Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

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Middle School English Language Arts Instructional
Guide
Boris Morew [phone] Coordinator,
Secondary Literacy District B
Valerie Sampson [phone] Specialist,
Secondary Literacy District B
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Outcomes
• To understand the rationale and purpose for the
  Middle School English Language Arts (ELA)
  Instructional Guide and Periodic Assessments
• To develop a clear understanding of the contents
  of the ELA Instructional Guide
• To use the ELA Instructional Guide to drive
  instruction and raise student achievement

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Professional Development Evaluation
• National Staff Development Council Standards
• Content Standards
• Process Standards
• Context Standards

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Federal Initiative
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
• Goal 1 All students will reach high
  standards, at a minimum attaining proficiency or
  better in reading and mathematics by 2013-2014
• Goal 3 By 2005-2006, all students will be
  taught by highly qualified teachers
• Goal 5 All students will graduate from high
  school.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives to
• Close the Achievement Gap

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives
• The Secondary Redesign
• The Secondary Content Literacy Initiative
• The LAUSD Blueprint for Implementing the Action
  Plan for Culturally Relevant Education that
  Benefits African American Students and All Other
  Students
• The Title III Initiative
• The Principles of Learning

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• The Secondary Redesign Initiative
• Data indicates the need for a new approach
• Approximately 83 of 6th,7th, and 8th grade
  students are performing below proficient on the
  California Standards Test for English/Language
  Arts
• Only 45 of 10th grade students passed the
  California High School Exit Exam in
  English/Language Arts.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• The Secondary Literacy Initiative
• Students learn core concepts and habits of
  reading, writing, and reasoning within each
  content area as defined by standards.
• The curricula and instructional activities
  apprentice students within the content area.
• Teachers apprentice students by providing
  students with direct instruction, models,
  coaching, and independent practice.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• The Secondary Literacy Initiative
• Intelligence is socialized through community,
  class learning culture and instructional
  routines.
• Instruction is assessment driven
• Scaffolding strategies are used consistently in
  instruction (e.g. bridging, contextualization,
  schema building, metacognitive development, text
  representation, and modeling.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives
• LAUSD Blueprint for Implementing the Action Plan
  for
• Culturally Relevant Education that Benefits
  African
• American Students and All Other Students
• Increase student access to curriculum
• Invoke culturally relevant methodologies
• Provide professional development aimed at
  deepening teachers understanding of culturally
  relevant and responsive pedagogy

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives
• LAUSD Blueprint for Implementing the Action Plan
  for Culturally
• Relevant Education that Benefits African American
  Students and
• All Other Students
• The Five Main Tenets of a Culturally Relevant
  Education
• Students Opportunity to Learn (Student focus)
• Students Opportunity to Learn (Teacher Focus)
• Professional Development
• Engaging African American Parents and the
  Community in the education of African American
  students
• Ongoing planning, systemic monitoring,
  evaluating, and reporting the status of the
  Action Plan implementation and the academic
  achievement of African American students.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives
• Title III
• Meaningful and Relevant Instruction and
  Assessment
• For English learners
• Structured English Immersion Programs
• Bilingual Programs
• Dual Language Programs
• Immigrant Student Programs
• Accountability

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Connections to LAUSD Initiatives
• Principles of Learning (Institute for Learning)
• Organizing for Effort
• Clear Expectations
• Academic Rigor in a Thinking Curriculum
• Fair and Credible Evaluations
• Recognition of Accomplishment
• Accountable Talk
• Socializing Intelligence
• Self-management of Learning
• Learning as Apprenticeship

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• The English Language Arts Instructional Guide
• and Secondary Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
  provide a key programmatic framework to support
  the District initiatives to improve student
  achievement.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• The Instructional Guide
• Road Map of the Year that Includes
• Four Standards Sets
• Assessment Blueprint and Sample Test Items
• Recommended Reading Selections
• Support Materials

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• What We Learn From Others
• Realizing the Promise of Standards-Based
  Education,
• Mike Schmoker and Robert Marzano

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What strategies improved student achievement?
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide

• Standards Sets

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• California English Language Arts Standards
• Not all standards are equal
• Some standards are more encompassing of skills
  and concepts
• California stresses the importance of a
  balanced and comprehensive standards-based
  instructional program.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Grade 6 ReadingNarrative
• R 3.2 Analyze the effect of the qualities of the
  character (e.g., courage or cowardice, ambition
  or laziness) on the plot and the resolution of
  the conflict.
• R 1.2 Identify and interpret figurative
  language and words with multiple
• meanings.
• Equal??

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• California English Language Arts Standards
• Not all standards are equal
• Some standards are more encompassing of skills
  and concepts
• California stresses the importance of a
  balanced and comprehensive standards-based
  instructional program.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Read and Discuss
• What does the excerpt say?
• What does a balanced and comprehensive
  instructional program mean?
• Why does providing a balanced and
  comprehensive instructional program matter?

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• California English Language Arts Standards
• California standards are not listed by importance
  or grouped by how closely they are related
• Teaching standards in sequence doesnt always
  make sense.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Standards Sets - Organizing for Instruction
• LAUSD reorganized the California ELA Standards
  for instructional purposes.
• The sequencing of the standards in the
  Standards Sets supports effective instruction and
  learning. Related standards that support or
  build upon each other are grouped together.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• How were the Standards Sets Created?
• Analyzing the content of each standard
• Considering the instructional relevance among the
  standards
• Organizing the standards into a logical,
  coherent, and efficient manner
• Sequencing standards that build upon one another
  or that are related and ordering standards to
  create a logical progression for teaching to
  the standards

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Assessing the Standards Sets
• Not all standards are assessed on the
  Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
• Some standards (e.g., speaking and listening) are
  to be assessed in class
• One writing sample will be administered as part
  of the Periodic/End-of-Year Assessment Program.
  Writing Workshops and other writing activities
  should be part of the on-going classroom
  instructional program.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Grouping Standards for Instruction
• The standards for each grade level are
  organized into four Standards Sets that provide
  the foundation for the four Instructional
  Components and specify the order in which the
  Components should be taught.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
Each Standard Set is not an island, separated
from the others. They are like links in a chain
or colors in a rainbow. Each color is distinct,
yet you need red next to blue to produce violet.
Therefore, a teacher is teaching toward a focus
but instruction doesnt end with the periodic
assessment. Instruction must continue to deepen
understanding. -- LAUSD Teacher
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Organization of the Standards Sets
• Each Standards Set is organized into four groups
• Focus Standards
• Access Standards
• General Support Standards
• Ongoing Standards

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
O N G O I N G
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
G E N E R A L
O N G O I N G
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
A C C E S S
G E N E R A L
O N G O I N G
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
A C C E S S
G E N E R A L
O N G O I N G
F O C U S
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
A C C E S S
G E N E R A L
O N G O I N G
F O C U S
STANDARDS
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Relationships Between the Standards Sets
• What does this set of standards have in common?
• What is the relationship between the sets of
  standards

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets
Grains
Broad
Building Blocks
Skill Based
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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• Building on Past Instruction
• The recurring nature of standards within the
  Standards Sets
• Each grade level Standards Set builds upon the
  knowledge and skills of the preceding year and
  extends that knowledge.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Standards
Sets

• How could the Standards Sets be helpful in
• planning a year of standards-based instruction?

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Selected
Readings

• Recommended
• Selected Readings

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Selected
Readings

• Purpose of the Recommended Selected Readings
• To promote curriculum that is standards and
  performance driven rather than text driven
• To identify selections that support the focus
  standards
• Use of the Recommended Selected Readings
• Selected Readings are suggestions - not a
  curriculum
• Other materials may be used

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Selected
Readings

• How were the Selected Readings Chosen?
• Selection Criteria for the Selected Readings
• How well the readings are aligned with
  instruction of the Focus Standards within the
  Standards Set
• The multicultural relevance of the readings
• The variety of genres represented by the
  readings
• The range of reading levels.

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide Selected
Readings

• Selected Readings and Alignment to the Focus
  Standards
• Guiding questions
• How are the identified Focus and Access Standards
  supported by this reading?
• How are the General Support and Ongoing Standards
  reflected in the Selected Reading?

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Periodic/End-of-Year
• Assessments

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
• The FACTS
• Three Periodic Assessments, one End-of-Year
  Assessment, and one writing sample given yearly
• The End-of-Year Assessment will be a cumulative
  test, assessing standards taught in the last
  Instructional Component as well as the rest of
  the year
• Diagnostic, standards-based assessments of
  approximately 50 minutes in length
• Administered by teachers in classrooms

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
• The FACTS
• Consisting of multiple choice and one or more
  constructed response question (plus one writing
  sample each year)
• Constructed responses are short answer questions
  scored for content not writing
• Scored locally by teachers - the first Periodic
  Assessment scores will not be reported to the
  Central Office
• Professional development in scoring, item
  analysis, and use of data provided to teachers

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Advantages of Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
• Frequent feedback on how well students are
  progressing toward proficiency on the grade level
  standards
• Data for teachers to use in planning instruction
  and determining appropriate and timely
  interventions
• Data from the End-of-Year Assessments to provide
  next teacher with useful instructional planning
  information

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Advantages of Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments
• Standards-based assessments that assess
  curriculum taught
• Information to facilitate conversations with
  students and parents about student progress
  toward achievement of grade level expectations
• Frequent monitoring that results in informed
  adjustments to teaching strategies

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• What are the items like on the
• Periodic Assessments?

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Middle School ELA Instructional Guide
Periodic/End-of-Year Assessments

• Use of Multiple Assessments
• The Periodic Assessments provide important
  feedback
• A complete instructional program includes
  multiple assessments that include writing samples
  integrated into classroom instruction and
  assessment.

HOWEVER
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Middle School ELA Instructional GuideSample
Lessons
Sample Lessons
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Middle School Instructional Guide Sample Lessons

• Sample Lesson
• Sample lessons are guiding lessons
• Using them is optional

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Middle School Instructional Guide Sample Lessons

• Sample Lesson Characteristics
• Aligns to Focus Standards
• Addresses some Access, General Support, and
  Ongoing Standards
• Uses effective teaching strategies and provides
  for universal access
• Contains student assessment activity that
  assesses progress toward proficiency

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Middle School Instructional Guide Sample Lessons

• Considerations in Designing Lessons to the Focus
  Standards
• Determine the result (backward planning)
• Identify strategies/scaffolding
• Consider the needs of your student population
• Incorporate research-based literacy strategies
  and the Principles of Learning
• Peruse publishers (and other) ancillary
  materials
• Determine instructional materials needed

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Middle School Instructional Guide Sample Lessons

• Universal Access
• Universal access refers to meaningful access to
  the broadest range of learners. To provide
  universal access requires differentiating
  instruction by adjusting its context, materials,
  and/or delivery of instruction to expand student
  learning.
• 
  David Chard

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Middle School Instructional Guide Sample Lessons

• Intervention should be a part of daily classroom
  instruction
• After each Periodic Assessment, time is set aside
  for Reflection, Intervention, Transition, and
  Extension (RITE)
• Sample Lessons and Recommended Teaching
  Strategies in the Instructional Guide
• Publishers Supplementary Materials

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Los Angeles Unified School District Secondary
Periodic Assessment System
Instructional Design
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Middle School Instructional Guide Instructional
Design

• Instructional Strategies that Are Uncommonly
  Successful
• What characterizes English instruction in
  secondary schools whose students beat the odds
  and outscore their peers in comparable schools on
  high-stakes, standardized tests of English
  language skills?

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Middle School Instructional Guide Instructional
Design

• How To Start Planning for Instructional Component
  1
• Tools Available
• The Standards Sets
• Selected Readings aligned to the standards
• Sample Periodic Assessment Items
• Sample Lessons
• Instructional and Intervention Strategies

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Middle School Instructional GuideInstructional
Design

• How much time will I need to teach toward the
  Focus Standards?
• How might I use the Selected Readings provided
  and the Sample Lessons?
• Which research-proven instructional strategies
  would I want to use?
• How will I differentiate instruction and build in
  interventions?
• What assessments will I build into the lessons
  for this instructional component?
• How will I use the Instructional Guide to inform
  my instruction?

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Middle School Instructional GuideInstructional
Design
The ELA Instructional Guide delivers educators a
focused roadmap for English Language Arts
instruction. What will your English Language
Arts department/grade level meetings look like
when you are focused on designing
instruction? What activities will you use to
insure successful implementation of
standards-based instruction within your English
Language Arts classroom?
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Five Minutes
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1 Minute
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Middle School Instructional Guide Feedback