THE REMIX: REVISIT, RETHINK, REFLECT, AND RENEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING JOB ALIKE DAY ANNUAL ARRC UPDATE Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway August 20, 2013

Introductions and Welcome!  Name  Campus for the school year  Grade/Course  A Book I Read This Summer

Norms

Reflect on the ARRC  Jump in head first!  What is the ARRC?  The Aligned Round Rock Curriculum  Where can I find it?  ndrockisd.org/ ndrockisd.org/  Let’s take a look!

RRISD District Philosophy (Revisit)  Reference/guidance documents are located in Moodle within each grade level folder:  The First Ten Days (useful during the first six weeks; what to do in terms of reading and writing)  Round Rock ISD Operational Definition for Reader-Writer Workshop  Guiding Questions:  What are we trying to accomplish with our students within the English Language Arts classroom?  What model does Round Rock ISD subscribe to for best practice?

ELA ARRC Update  ARRC Overview Pages for Middle School: “Snapshots of Instructional Timelines”  Overview documents provide the following:  Unit titles and pacing for each semester  Major work products for each unit  TEKS-based performance tasks for writing (non-negotiables)  Reading focus TEKS

ELA ARRC Update  ARRC Overview Pages for Middle School continued…  Focus genres noted for each unit  Curriculum-based Assessments and STAAR Test dates* (CBAs are subject to change)  District Adopted Resources Integrated into the ARRC for Instruction Holt-McDougal Literature Pearson Prentice-Hall Writing Coach

 Genre-study emphasis  Mentor texts for study – read for comprehension/analysis and for writer’s craft  Writing products will compliment the reading TEKS focus; reading focus TEKS will guide the study of mentor texts to support and create the writing product(s) specified in the ITs Organizational Structure of Each Unit

 Synthesis across genres  An integral part of each unit and study within the ELA ARRC; a high stakes area for STAAR  Students are expected to synthesize and make logical connections between ideas within a text and across two or three texts representing similar or different genres…  What connections can students make between texts after reading? Organizational Structure of Each Unit

 1 st 6 weeks features:  Establish Literacy Routines (like Reader- Writer Workshop and the Writer’s Notebook)  Assessment (AIMSweb and other base-line assessments)  Comprehension Strategies  Genre Study First Six Weeks – What to Expect

 Middle School ARRC Highlights  Both literary (fiction, drama, poetry, literary nonfiction etc.) and informational genres (expository, persuasive, and procedural) are addressed during the sequence of yearly instruction.  Reading genres are paired with complimentary writing genres (genre study). ELA ARRC Update

 Middle School ARRC Highlights continued…  There are multiple opportunities throughout the year for readers to make connections between and across texts of various genres (synthesize across genres).  Research is dispersed at every grade level.  Additional time embedded in the ARRC to revisit genres and “look back” with students prior to STAAR. ELA ARRC Update

What’s New in the ARRC (Rethink)  Resequencing of the instructional timelines/units based on teacher input and insight about STAAR  Additional ideas for age-appropriate TEKS-based work products  Updated/revised teaching notes written by master teachers – “the notes help to shape the vision for the unit”

What’s New in the ARRC  Grammar/Oral Written Conventions are written more effectively on the RRISD Overview documents; Oral/Written Conventions (grammar) sequencing has been reworked to align better with the work products in each unit  With students in mind, editing and revising mini-lessons should be designed to address students’ writing needs and areas for improvement. Meet students where they are in their learning!

What’s New in the ARRC  TAG differentiation notes and resources noted within in each unit for Grades 6-8  A new Google feedback form is located at the top of Moodle – All insight and input regarding the ARRC is welcomed!

What’s New in the ARRC  Resources  Resources have been updated in the instructional timelines if the unit has been changed significantly  Question stems for common assessments have been updated with the new STAAR released test items (found in the RRISD Resources folder)

What’s New in the ARRC  Resources continued…  KNOWSYS Vocabulary is an option for campuses for grades 6-8  Show Me How Kits for Grades 6 and 7  College Board SpringBoard Pre-AP Resources for Grade 6 (Grades 7 and 8 will hopefully be added in subsequent years)

What’s New in the ARRC  Conceptual Model Examples for Each Grade Level  Define a vision for teachers how to connect literature together from unit to unit  Literature themes should be derived deep intensive instructional planning  The model is an example (other ways to accomplish)

Additional Nuances of Grade ____  My Own Notes Go Here if Needed  Blah Blah Blah

Time to Peruse the ARRC (Renew)

THANK YOU!