Ingham ISD English Language Arts Update for January 2014
Posted at
http://www.inghamisd.org/academic-services/mtss/ela/
Please share this update with principals, English language arts chairs and teachers. If you have any
questions please contact:
Amy Kilbridge (akilbrid@inghamisd.org or 244.1273)
Mary Jo Wegenke (mwegenke@inghamisd.org or 244.1249)
Melanie Kahler (mkahler@inghamisd.org or 244.1244)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For details and registration information, go to inghamisd.org and click on Professional Development.
January
 Coach Meeting at the Hannah Center-Rescheduled.
o The Coaches Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2014 from
9:00-12:00 at Mason City Hall. We have the room reserved until 3:00 if anyone would
like to stay and prepare for upcoming data meetings.
o If coaches were already registered, they do not need to reregister for this session

PET/SWEPT
1/24 Individual Summary Score due to Amy Baldwin - more information on the next
page.

Anita Archer Workshops
o 1/28--Successfully Teaching Reading Foundation Skills in the CCSS for K-3 teachers
o 1/29 --Writing Foundations: Preparing Students to be Successful Writers in the CCSS for
K-3 teachers
o 1/30 --Teaching Writing in the CCSS: Argumentative and Narrative Writing for 4-12
teachers
o 1/31-- Scaffolding Comprehension of Informational Text: Responding to the Demands of
the Common Core State Standards for all teachers
February
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2/6 – Winter Data Review; High School
2/11 – Winter Data Review; Elementary (option 1)
2/12 – Winter Data Review; Elementary (option 2)
2/13 – Winter Data Review; Middle School

2/19 -- Reading Academy for Grades 2-5, Day 2
The Planning and Evaluation Tool-Revised (PET-R/SWEPT )
and The Planning and Evaluation Tool (PET-M) for Elementary and Middle School
Date change from spring to winter
Purpose
 The PET-R/SWEPT and PET-M are designed to help schools “take stock” of and indentify their
strengths and areas of improvement in developing schoolwide reading and mathematics
instructional systems.
 The score reflects how you are currently doing as a school in developing your reading and
mathematics instructional systems.
 It should be used to assist leadership teams in prioritizing next steps to enhance elements of
the schoolwide reading and mathematics instructional systems.
Due Date
Turn in the Individual Summary Score page(s) to Amy Baldwin by Friday, January 24, 2014
Why the Change
 Data can be utilized for School and District Improvement Plans in the spring
 Data can be used throughout the school year to improve reading and mathematics systems
March
 The MiBLSi State Implementers conference is scheduled for March 11 and 12. The keynote
speaker is Dr. Ben Clark, speaking on Selection of Evidence Based Programs and Practices. (Dr.
Clark is a Research Associate at the Center for Teaching and Learning - University of Oregon)

March 12 will have whole day strands on
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Elementary Literacy (Pre K-3)
Adolescent Literacy (4-12)
Behavior (K-12)
Math (K-1)
Universal Screening (K-12)
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
Information from Smarter Balanced Assessments about a reading writing course that California is
offering 11th and 12th graders who don’t pass the state assessment
Here is a portion of the newsletter: You can read the entire article at
http://smarterbalanced.createsend4.com/t/ViewEmail/r/CE67B3DA67089DFE2540EF23F30FEDED/56F
13B92E44A9A500B3A73003FEB3522
The Smarter Balanced 11th grade assessment allows students to demonstrate that they are ready to
enroll in credit-bearing college courses without remedial education. However, for students who score
below the college readiness level, 12th grade provides the opportunity to get back on track. Pioneered
by the California State University (CSU), transitional courses can help close the college readiness gap so
that students immediately start earning credits toward a postsecondary degree or certificate.
In collaboration with high school teachers and higher education faculty, CSU developed the Expository
Reading and Writing Course for high school students who score below proficient on the state’s college
readiness assessment. “We decided that the best way to reduce the number of students coming to CSU
needing remediation is to offer high school students and their teachers an intervention before
graduation,” said Beverly Young, Ph.D., a member of the Smarter Balanced Executive Committee and
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at CSU.
The course centers on the specific skills students need to succeed in college. “One of the biggest gaps
in college readiness is the ability to read and write about informational texts because the focus in K-12
is often on narrative reading and writing,” explained Young. The full-year course can be taken in either
the junior or senior year. Passing the transitional course with a C average allows students to enter
directly into credit-bearing English courses at CSU campuses.
REMINDER: Reading Apprenticeship RAISE Grants
Applications for the Reading Apprenticeship Grant are here. Information was sent to Curriculum
Directors in December. Eligible teachers are ELA, science, and Social Studies classrooms teachers only.
Special Ed teachers are eligible only if they co-teach in one of these General Ed classrooms.
Participating teachers must agree to complete 10 days of training, but only two of those training days
are during the school year. Applications need to include teams of 3 - 9 from each school (must be a
mix of the three content areas)
Training Dates for RAISE Participants for next school year are:
August 18 - 22, 2014
January 22 - 23, 2015
June 22 - 24, 2015
The application window typically runs from December to the end of January, so there's ample time to
assemble teams.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY OFFERED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR TEACHING AND
LITERACY
Texts and Lessons for Teaching Literature: A Hands-on, 1 Day, Professional Development
Opportunity for Teachers of English and ELA in Grades 6 – 12
Friday, January 31st, 2014, 8:30 A.M. – 2:30 PM at Winding Brook Conference Center, 4 miles South of
Mt. Pleasant
Each participant will receive a copy of Texts and Lessons for Teaching Literature by Harvey Daniels and
Nancy Steineke
Cost: $99 per person Facilitators: Toby Kahn-Loftus, Pres, Foundation for Teaching and Literacy,
Director, RCWP Top-of-the-Mitt
Dan Polleys, Boyne City Middle School, Co-Director, RCWP Top-of-the-Mitt Satellite
Questions: Call or Email Toby, Cell: 231-330-5804, tobykahnloftus@gmail.com
Registrations must arrive or be posted by Friday. Jan. 17, 2014