A Message from Kathie Nielsen
With the first month of the new school year behind us, we are certainly off to a fabulous start at TUSD. Thanks to each of you for all your efforts, both big and small, ensuring that all of our elementary students started the new school year off so well. As I have visited sites and classrooms throughout the district this past month it has been so exciting to see so many students with books in hand, actively engaged in reading. Your work implementing Balanced Literacy is definitely making a profound impact in our classrooms. In addition, I know you have all spent this first month administering Running Records with each of your students for the first time and I applaud you for embracing this new system. I know that this is not easy work, but it is the work that will bring you closer to understanding your students as readers, so I know in the long run it will be worth it.
I would like to invite you to take a look at this new communication tool, the TUSD CONNECTION. Our dedicated TOSA team has so much to share, so we thought some updates throughout the year might help us communicate with you better. I hope you will find the resources, tools, and ideas helpful to you as you continue to grow in your work as an educator this year.
Key Highlights...
- SEARCH page
- Professional Development Website & Videos
- Planning Resources
- TUSD Framework Projections & Instructional Phases
Discussion Boards...
Getting Started: The Nuts & Bolts
The writing workshop structure gives children the space to compose pieces of writing on topics of their choice that match their interests. In TUSD, this structure encompasses rigorous content standards, engaging instructional strategies, and on-level resources that provide children with multiple opportunities to write independently, alongside the teacher, and in collaboration with peers. Teachers follow the gradual release of responsibility model through short, concise mini-lessons that model/demonstrate and provide children with an opportunity to practice before engaging in their independent writing work. While children are writing independently, teachers hold one-to-one conferences to support individual writers, and also work with small groups of students that need instruction on the same writing skill.
On-Demand Writing Opportunities
On-demand writing opportunities (given prior to the start of a unit and at the conclusion) are utilized to gain information on specific writing skills within a text type. Analysis of the on-demand pieces gives teachers valuable information about their writers that guides whole class mini-lessons, one-on-one conferring, and small group instruction. Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP) provides examples of student work related to opinion/argument, informational, and narrative writing. Click HERE to access the samples on the TCRWP website.
Launching Tools - Pens or Pencils?
Perhaps you have heard or seen colleagues providing their students with pens during writing workshop. Wondering about this? Take a look at the article below.
Article: Pen Versus Pencils: Which One is Better For Writing Workshop?
BIG Ideas for Young Writers (TK - Grade 1)
Author Matt Glover shares his BIG ideas for developing children's LOVE for writing in his book Engaging Young Writers. How do you invite children to enter into the writing process? As educators we can...
- foster children’s images of themselves as writers: inspire young children to see themselves as authors, people who make "books"
- honor approximations: through the eyes of a growth mindset, see all that a child can do, and not what s/he cannot do
- nudge rather than push: remember that what we ask children to do must be just within their reach, nudging can provide just the right amount of scaffolding
- understand your vision - the importance of making books: books are what children have the greatest vision for, and having a clear vision for what you are making is important in any act of composition
- teach children to read like writers: learn how to write well, by studying what published authors do - read books with a writer's eye
4th & 5th Grade Music Education Program
The 4th & 5th grade music program is back in full swing! The goal of the program is to develop student appreciation for music as an art form, to empower students to experience music as a source of individual and collective enrichment, and as a unique academic discipline. The study of music incorporates distinct skills of all other disciplines combined – critical, creative, and reflective thinking, observation, problem-solving, analysis and evaluation, and the ability to understand the world cultures around us. Students will attend weekly music classes provided by certified music specialists and rotate through three, eleven week courses, covering music theory, vocal music and recorders (4th) or strings (5th). Please check out our Music curriculum and lessons available on Haiku via the red button above.
Personal Math Trainer Bootcamp
- October 6
- October 27
- November 9
3:00 - 5:00 PM @Myford
NanoWriMo
Bring novel writing into your classroom using Young Writer's Project!
Sign up today at:
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Inquiry
Join the 2015-2016 TUSD UDL Experience
Information Meeting TUESDAY, 10/27
3:00pm @ Estock Elementary
Sign up by Friday, 10/9/2015.
ELA Instructional Phase 1: 9/21 - 10/29
The purpose of Phase 1: Strategies for Readers & Writers is to explore student identities and develop multiple strategies for reading and writing. The phase will support students as they consider who they are as a reader and writer, as well as what they need in order to be a successful reader and writer. Stamina building is a critical component within this phase, as students will need support in sticking with a book, sustaining writing, and reading/writing without interruptions. Partnerships can be introduced within this phase as children begin reading and talking about books with partners and gaining peer support in choosing a topic or revising work. Partnerships should be fluid and flexible, changing daily if needed. Text Type: Narrative
Click HERE to access TUSD ELA Instructional Phases
September Book Pick
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
No matter what grade level or subject you teach or have children in, literacy is KEY. Booklist says, "Because she couldn’t find a book that showed her how to use her own love of books to imbue her elementary students with the same love, Miller, Teacher Magazine blogger, decided to write her own. She recalls her personal journey as a teacher and the surprise and disappointment of learning that book loving cannot be automatically passed on to students. No more having the whole class read the same novel. She gave her students questionnaires to determine their interests and personally selected stacks of books of possible interest to them, then allowed them to read independently—at least 40 books a school year. She recounts the experience of some students struggling and others exhilarated by the freedom to read. Miller’s tactics resulted in improvement in her students’ vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. She also saw students respect book suggestions that came from a reader’s passion rather than a teacher’s agenda. Miller includes reading lists, activities, questionnaires, and other resources. Although aimed at teachers, this book will also definitely appeal to parents interested in encouraging their children to read. --Vanessa Bush"
Discussion opened on 9/28! Join the conversation on Instagram @tusdbookclub.
October Book Pick
How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
According to Google Books: "In a world where academic success can seem all-important in deciding our children's success in adult life, Paul Tough sees things very differently. Instead of fixating on grades and exams, he argues that we, as parents and teachers should be paying more attention to our children's characters. Inner resilience, a sense of curiosity, the hidden power of confidence - these are the most important things we can teach our children, because it is these qualities that will enable them to live happy, fulfilled and successful lives. In this personal, thought-provoking and timely book, Paul Tough offers a clarion call to parents and teachers who are seeking to unlock their child's true potential - and ensure they really succeed." We hope you will join us @tusdbookclub!
Maggie Villegas
Email: mvillegas@tustin.k12.ca.us
Twitter: @mvillegas1516
Stephanie Yang
Email: syang@tustin.k12.ca.us
Twitter: @syang_yang
Check it out - www.smore.com!
