a composition task, not a typing task) * Self and peer-editing opportunities for students are essential

Changes to SOL Writing Tests The End-of-Course prompt - persuasive Grade 8 prompt - persuasive or expository Grade 5 prompt - expository or narrative Research will be tested in writing Composing/Written Expression is now one combined domain

SOL Two Domain Writing Rubric Composing/Written Expression Audience/purpose Central Idea Effective conclusions Counter arguments Elaboration Unity Organization Deliberate Word Choice Selected, Precise Information Sentence Variety Tone Voice Usage & Mechanics Sentence Formation Usage Standard Inflections Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs Agreement Mechanics Capitalization Spelling Punctuation Formatting

Scoring with the SOL Writing Rubric All student papers are read by two readers; their scores are added together Composing/Written Expression score counts twice = 2/3 Usage/Mechanics score counts once = 1/3 If judges scores are more than 1 point apart, papers are read by a third judge * Must pass both parts of the writing test in order to pass the SOL*

Grade 5 Writing

Grade 5 Writing SOL Test SOL Test

Grade 8 Writing SOL Test SOL Test

EOC Writing SOL Test SOL Test

Writing Rubrics

How will this change writing instruction and assessment in your classroom?

Research Strand Research Isn’t An Old School Paper

Grades 4-12 Research Strand Consequences of plagiarism, following ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information is emphasized in grades 3-12 Students conduct research projects in grades 4 and 5 Citation of primary and secondary sources begins in grade 6 MLA or APA documentation is required in grades 9-12

Grades 4-12 Research Strand Students are expected to: Critically evaluate the accuracy, quality, and validity of the information Frame, analyze, and synthesize information to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge Each research “product” does not have to be a paper Media Literacy can easily be incorporated into research

Communication: Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy Replaces the Oral Language strand in grades 4-12 Instruction should include opportunities for student collaboration and promote active listening skills Emphasis is on critical thinking, problem solving, accountability, working in groups, and reaching consensus

Communication: Speaking, Listening, and Media Literacy Students are expected to: Identify author, audience, content, and purpose of media messages Compare/contrast auditory, visual, and written media messages Identify persuasive techniques in media messages Distinguish between fact and opinion in media messages and text

Review The Goals and Know Your Content Pay attention to WHAT the SOL says and TEACH it! Integrate writing into everything! Every time students read, they are provided with an example of writing. Strong formative assessment must be ongoing in classrooms.

Curriculum Resources RTI Link on Augusta County Website Book Study/Blog- The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller