Annual Job Alike Day

August 17, 2011

Walsh Middle School

Navigating the Secondary English

Aligned Round Rock Curriculum (ARRC)

2011-2012

Charting the Course Today

Objectives TodayAnalyze changes in the English Aligned Round Rock Curriculum (ELA ARRC)

Locate and learn how to access the newly aligned ARRC (Moodle)

Examine the “First 10 Days” and “RRISD Reader-Writer Workshop Operational Definition” documents

Plan collaboratively with colleagues

NORMS

Brief IntroductionsNameCampusRoleInteresting Summer Read

ARRC Update 2011-2012ARRC Overview Pages for Middle and

High SchoolNew and Improved: “Snapshots” of Instructional Timelines (2-3 pages long):

oUnit Titles and pacing featuredoBenchmark Assessments, STAAR Test dates, and TAKS Test dated (if applicable) documented

ARRC Update 2011-2012ARRC Overview Pages for Middle and

High School continued:o“Focus Genres” HighlightedoSpotlight on Grammar (one area to focus on this year in terms of data)

oMajor work products noted for each unit

ARRC Update 2011-2012Other Documents Included in the ARRC:

At-A-Glance Maps which feature the bundled TEKS within each unitoPosted on the RRISD Curriculum site for

public viewingInstructional TimelinesoPosted within Moodle; Detailed information

about each instructional period (what to teach (TEKS), work products, pacing suggestions, teaching notes)

Overall organizational structure of each unit: • Mentor texts• Writing components (non-negotiable work products) will compliment mentor texts

ARRC Update 2011-2012

1st 6 weeks - Introduction to • Comprehension Strategies• Genre Study• Establishing Literacy Routines (like Reader-Writer Workshop)

• Literary Genres (both Fiction and Nonfiction)

ARRC Update 2011-2012

ARRC Update 2011-2012Other Documents Included in the ARRC:Adopted Resources Integrated into the

ARRC for InstructionoHolt McDougal Literature (middle school) or Glencoe Literature (high school)

oPearson Prentice-Hall Writing Coach 6-12 - NEW

Middle School and High School HighlightsA balance of literary and informational

genres are featured each semester to provide students with multiple opportunities to work with both types of texts as critical readers.

Work products and assessments are delineated with teaching notes.

ARRC Update 2011-2012

Middle School and High School HighlightsA balance of literary and informational

genres are featured each semester to provide students with multiple opportunities to work with both types of texts as critical readers.

Work products and assessments are delineated with teaching notes.

ARRC Update 2011-2012

Middle School and High School HighlightsPoetry is often embedded in different

units. An increased emphasis on “synthesizing

[information] and making connections across genres” is emphasized in various units.

ARRC Update 2011-2012

What is included within the Instructional Timeline documents?Embedded TEKSUnit DescriptionsPacing Ideas and SuggestionsGeneralizationsTeaching ResourcesWork Product Specifics

ARRC Update 2011-2012

What is included within the Instructional Timeline documents?Required LessonsRecommended Lessons

ARRC Update 2011-2012

• What else is included continued…Ongoing assessment and best practices

are written in each Instructional Timeline.Research has been carefully dispersed

at each grade level to maximize the use of campus resources.

Many hyperlinks are embedded that directly link to great instructional resources. New Moodle site should make these easier to use.

ARRC Update 2011-2012

• Work products were examined closely (backward design model).

• The ARRC was resequenced based on new knowledge of STAAR.

• Additional changes were made based on teacher feedback.

What happened this spring and summer during

curriculum writing?

Where is the new ARRC located?

Moodleohttp://moodle/

How to access RRISD Moodleo(see handout distributed)

What is in each grade level’s Moodle folder?

Instructional Timelines, Overviews, and At-a-Glance Maps

Folder for Literature Books (master codes and how to access directions)

RRISD ResourcesSecondary Reading List Parent Letter

(English and Spanish)STAAR and State Resources

http://moodle/

“The First Ten Days”o(see handout)

What should I be doing the first few weeks of school?

How can I help support new teachers during this time?

“RRISD Reader-Writer Workshop Operational Definition”o(see handout)

What is reader-writer workshop and what is the district vision?

What about STAAR?

Should we be concerned or worried?

Be confident . Teach with rigor and the end in mind.

Teach the TEKS, implement effective

practices, and the rest should fall into place.

Questions

Who should I call or email if I have questions or need help?

•Campus chair

•Campus literacy coach

• District ELA/R Coaches - Randa Ruiz

or Matthew Dearmon

•Caron Sharp

Planning Sessions

•Session I Today - focus individual/grade

level planning by school and designing work

product assignments

•Session II in Afternoon (after opening

session)- focus on individual/grade level

planning by school and designing common

assessments

Secondary Language Arts WikiDive Into Language Arts

http://dive-into-language-arts.wikispaces.com/http://dive-into-language-arts.wikispaces.com/

You make the Difference!Have a great school year!