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WHAT CAN ENGLISH TEACHERS EXPECT NE=
XT
FALL?
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<=
/p>
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Since the new English / Langua=
ge
Arts / Reading TEKS standards are to be implemented into K-12
classrooms in the fall of 2009, what changes will English teachers
face?
For one thing, the ELAR/TEKS standards are specific to each grade
level. This is particularly significant in high school beca=
use
whatever is listed under English I (and English II, III, IV) is
eligible to be tested on the new End-of-Course tests. For t=
he
last ten years, English teachers have gotten used to the idea that
the ELAR/TEKS repeated themselves in grade clusters, K-3, 4-8, and
9-12. This will no longer be true.
When the new TAKS tests Grade 8 on down are developed, they also =
will
be based upon the grade-specific requirements in the new
ELAR/TEKS.
Another huge change in the new standards is that there is a separ=
ate
strand for English grammar, usage, spelling, handwriting, penmans=
hip,
and research writing. By designating a separate strand (i.e., Oral
and Written Conventions) for these skills, the Texas State Board =
of
Education and the TEA have sent a clear signal that these skills =
will
be tested on the newly written TAKS and End-of-Course tests.
The new ELAR/TEKS elements are specific to each grade level and g=
row
in depth and complexity from one grade level to the next. &n=
bsp;
A third big change for English teachers is that there is going to=
be
a concerted effort on the TAKS to emphasize expository and persua=
sive
writing rather than the personal narrative.
I believe these changes will definitely benefit students, but
teachers will have to rework their curricula and instructional un=
its
to align them with the new ELAR/TEKS
requirements.
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MESSAGE FROM A MYSTUDYHALL.COM TEAC=
HER
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=
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Here is a testimony from an
English teacher who has used MyStudyHall.com at her Texas =
school:
My
students really benefited from the MyStudyHall.com program. =
Some
of the learning was obvious to the students; but much of it was
obvious, not particularly to them, but to ME! Their writing
improved, and they didn't struggle to write good papers.
&nbs=
p;
Gaye Lynn Seawright, Texas Assistant Superintendent, English=
I
teacher, Valley Mills ISD
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TIMELINE FOR NEW ELAR-TEKS
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<=
/p>
|
2008-2009 - no changes in TEKS or on TAKS=
Fall 2009 - new TEKS in the classroom
Fall 2010 - new Reading/Literature books =
for
grades 2-12 and middle school reading elective; K-2 receive
reading/ELA books
Fall 2011 - new ELA textbooks for grades 2
-12
Spring 2011 - EOC for incoming Freshmen
Spring 2012 - EOC for English II
Spring 2012 - EOC for English III
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THE NEW ELAR-TEKS STANDARDS - QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
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<=
/p>
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When ELAR teachers look=
at
the tagline in the new ELAR-TEKS standards, what do the various p=
arts
mean?
In the tagline Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Exposi=
tory
Text, the first term (e.g., Reading)
designates the ELAR-TEKS strand. The next part (e.g., Comprehensi=
on
of Informational Text) designates the type of text (e.g.,
informational). The third part (e.g., Expository Text) means
the type of informational text (e.g., expository, persuasive, or
procedural).
The new ELAR-TEKS stand=
ards
use the term "traditional literature" and "classic=
al
literature." How does the TEA define these terms?
&quo=
t;
'Traditional
literature' refers to stories that were originally oral and later
became written text. 'Classical literature' refers to literature =
that
is widely acknowledged for its outstanding and enduring
qualities."
What does (e.g.,) mean =
in
the new ELAR-TEKS standards?
Anything that is placed within=
the
(e.g.,) parentheses does not have to be covered by the publishers'
materials.
What does the term
"cultural diversity" mean in the new ELAR-TEKS?<=
/strong>
The TEA's=
TAKS Information Booklet under reading states, "Cultural
diversity includes regional, economic, social, and ethnic differe=
nces
and may be represented through subject matter and/or
characters."
How does the TEA define=
the
terms "historical literature" and "contemporary
literature" as used in the new ELAR-TEKS?
The TEA says, "The
definitions of historical and contemporary, as used in literature,
are widely debated among scholars. Publishers will need to use th=
eir
discretion in defining those terms."
When will the online Reading Resources section (Appendix at the=
back
of the new ELAR-TEKS) be ready for Texas educators to
use?
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#5C788C'>At t=
he May
2008 SBOE meeting, a majority of the SBOE members voted to strike=
an
authors' list from the ELAR-TEKS document and instead to place a =
list
of Reading Resources websites in an Appendix. The list is being
produced by a committee of educators directed by the University=
of Texas. Commissioner Robe=
rt
Scott will give the final approval to the Appendix. The TEA=
has
announced that the websites listed must be from governmental,
organizational, and/or nonprofit entities; vendor links will be
prohibited; all links must be examined for accuracy, consideratio=
n of
sensitive issues, and quality of materials; and the resources lis=
t will
be updated prior to each school year.
NOTE: On Jan. 5, 2009=
, the
TEA updated its website. If you have problems opening the li=
nks
in this ELAR/Grammar Newsletter, please refer to the TEA's new portal instructions posted at &qu=
ot;TEA
Website Gets Makeover" - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/.=
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PROCLAMATION 2010 STATE REVIEW PANEL
DEADLINE EXTENDED
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<=
/p>
|
How can a teacher apply=
to
serve on the Proclamation 2010 State Review Panel?
Teachers need to fill out an
application form at the link posted below. These applications mus=
t be
e-mailed to review.adoption@tea.state.tx.us<=
/span>.
The TEA has decided to extend the date for submission of applicat=
ions
to February 13, 2009. Proclamation 2010 textbooks include E=
LA
and Reading
(K-1), Reading (Grades 2-5), Literature (Grades 6-12) and others:=
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us:80/textbooks/proc=
lamations/proc2010/index.html
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Afte=
r I
looked at the timeline for the implementation of the new ELAR-TEKS
(posted on the left side of this newsletter), it is easy to see a
potential problem that will impact Texas teachers. The new stan=
dards
are to be implemented into classrooms in the Fall of 2009, but the
new textbooks containing the new standards will not be ready unti=
l the
Fall of 2010 and 2011.
Please consider using our online tutorial, MyStudyHall.com, to he=
lp
you begin the transition into the new ELAR-TEKS next fall.
Almost all of the elements in the new ELAR-TEKS are covered=
on
our website.
Beca=
use of
our strong emphasis on research-based practices, MyStudyHall.com =
has
been thoroughly vetted by the TEA for the Rural Technology Grant
(R-TECH -RFQ #701-08-023) and for the Intensive Tech-Based Academ=
ic
Intervention Pilot Program (RFA #701-08-110). Our site also
satisfies the specifications for the High-School Allotment
Program
Plea=
se
contact me at the email address below if you have any comments or
suggestions regarding the articles in this newsletter.=
Sinc=
erely,![3DLOGO](3D"http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs075/1102316636933/i=)
Donna Garner
ELAR=
and
Grammar Newsletter
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