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Literacy Lookout

Edition 3 :|: March 2022

LiteracyLookoutEdition 3 :|: March 2022

Happy Spring!

Wow! Can you believe we are wrapping up the third quarter? This year has flown by and we are seeing some major growth in our students...all because of you, our amazing teachers and staff! We have seen your willingness to try something new and we appreciate how welcoming you have been to change. Success grows when the vision is shared, so thank you for putting our students first and diving into this literacy initiative with us!

:|: What we've been up to :|:

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Heggerty Training

All K-8 ELA teachers, K-12 Intervention Specialists, Title, Tutors, and Paras were trained on Heggerty Curriculum & Bridge the Gap Interventions during our February 11th Remote Learning Day. This Phonemic Awareness curriculum helps students learn how to hear and manipulate sounds and is a necessity in creating successful decoding and reading skills.
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Literacy Collaborative

The Literacy Team had the opportunity to participate in this year's HSTW Literacy Collaborative with 5 other HSTW districts. The Science of Reading, Dyslexia, Curriculum, and Literacy Plans were just a few of the focused topics throughout the 8 days together.
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Read Across America Day

Wednesday, March 2nd was National Read Across America day. Mrs. Charnigo and the Literacy Team were able to get into 15 elementary classrooms to read a Dr. Seuss book and a Free Book table was available for all middle and high school students.
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Disciplinary Literacy

Middle and High School teachers have been diving into Disciplinary Literacy at their Wednesday morning PLCs. Annenberg Learner is an excellent resource to explore regarding the application of disciplinary literacy in each content.
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Explicit Vocabulary Instruction

Some of the Elementary staff members were able to learn about Explicit Vocabulary Instruction at our February 11th Remote Learning Day. As the Middle and High school teachers continue to focus on EVI, it's great seeing those strategies trickle to our younger students, too! Remember, if you have any questions, want a strategy modeled, or if you need/want EVI training.....reach out to a literacy coach for help!
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One School, One Book

In the near future, the Middle School will be participating in One School, One Book. Mrs. Swanson was awarded a grant through the Ashland County Community Foundation which will give each middle school student a book in which they will read together as a school.

:|: Staff & Student Successes :|:

You know the saying, "all hands on deck"? Well, it's evident that Mapleton has adhered to that saying whole-heartedly! Our staff has dove into interventions both in and out of the classroom and our students are soaring! Both the Elementary and Middle School have been implementing Tier II interventions since January. The data proves our students are growing and becoming more successful readers, writers, speakers, and listeners!


Check out these numbers! The charts below show the decrease in the number of unmastered skills in Phonological Awareness from January to March. Even though we have made great progress, there are still so many skills our students are working to master.

:|: How's your bowling? :|:

When we aim for the middle while bowling, which as teachers we are often encouraged to do to "reach the most students", it results in a 7/10 split with one pin left on each side. Those pins are the students who need the most support, the ones who need the most challenge. So the question becomes....How do we teach in a classroom that has a wide variety of needs?


How could this be tied to literacy? Think leveled texts. It's not about leveling the texts for students, it's about leveling the support you give them! When our support within the classroom covers the wide variety of needs, everyone benefits! As Dr. Alfred Tatum states, "Leveled texts lead to leveled lives."

Shelley Moore: Transforming Inclusive Education
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:|: Join our Book Club :|:

After spring break we will be diving into The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler along side Mr. Fulton. This is a great opportunity for any teacher, including non-ELA teachers, to better understand the direction that our district is headed regarding literacy and why we have chosen this path. As a very easy and eye-opening read, come with an open-mind either before or after school to discuss major changes in the education world. If you are interested, contact Mr. Fulton ASAP!


Need a quicker way to get a summary of The Knowledge Gap? The Science of Reading Podcast has an excellent episode with Natalie Wexler ! Click to listen to S1:E1!


If you aren't able to join, be on the lookout for more Book Clubs coming this Fall!

:|: Our Current Listens :|:

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The Innovator's Mindset

As George Couros says, "change is an opportunity to do something amazing", and as we all know, there has been a lot of change this school year. The Innovator's Mindset Podcast is an easy listen to help shape how we think and act in the world of education. Let's not let change derail our progress but rather propel us towards success!
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Teach Happier

At a recent Literacy Network, we were introduced to Teach Happier. This website shares small shifts that, if practiced over time, can make BIG positive differences in your life at work and at home. The website offers lessons that can be infused into your classroom and their Podcast episodes are a quick 5-minute happiness infuser!

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Science of Reading: The Podcast

Want to hear the latest insights from research and practitioners in early reading? The Science of Reading Podcast help expand your knowledge of this topic in a conversational approach and will help you transition your thinking to be more "structured literacy-esc". We have been diving into this podcast since July and has truly helped build our SoR knowledge!

:|: Important Upcoming Events :|:

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State Testing

ELA: March 22 & 23

(Make-ups March 24)

Math: April 12 & 13

(Make-ups April 14)

Science: April 20 & 21

(Make-ups April 22)

Social Studies: April 26 & 27

(Make-ups April 28)


Testing times will be established by each building.

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Aimsweb Spring Benchmark

The Aimsweb Plus Spring Benchmark window will open Monday, April 25th and close Friday, May 6th.
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Literacy Week

The Elementary will be celebrating Literacy the week of May 2-6. We will have our Scholastic Book Fair up and running, our Read-A-Thon fundraiser booming, and our Title Literacy Family Night happening. Be on the lookout for more information!
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Shelby Ortiz

District Literacy Coordinator

mapl_sortiz@tccsa.net

ext. 8182

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Cassie Newcomer

PK-6 Literacy Coach

mapl_cnewcomer@tccsa.net

ext. 4123

Twitter @ lit_coach_cass

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Cassie Swanson

5-12 Literacy Coach

mapl_cswanson@tccsa.net

ext. 6163

Twitter: @ swanson_cassie