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ELAR and Grammar Newsletter

 

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Issue: #= 4

April 2009 

 

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FACTS ABOUT THE NEW ELAR TEKS

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When are the new Englis= h / Language Arts / Reading (ELAR) TEKS to be implemented into the public schools?  
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Fall of 2009
 
 
 
When does the trainin= g for the new ELAR's begin?=
 
The Texas Education Agency began the Training of Trainers (TO= T) on March 25-26, 2009. Administrators and teachers will begin their training at their nearest Education Service Centers. ESC's will announce their professional development dates soon. Participants will study the format of the= new ELAR's and will work on vertical alig= nment tasks.  
 
 
 
Who prepared the ELAR training content and materials?

Vaughn Gross Center for Reading and Language Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, the Children's Learning Institute = at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the Institute for Public School Initiatives at the University of Texas System  
 
 
Which ELAR instructio= nal materials will be up for adoption in Proclamation 2010?
 
Basically English Language Arts & Reading (K-1), Reading= (Grades 2 - 5), Literature (Grades 6 - 12), AP English Languages/English Literature
 
 
What are the timeline= s for the adoption of Proclamation 2010 instructional materials? <= /span>
  
(1) Sample materials to be sent by publishers to Texas Education Agency on 4.17.09 
(2) Materials to be reviewed during June and July 2009
(3) Texas State Board of Education to adopt materials at Nov. 2009 meeting
(4) Materials adopted under Proclamation 2010 to be implemented i= nto schools beginning of 2010-2011 school year


  
 
Question:  What instructional materials are included in Proclamation 2011? <= /span>
 
Pre-K Systems
English Language Arts (Grades 2-12)
Spanish Language Arts (Grades 2 - 6)
Spelling (Grades 1 - 6)
Handwriting (Grades 1-3)
Speech (6-8)
ESL (Grades K - 8)
 
 
 
Question:  When = will Proclamation 2011 instructional materials be sent to schools?
 
(1)  Q&A content requirements - SBOE, July 2009
(2)  Sample materials to Texas Education Agency -- April 201= 0
(3)  Review of these materials - June and July of 2010
(4)  Adoption by SBOE -- November 2010 meeting
(5)  Implemented into classrooms - 2011-2012 school year

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MESSAGE FROM A MYSTUDYHALL.COM TEAC= HER

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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.
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Gaye Lynn Seawright, Texas Assistant Superintendent, English= I teacher, Valley Mills ISD
 

To learn more, go to www.mystudyhal= l.com .

 

TIMELINE FOR NEW ELAR-TEKS

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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

THE NEW FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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When will Texas receive its share of t= he Stimulus Package funds (a.k.a. ARRA), and how much will individual districts receive?
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Preliminary planning amounts can be found on the TEA's website at the following link:


  
 
What are the rules concerning the use of ARRA funds by school districts?
 
The Texas Education Agency has stated that the funds should be sp= ent to close the student achievement gap, for professional development that is research-based and is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and that is aligned with the college = and career readiness standards.
 


What does ARRA say ab= out using the funds for technology?
 
ARRA technology funds should help teachers to "monitor stude= nt progress, deliver instruction and provide immediate and targeted interventions in the most efficient manner."  The ARRA guidelines emphasize that any technology funds not used within one year must be paid back to the USDE. 
 
 
Can ARRA dollars be u= sed specifically to pay for MyStudyHall.com? &nb= sp;
 
Absolutely.  ARRA contains specifications that are very favorable toward online learning. Our website:
 
Is individualized.
Is self-paced.
Can be used for both enrichment and intervention.
Monitors student progress.
Delivers immediate and targeted feedback.
Enables students to improve college-entrance scores.
Is aligned with the new ELAR-TEKS and college readiness standards= .
Can be used effectively in academic-based, after-school or before-school programs.
Will help students to improve their core-knowledge in ELAR. =
 
 
Can MyStudyHall.com b= e used to enhance teachers' skills? 
 
MyStudyHall.com is excellent for professional development.  = The new ELAR-TEKS will require English teachers to teach explicit gra= mmar skills at each grade level.  For the last ten years, the Texas standards have not emphasized the teaching of grammar.  Teac= hers can easily brush up on their own grammar skills online by utilizi= ng MyStudyHall.com as a part of their professional development training.   
 
   

Will the three intense grammar modules on MyStudyHall.com meet the specifications of ARR= A?
 
Yes - MyStudyHall.com will help:
 
(1) To plug the achievement gap for students who struggle with English.
 
(2) To raise students' SAT and ACT scores.  The SAT has 49 multiple-choice grammar/usage questi= ons that make up 70% of the total Writing score.  The ACT Writing test has 40 grammar/usage questions.
 
(3)  To assist teachers to meet the demands of the new ELAR-= TEKS standards that contain a separate gram= mar strand at each grade level K-12.
 
(4)  The new End-of-Course tests and TAKS tests will reflect this emphasis on grammar. 
 
 
   
Does MyStudyHall.com contain other units besides those on grammar?<= br>  
Yes - We have three ELAR levels that contain units that are sure = to help students (Grades 4 - 12) to improve their reading, writing, = and communication skills.  The titles of various ELAR units are:=
 
Reading and Vocabulary
Homophones
Idioms
Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
Synonyms and Antonyms    
Higher-Order Reading
Fact/Opinion
Paraphrasing and Summarizing Nonfiction
Structure of Paragraphs
Prewriting and Outlining
Persuasive Paragraph Writing
Descriptive Paragraph Writing
Narrative Paragraph Writing   
Expository Paragraph Writing
Types of Formal Writing
Types of Informal Writing
      
 
For all of this conte= nt, is MyStudyHall.com terribly expensive?
 
MyStudyHall.com is ridiculously inexpensive.  A site license costs
$35 per year/per student.  We charge nothing extra for initi= al setup, updates, or maintenance.  Staff development is offered free-of-charge by telephone/computer or on-site for a minimal additional charge.  

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www.mystudyhall.com


 

 

LINKS TO INFOR= MATION ABOUT THE STIMULUS FUNDS (ARRA)

 

 

 

 


 

Plea= se contact me at the email address below if you have any comments or suggestions regarding the articles in this newsletter.=

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Sinc= erely,3DLOGO


Donna Garner

ELAR= and Grammar Newsletter

Sponsored by MyStudyHall.com

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Online tutorial for ELAR sk= ills with an emphasis on grammar -- aligned with the newly adopted Te= xas ELAR TEKS. For information, email info@mystudyhall.com<= /span> .

 

www.= mystudyhall.com