Starting Strong: Launching the EL Education K-8 Language Arts Curriculum

Starting Strong is currently scheduled to take place, as planned, on June 22-24, 2020. As we continue to monitor guidance issued by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), the health and well-being of the EL Education community remains our top priority. 

We will provide updates and guidance as the situation develops and will circle back with more information mid-April. If you have inquiries or concerns related to the coronavirus, you are encouraged to email Stephanie Bishop, Director of Program Operations, at sbishop@eleducation.org.

Discover the tools and knowledge to successfully launch the K-8 Language Arts curriculum or Skills block for the first time. This offering will be facilitated by EL Education staff. Master teachers who have implemented the curriculum will also be in attendance to provide guidance and share their wisdom.

Choose from:

• Introduction to the K-5 Language Arts Curriculum (June 22-23)
• Introduction to the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum (June 22-23)
• Leading Implementation, K-8 (June 24-25)
• Introduction to the K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block (June 24-25)

Session Descriptions:

Introduction to the EL Education K-5 Language Arts Curriculum

This offering provides guidance for those who are planning to implement the EL Education K-5  Language Arts curriculum. Participants will walk away with an understanding of the research and principles behind the curriculum and specific ways the curriculum meets all students’ needs; creating educational equity.  Participants will discover how students can be engaged in meaningful work that fosters BOTH rigor and joy in learning. Additionally, participants will be able to explain the structure and key features of the curriculum and begin planning for implementation of the curriculum in their schools and classrooms. This will include an exploration of the K-2 Labs and the ALL Block for Grades 3-5.

Learning Targets:

• I can describe the structures and key features of the EL Education K-5 Language Arts curriculum.
• I can explain how the curriculum meets the needs of all learners.
• I can analyze the components of the curriculum to begin to make strategic choices to inform my planning.

Introduction to the EL Education Grades 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum (Second Edition)

This offering provides guidance for those who are planning to implement the Grades 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum (Second Edition).  Participants will walk away with an understanding of the structures and key features of the Second Edition as well as the changes made from the First Edition.  Design principles will be reviewed and explored to ensure participants are able to make well-informed decisions when it comes to making choices during implementation.  A focus of the institute will be a Student Hat experience in which participants will engage in an actual middle school lesson which includes close reading and a Language Dive (support for ELLs.)  Participants will discover how students can be engaged in meaningful work that fosters BOTH rigor and joy in learning.  

Learning Targets:

• I can describe the structures and key features of the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum (Second Edition)
• I can describe the design principles of the EL Education 6-8 Language Arts curriculum (Second Edition)
• I can describe the design principles of the EL Education 6-8 Language Arts curriculum.
• I can describe how the curriculum meets the needs of all learners, including English Language Learners.

Leading Implementation of the EL Education K-8 Language Arts Curriculum

This offering is for district and school literacy leaders of those adopting the EL Education Language Arts Curriculum.  Participants will learn how they can best prepare for the successful implementation of this curriculum that results in improved student achievement and teacher efficacy.  Participants will learn about curriculum structure, reflect on role as a Change Leader, identify key instructional practices, and align on high-quality implementation indicators. The two-day offering will end with an action planning session.  

Learning Targets:

• I can describe the characteristics, components, and structure of the EL Education K-8 Language Arts Curriculum.
• I can analyze key curricular documents to support successful implementation.
• I can explain the assessments in the EL Education Curriculum.
• I can describe my role as the Change Leader who directly supports curriculum implementation in my school or district.
• I can use the EL Curriculum Walkthrough tools to provide teachers with effective feedback. 
• I can create and communicate a comprehensive plan around resource procurement and distribution, professional development to teachers and key stakeholders to support curriculum roll-out. 

Introduction to the EL Education K-2 Reading Foundation Skills Block

This offering provides guidance for those who are planning to implement the EL Education Reading Foundations Skills Block curriculum.  The Skills Block is a structured phonics program, and this institute supports this approach to teaching young children how to read. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the research and principles behind the Skills Block and specific ways the Skills Block meets all students’ needs through differentiated and targeted instruction. Participants will learn how to use the Benchmark Assessments to determine each student’s microphase. This information can then be used to group students and plan instruction based on each student’s (or group of students) strengths and areas of growth.  Additionally, participants will be able to explain the purpose, structure, and formative assessments within the Skills Block and begin planning for implementation of the Skills Block in their schools and classrooms.

Learning Targets:

• I can describe the research base of the Skills Block. 
• I can explain the structure and purpose of the Skills Block.
• I can describe the three types of assessments in the Skills Block and how they inform instruction.
• I can determine a student's phase and microphase using benchmark assessment data.
• I can analyze the components of the curriculum to begin to make strategic choices to inform my planning. 

Click here for policies, logistics and pricing information.

Registration will remain open until May 29th or until the event fills. Many events fill quickly, please register early to ensure a spot.