Language+Arts+&+Social+Studies


 * Visit the MISD ELAR wiki: [|www.misdelar.wikispaces.com] **

Handwriting Consumable for 1st - 3rd: Zaner Bloser Spelling 1st - 5th: Spalding Language Arts Writing 2nd - 5th: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Also for ESL: Texas Treasure Chest for English Language Learners
 * Our new textbook adoption choices are as follows: **


 * Latest ELAR update from L Swanner: [[file:ELAR Update-1.28.pdf]] **

I recently read a piece from Lynda about reading strategies and how caught up we can get in using them with students, often to the detriment of real learning and real reading. Here are just a few key phrases from that piece:
 * //We are supposed to be creating great readers who are critical thinkers, NOT passage perfectionists who cripple themselves over-analyzing questions and wasting processing power. This waste of brain energy can only have a negative impact by the time they get to the 5th passage of TAKS! (This was my favorite comment of the piece!) //
 * //Please do not over exhaust strategies at the expense of a solid answer. //
 * //Teach students to read well and analyze text, and they will fly through any test we put in front of them! //

With the integration of our content, it's important to spend time double checking the Social Studies TEKS to make sure our students are getting what they need in that area.
 * Social Studies note: **

**Visit the Social Studies weebly:** [|http://misdelementarysocialstudies.weebly.com]

Here's another great Social Studies link for you: [|http://www.history.org] It's the place to go for virtual museum tours.


 * Workshop Approach to Reading & Writing **

We are a Reading/Writing Workshop school/district. We know it works best for students to use this model of support. Here’s a quick reminder about the Workshop Approach:

1. TEACH IT! - model the strategy through a mini lesson (10-20 minutes).

2. PRACTICE IT! - students use it with teacher support, discussion groups, small groups, strategic reading & writing, before independent work (20-40 minutes).

3. APPLY IT! - students refine skill, whole group, small group, and independently, teacher works with those who need extra support (15-30 minutes).

4. EVALUATE IT! - students show what they can do, independent work, connect reading and writing (15-30 minutes).