- Instructional Services Division
- English Language Arts and Reading - Secondary
- Secondary ELAR Professional Development
English Language Arts Reading
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English Language Arts and Reading - Home
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September - December Professional Development
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November 18, 2024: Helping Struggling Readers, Grades 4-12 (ELAR)
In this session, participants will build a knowledge base of foundational reading skills and learn how to interpret data to identify foundational reading skill gaps. We will establish how to determine appropriate strategies to target instructional needs and the best practices that support students through ongoing support. This session would be a review for those who have completed Reading Academies.
January - May Professional Development
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January 10, 2025: Metrocrest Meeting for English Language Arts Supervisors in the DFW Area
Come join fellow local ELAR curriculum supervisors and leaders across the DFW area to learn and share instructional strategies as well as practices to plan for district educator support.
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January 24, 2025: Writing Calibrations and Trends Analysis STAAR and Beyond (6-12)
Join us in mastering the art of writing trends analysis and student writing calibration to shape the writers of tomorrow. This professional development workshop is designed for teachers and instructional leaders who aspire to enhance their expertise in analyzing writing trends and refining student writing through thoughtful calibration. Through a hands-on and interactive approach, educators will gain valuable insights into the purpose and significant impact of trends analysis and calibrating writing. Walk away with practical strategies, insightful techniques, and a renewed sense of purpose to enrich both your instruction and your students' learning journey.
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January 31, 2025: Building Background Knowledge in the ELAR Classroom (6-12)
In this session, participants will explore the concept of building background knowledge and the importance of knowledge coherence. They will reflect on the connections presented in an example set of texts that build knowledge coherence and background knowledge, and work collaboratively to incorporate knowledge coherence into a lesson. Finally, participants will reflect on how their learning from the session applies to their current roles.
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February 3, 2025: Building Writers Through Sentence-Level Work (6-12)
Join us for an engaging professional development session that dives into the intricate craft of building writers through sentence-level work. In this workshop, participants will explore the essential elements contributing to crafting powerful and impactful sentences. Additionally, throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to engage in grade-specific areas of learning tailored to their teaching contexts. Whether you're an educator looking to enhance your teaching strategies or a professional aiming to elevate your writing skills, this session promises valuable insights and practical tools for success. Join us on a journey to master the art of writing, one sentence at a time.
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February 27, 2025: Bridging the Gap: Integrating Foundational Reading Skills into ELAR Tier 1 Instruction (4-12)
In this session, educators will explore effective strategies for seamlessly incorporating foundational reading skill intervention into Tier 1 instruction within a 4-12 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) classroom. Recognizing that not all 4-12 students have mastered essential reading skills, we will dive into the importance of addressing these foundational skills, even as we tackle complex texts. Learn to identify and support students with foundational reading needs, adapt materials, and differentiate instruction. This session is designed to empower 4-12 ELAR educators to create inclusive and supportive learning environments that ensure all students, regardless of their reading proficiency, can effectively engage with and comprehend complex texts. Join us in bridging the gap for all students.
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March 27, 2025: Bringing Poetry to Life in Secondary ELAR
This session is designed to support teachers as they navigate the intricacies of poetry instruction. Participants will explore the key elements and techniques of poetry and participate in engaging strategies for teaching poetry analysis. Participants will leave with practical tools and resources to enhance their poetry instruction.
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April 24, 2025: Blending Historical Inquiry and Literacy Skills: A Cross-Curricular Approach to Deepen Student Understanding and Connections
In this dynamic workshop, educators will explore how to merge historical inquiry with literacy instruction to create an integrated learning experience. Learn how to align Social Studies and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) skills to foster critical thinking, increase student engagement, and deepen understanding. This session provides research-based instructional strategies (RBIS) that bridge the two subjects, empowering students to make meaningful connections between historical content and literacy skills. Join us for practical tools and insights into cross-curricular planning that will enhance your teaching and inspire long-lasting student connections.
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May 14, 2025: Practical Applications for Instructional Leaders Supporting RLA RBIS
Research-Based Instructional Strategies represent the most significant changes needed to bridge the gap between research and practice. Covering the topics of Foundational Skills, Text Complexity, Knowledge Coherence, and Text-Based Responses, this session will equip instructional leaders with strategies to support teachers in implementing these approaches effectively, ensuring that impactful shifts are sustained and supported at the classroom level. This session will not provide a TEA RBIS certification but is designed to support instructional leaders supporting teachers implementing research-based instructional practices.
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May 27, 2025: GT Update - ELAR on ICE: Inquiry, Creativity, and Enrichment in the ELAR Classroom
The ICE series is designed to provide content-specific instructional strategies to amplify core content for gifted and advanced learners. In this course, we will explore what inquiry, creativity, and enrichment can look like in 3rd- through 10th-grade ELAR classrooms. We will examine methods to promote inquiry and creativity in daily lessons, including choice boards, book trailers, and questioning strategies.
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May 28, 2025: GT Update - Socratic Seminars: Implementing Student-Facilitated Learning in the ELAR Classroom (3-12)
Are you looking to take your classroom to the next level with student-facilitated learning? Join us to learn how to develop and facilitate Socratic Seminars that promote critical thinking and inquiry for all students while meeting the needs of advanced learners for additional depth and complexity. Participants will understand the process of setting up and participating in a Socratic Seminar and walk away from the session with a framework and multiple instructional strategies that will allow for implementation of student-facilitated learning. Please make sure to bring a technology device. Resources for this session will be digital.
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May 29, 2025: Understanding and Analyzing the ELAR TEKS (K-12)
This session is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate and utilize the ELAR TEKS in your teaching practice. Our goal is to empower you in deconstructing the ELAR TEKS and comprehending their interconnected nature. Throughout the course, you'll gain insights into the significance of vertical alignment by examining student expectations across different grade levels and how they change year to year. To enhance your instructional planning, we provide guidance on unpacking the ELAR standards and creating Know-Show charts. Please make sure to bring a technology device. Resources and artifacts for the session will be digital.
June - August Professional Development
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June 5, 2025: Connecting Reading and Writing in the ELAR Classroom (3-12)
In this session, participants will explore the framework of connecting reading and writing in the ELAR classroom. They will dive deep into the process of using mentor texts to examine and analyze genre characteristics and authors' craft from the perspective of both a reader and writer. Participants will leave the session with an understanding for how to integrate reading and writing through mentor texts. Participants will need technology devices for this session.
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June 10, 2025: Implementing Fluency Instruction in Secondary ELAR (6-12)
This session explores the components of fluency, its impact on reading comprehension, and how to implement effective fluency strategies in the secondary ELAR classroom. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of fluency and its key elements. They will analyze the relationship between fluency and reading comprehension and learn to evaluate and implement appropriate fluency strategies. By the end of the session, educators will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to enhance fluency instruction and improve overall literacy achievement.
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July 17, 2025: Literacy Connects Us to the World Conference
This conference is intended for participants engaged in campus and district literacy instruction, curriculum, culture, and leadership of secondary students. We recognize that it takes every individual in an educational organization to ensure each student's literacy success, and we want to honor that by offering multiple sessions suited for a variety of literacy audiences. The sessions will be geared toward 6-12 ELAR teachers, but anyone invested in supporting literacy may find this conference beneficial.