WELCOME to the Kansas State Department of Education
English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects Website!
Over time this site will continue to grow and improve. Please feel free to explore the tabs at the top of the screen to access information about English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects standards and assessments.
All materials traditionally found on the KSDE website can be found under the Kansas ELA Standards tab above.
All users have access to the various pages of this site listed in the menus included within the blue banner near the top of the screen.
If you are a English Language Arts and Literacy educator from Kansas, please register at the top right-hand corner of this page to apply for access to additional materials, including blogs, wikis and forums on ELA education in Kansas.
If you are having trouble finding a resource, please use the contact information at the bottom of the page to ask about it. We intended to transfer everything from the old ELA web pages, but it is certainly possible we missed something and we understand that many visitors to our site may take a little time to get used to finding things on these new pages.
|
Common Core Shifts for English Language Arts and Literacy
1. Building knowledge through content rich nonfiction
Building knowledge through content rich non-‐fiction plays an essential role in literacy and in the Standards. In K-5, fulfilling the standards requires a 50-50 balance between informational and literary reading. Informational reading primarily includes content rich non-fiction in history/social studies, science and the arts; the K-‐5 Standards strongly recommend that students build coherent general knowledge both within each year and across years. In 6-12, ELA classes place much greater attention to a specific category of informational text—literary nonfiction—than has been traditional. In grades 6-12, the Standards for literacy in history/social studies, science and technical subjects ensure that students can independently build knowledge in these disciplines through reading and writing.
To be clear, the Standards do require substantial attention to literature throughout K-12, as half of the required work in K-5 and the core of the work of 6-12 ELA teachers.
2. Reading, writing and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational
The Standards place a premium on students writing to sources, i.e., using evidence from texts to present careful analyses, well-‐defended claims, and clear information. Rather than asking students questions they can answer solely from their prior knowledge or experience, the Standards expect students to answer questions that depend on their having read the text or texts with care. The Standards also require the cultivation of narrative writing throughout the grades, and in later grades a command of sequence and detail will be essential for effective argumentative and informational writing.
Likewise, the reading standards focus on students’ ability to read carefully and grasp information, arguments, ideas and details based on text evidence. Students should be able to answer a range of text-‐dependent questions, questions in which the answers require inferences based on careful attention to the text.
3. Regular practice with complex text and its academic language
Rather than focusing solely on the skills of reading and writing, the Standards highlight the growing complexity of the texts students must read to be ready for the demands of college and careers. The Standards build a staircase of text complexity so that all students are ready for the demands of college-‐ and career-‐level reading no later than the end of high school.
Closely related to text complexity—and inextricably connected to reading comprehension—is a focus on academic vocabulary: words that appear in a variety of content areas (such as ignite and commit).
|
In this section you will find NEW information in the field of English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. Just because the infomation is listed it does not necessarily mean that KSDE endorses the content. This is just a collection of ELA related information that is being accessed by educators across Kansas.
If you know of any new information you would like to share with the field please feel free to upload it for approval to the site. In order to upload information you must be a registered user to the site.
The database is searchable by the various categories listed.
If you read one of the items, please come back to the site and rate it so other teachers have more input about which ones to review.
*Note: make sure you have your browser set to accept pop-ups from this site in order to view the resources listed.
Search What's NEW in the ELA World
|
 |
REVISED KCCRS Fact Sheet --  VISIT |
|
| Hits: 0 |
Updated:
Tue 05/21/2013 @ 10:51
|
|
REVISED fact sheet over the KCCRS.
|
|
|
|
|
Paid-DLM Summer Project-Deadline Extended -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 3 |
Updated:
Thu 05/09/2013 @ 10:11
|
|
We need your help promoting this opportunity to participate in item writing for the Dynamic Learning Maps project this summer.
The Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation (CETE) at the University of Kansas is hiring temporary, full-time staff to assist in the development of English language arts (ELA) and mathematics assessment items for Dynamic Learning Maps, an assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The position begins June 3, 2013 and continues through July 26, 2013, with the potential to work an additional two weeks based on availability and performance. Staff are expected to work 40 hours a week during this time period, with the exception of July 4-5. The work location will be Southwest Middle School in Lawrence, KS.
Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume highlighting pertinent experience with and knowledge of students with significant cognitive disabilities and/or academic content standards. Please apply online and include a cover letter indicating you are available for the full time period of June 3-July 26 and indicate your area of expertise, ELA or Math. Review of applications is in progress, and the application deadline HAS BEEN EXTENDED to May 29. We will complete hiring decisions by May 31, 2013. To apply, go to http://employment.ku.edu/jobs/2439. EOE M/F/D/V
Please share this opportunity with others who might assist us in recruiting.
Best Regards,
The DLM Team
http://dynamiclearningmaps.org/
|
|
|
|
|
English Teachers Group Opposes Machine-Scored Writing -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 8 |
Updated:
Thu 05/09/2013 @ 07:46
|
|
Earlier this month, the National Council of Teachers of English issued a statement saying that machines just aren't able to score the aspects of writing that teachers prize most.
|
|
|
|
|
Response: Ways To Develop Creative Thinking In The Common Core -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 38 |
Updated:
Thu 05/09/2013 @ 07:45
|
|
Three educators share techniques for pushing students to think creatively while also covering the analytical skills emphasized in the common core.
|
|
|
|
|
Teacher Technology Camp June 3 in Lawrence -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 8 |
Updated:
Wed 05/08/2013 @ 11:55
|
|
Teacher Technology Camp
The University of Kansas School of Education in partnership with KSDE and ALTEC are hosting a Teacher Technology Camp June 3, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Lawrence. We would like to invite K-12 teachers to join us for a day of exploration, collaboration, and learning about the hottest topics in technology integration. Educators from Kansas will share practical hands-on sessions focused on pedagogy, classroom management, and the resources necessary to successfully facilitate student learning with technology. Topics will include a broad range of technology tools and strategies including, but not limited to gaming, various mobile devices, video, BYOD, flipped instruction, interactive whiteboards, web-based tools, digital citizenship, and more!
$100 registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Space is limited, so register early!
REGISTER ONLINE AT: http://tinyurl.com/summertechcampKU
School of Education
University of Kansas
Joseph R. Pearson Hall
1122 West Campus Rd
Lawrence, KS
Conference Session Update:
We are adding presentation topics every day! Dyane Smokorowski, Kansas Teacher of the Year is our keynote. Cyndi Danner-Kuhn will be joining us. The list below is only a sampling of the session options. We will also have Liz Ault, English Language Learning specialist from KCK talking about her use of social media with students, Gail Tiemann from CETE to talk about assessments in Kansas, Dr. Andrew Fry, KU Professor of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences sharing some fantastic technology integration ideas for athletes and coaches of all ages, and many more!
Contact Amber Rowland amber@altec.org for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
Workshop: Writing to address the College and Career Ready Standards -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 12 |
Updated:
Mon 05/06/2013 @ 07:43
|
|
KASCD has contracted with Amanda Arens to provide a grade-band writing workshop at the end of May to help teachers prepare for the writing expectations of the College and Career Ready Standards (Common Core). Sessions are being offered for grades 2-5 on May 28, 6-8 on May 29, and 9-12 on May 30. All three sessions are held at Eisenhower Middle School in Goddard USD 265 (just West of Wichita on US 54 highway). The registration fee includes lunch and snacks for the participants. College credit is available through Southwestern College in Winfield for $70.
A link to the registration form can be found at http://kascd.org/pdfs/CCSS_Writing_Workshop.pdf. The cost of registration is $100 per person for KASCD members and $135 per person for non-KASCD members.
|
|
|
|
|
FREE Webinar: Making Digital Curricula Meaningful -- VISIT |
|
| Hits: 8 |
Updated:
Fri 05/03/2013 @ 01:54
|
|
This event takes place on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 1 to 2 p.m. ET.
Using digital curricula effectively is much more complicated than just firing up a laptop in class. As more schools and districts turn to digital materials for education, experts say it’s important to emphasize teacher training and professional development and to be deliberate in how it is used. School and district leaders also need to determine how to organize and evaluate materials and integrate them into the curriculum appropriately. Our guests will help educators find and implement digital curricula in the most effective ways possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|