6-12 Language Arts Adoption Pilot Updates

We’re excited to announce that all PPS teachers and students now have access to NewselaPro until January 22 (the end of the 6-12 Language Arts Adoption Pilot) as part of the 6-12 LA Adoption Pilot agreement that was just finalized last week.

During PPS's Newsela experience, you will have access to a variety of live and recorded training options. We encourage you to read this information to help answer some of your initial questions.

Some additional learning opportunities include the following:

1.     Get started with signing up for an account.

2.     Sign up for a live webinar.

3.     Explore additional training materials and resources.

4.     Join the Newsela community by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Please send any technical support requests directly to Newsela by submitting a support request ticket after you've signed up for and logged into your NewselaPro account. 

Thanks so much for all you do everyday for our staff, students, and community - have a wonderful week!

Language Arts Materials Adoption Pilot Opportunities (6-12)

As part of the 6-12 Language Arts Adoption process, teachers can apply to pilot either curriculum materials or digital text resources (current access to digital devices is not a prerequisite). The pilot will take place during the first two quarters of the 2015-16 school year.

As an alternative, teachers can also apply to be a member of the Novel Committee. This committee will determine new titles to be purchased for each grade level, in addition to reviewing and revising the Core Works Lists. This work will also take place during the first half of the 2015-16 school year.

Before filling out the application survey, teachers should review the descriptions of the materials and resources that are available for piloting by clicking on this link: http://tinyurl.com/ppspilotmaterials

The deadline for applications is Friday, June 5th. Teachers will be notified regarding their participation on or before Friday, June 12th.

6-12 Language Arts and ELD Materials Adoption

Peruse Materials Being Considered for Adoption

Teachers interested in taking a look at the materials being considered by the 6-12 Language Arts and ELD Adoption Committee can access that information online. This document includes a brief description of the materials and links. Feedback can be provided via this survey. The committee will be making a decision about what to pilot later this month, so we will need your feedback by Tuesday, 5/19.

Please note that novels for each grade level will also be part of the adoption; a subcommittee will be engaged in making decisions about specific titles next year.

Encourage Students to Provide Input on New 6-12 LA/ELD Materials

​ The 6-12 Language Arts and ELD Curriculum Materials Adoption Committee is looking for a

diverse group of students to provide input on materials that the committee is considering for adoption.

All K-8, Middle School and High School Head Secretaries will receive fliers this week, along with the forms for interested students to fill out.  The Student Committee meeting is scheduled on Thursday, May 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the BESC. We will have pizza. Please encourage students to participate in this important process; we want to hear from them!

Contact ELA TOSA Duncan Carranza (dcarranza@pps.net) for more information.

PD for 8th Grade Social Studies Teachers

Beyond the Oregon Trail is one piece of the adopted curricula for 8^th grade Social Studies.  The curriculum is designed to encourage honest and positive conversation about Oregon’s multiracial history.

Two sessions of professional development on this curriculum, one a.m. and one p.m., will be offered for teachers on Wednesday, April 29^th. Teachers may attend one or both sessions. Substitute costs will be covered by the Instruction, Curriculum & Assessment department.

The goals of this professional development are:

·      To ameliorate the impact of racism on the children and the future adults and decision- makers of Oregon.

·      To remedy the underrepresentation of communities of color and their contributions to Oregon in PPS’s history classes.

·      To develop and build upon existing capacity of PPS 8th grade teachers to facilitate the learning experience of 8th grade students on the challenging subject of racism.

·      To build the capacity of PPS staff to facilitate interracial dialogues with students.

The morning training session (8:30-11:30) will cover the curriculum as a whole, while the afternoon session (12:30-3:30) will feature PPS teachers sharing their experience engaging students in intentional racial dialogue in the classroom. Please sign up on the Learning Campus or contact ELA TOSA Beverly Daggett (bdaggett@pps.net) for more information.

PDX Reading Specialist, LLC​

Learn. Accommodate. Inspire.

PPS is partnering with Decoding Dyslexia Oregon in order to offer PD to central and school-based staff.  There will be two opportunitites for Dyslexia 101 (overview of dyslexia in order to better understand and support our students with this language-based learning disability​):

Tuesday 2/24 (8:30-12:00 at Marshall 39/41) Dyslexia 101

Thursday 2/26 (8:30-12:00 Marshall 39/41) Dyslexia 101

Sign up on the Learning Campus; we can provide substitutes for up to 35 people.

If you have any questions please contact Angela Hubbs, Asst. Director of ICA, ahubbs@pps.net.

6-12 Language Arts and ELL: Opportunity for Adoption Input

Teachers of Language Arts (both ELA and DLI) and ELD have an opportunity to provide input to the Curriculum Materials Adoption Advisory Committee (CMAAC). The surveys will be open through Friday, January 23rd.

Click these links and sign in with your apps4pps Google account.

Teacher Needs Assessment: invites you to click through a list of needs for materials and professional development.

Adoption Materials Survey: invites you to make specific suggestions about materials with which you are familiar.