ELL Resources

Download WIDA Can Do Descriptors for your grade level here:
WIDA Can Do Descriptors
Remember to choose Language Objectives (in reading, writing, speaking, and/or listening) at the level just BEYOND your student's ACCESS level - this is what we call the Zone of Proximal Development, which is where students can STRETCH to reach the next level of language development, given sufficient scaffolding both by the teacher and more knowledgeable peers.

Massachusetts DESE Resource for Academic Language
(good for all students, not just ELL's)
Click on each language function (cause/effect, sequence, justify, etc.) for a list of sentence frames you can use.

Resources for Addressing Racism and Hatred in the Classroom

Resources for Addressing Racism and Hatred in the Classroom
Articles, podcasts, webinars, and other resources to help educators effectively discuss racism and hatred in the classroom.

Race and Politics in the Classroom

COMMENTARY Yes, Race and Politics Belong in the Classroom Ten tips for constructively engaging students on divisive political, social, racial, and economic issues, from H. Richard Milner IV.

Good Resource for Student Learning Objectives

What Works For Getting Kids to Enjoy Reading?

How do we prompt a child with negative or indifferent attitudes toward reading to pick up a book?

What doesn't work (e.g. rewards), what does (make the choice easy, change the other choices), and why.

Read article from Mind/Shift here.

New Teacher Survival Guide

Teaching Channel has curated a series of videos on topics of special interest to new teachers, including lesson planning, differentiation strategies, classroom management, and the formal observation. But I have found them to be wonderful reviews of what's really important for all teachers! You can find the series here: https://www.teachingchannel.org/new-teacher. Enjoy!

Call for Submissions

We invite you to consider submitting an article for publication in our 2018 Primer Calendar- Literacy Strong: Reaching All Readers. Topics may include, but are not limited to cultural literacy, visual literacy, critical literacy, disciplinary literacy and other facets of reading and language arts. Deadline for Submissions is September 1, 2017. Please submit articles to: Jo Ann Thompson. Sample Primer Calendar Page with article. Manuscript Submission Guidelines: Manuscripts are limited to 650-750 words including reference and other materials (tables, charts, etc.) Manuscripts must be double-spaced in 12-point font and should be saved as Microsoft Word Documents Manuscripts must be prepared according to the style specified by the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). Each manuscript must include a cover sheet containing (a) the manuscript title, (b) the author’s name, affiliation, position, preferred mailing address, email address, telephone number(s), and fax number. No identifying information should appear elsewhere in the manuscript

Please let us know if you have questions. Sincerely, Jo Ann Thompson Primer Calendar Editor Ask me for more samples or ask me questions if you're not sure what to submit! - Jennifer