What is CORE?
Our Reading & Writing Discovery units—Hatchling, Earlybird, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4—are the CORE of our ELA curriculum. When it comes to learning language arts, much of the exceptional work that your students will accomplish is subjective in nature tied to their ideas. As we value these ideas, their discoveries from reading tied to their observations will challenge them to catalog through writing over time, literacy skills soar.
What is APPLICATION?
BIG ideas can be communicated through a range of writing domains, from sentences to simple stories, composition to creative writing. APPLICATION components of our curriculum are designed to partner with and enhance the CORE. APPLICATION provides an opportunity for students to explore, learn, and apply aspects of mechanics, style, and form.
But how is this accomplished?
We’re here to help! Join us for one or more of the following FREE Professional Development sessions to gain insight, strategies, and inspiration at the dawn of the school year. Choose the topics that most interest you and join us, no registration needed!
Week 1
Monday 8/21
9:00 — CORE Level 2: Macaroni Boy [Miss Lori]
It’s 1933 and the Great Depression has hit Pittsburgh, but there is more to this story than meets the eye. Gather teaching tools and unlock a bit of history.
10:15 — CORE Level 3: Out of the Dust [Miss Lori]
This compelling tale told via sparse first-person, free-verse poetry recounts Billie Jo’s struggle to survive the Dust Bowl. Gather teaching tools and unlock a bit of history.
11:30 — CORE Level 4: The Red Umbrella [Miss Lori]
Set in Cuba during Castro’s revolution, Lucia and her brother are sent to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan. Gather teaching tools and unlock a bit of history.
Tuesday 8/22
9:00 — APPLICATION Let’s Research People! Temple Grandin [Miss Lori]
Explore and be inspired by this larger-than-life woman. Gather teaching tips for our Research People guided research units.
10:15 — CORE Level 3: Bridge to Terabithia [Mrs. B. & Mrs. Unruh]
One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs, so the story reverberates across time. Unpack the riches of the story and learn to inspire students to write their ideas
11:30 — APPLICATION Research and the Power of Narrative Writing [Mrs. B.]
Writing from research is an enormous domain of writing. Learn about narrative writing, its significance and how to inspire students to dig into the work.
Wednesday 8/23
9:00 — CORE Earlybird: Robert McCloskey [Ms. Julia]
Be inspired to gently support young writers as they build competency and confidence in reading and writing. Learn fun-filled possibilities for exploration and discovery.
10:15 — CORE Level 1: Flat Stanley [Ms. Julia]
Stanley’s a perfectly normal boy until one morning he wakes up flat! Gather teaching tools and ways to inspire fun along the way.
11:30 — APPLICATION Let’s Have FUN with Storymaker! [Ms. Julia]
Journal writing is an indispensable part of early Language Arts. Gather tools to develop important skills in your students and unique voice too.
Thursday 8/24
9:00 — APPLICATION Discover Music: Peter and the Wolf! [Master Taylor]
Learn why orchestral music matters. Discover how to teach students the art of storytelling without words at all!
10:15 — APPLICATION Discover the Color of Art! [Master Taylor]
Artists tell stories via the mechanics of color, the physics of color, and the emotion of color. Discover how artists use color to tell stories with no words at all and inspire students in the art of storytelling.
11:30 — APPLICATION Jumpstart Essay! [Ms. Clare & Mr. Søren]
Let’s talk strategy! Discover just what makes an essay an essay. Learn to help students pace, to offer feedback that builds confidence, and help students gain confidence along the way.
12:45 — Songs of Terabithia [Ms. Shirean]
One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs, so the story reverberates across time. Explore the power of song and unlock a treasure trove of music history that enrich the reading of this book.
Friday 8/25
9:00 — CORE Let’s Talk Level 2 and Level 3 [Miss Clare]
Explore how students gain competency and confidence over time. Gather teaching tools and ways to inspire the writing of ideas along the way.
10:15 — CORE The Section 5 Final Project: Let’s Make a Micro-Diorama! [Mrs. B.]
Learn tips and tricks to help students tie an idea to a story and elevate their Section 5 project.
11:30 — APPLICATION Creative Writing is Happily Academic [Ms. Clare & Mr. Søren]
Encouraging students to be playful with language will help them discover the power of language. Explore tips and tricks to help students enjoy the art of writing.
Week 2
Monday 8/28
9:00 — CORE How to Edit Primary Student Writing! [Mrs. B. & Ms. Clare]
10:15 — CORE How to Edit Elementary Student Writing! [Mrs. B. & Ms. Clare]
11:30 — CORE How to Edit Middle/High School Student Writing and Beyond! [Mrs. B. & Ms. Clare]
Tuesday 8/29
9:00 — CORE Let’s Talk History and Literature! [Miss Lori]
Some books are set fictionally in history, some non-fictionally. Gather teaching tools to unlock a bit of history and write about it along the way.
10:15 — CORE Level 4: I, Juan de Pareja [Kim & Cathi]
Explore the true story of Juan de Pareja who was born a slave and died an accomplished and respected artist. Unpack the riches of the story and learn to inspire students to write their ideas.
Wednesday 8/30
9:00 — CORE Final Project: Let’s Make an Epilogue Collage! [Ms. Julia]
Learn tips and tricks to help students tie an idea to a story and elevate their Section 5 project.
10:15 — CORE Let’s Talk Kindergarten Hatchling Volume 1! [Mrs. B. & Ms. Clare]
Hatchling Volume 1 is a complete, well balanced, Kindergarten language arts curriculum. Learn tips and tricks, plus best practices for review.
11:30 — CORE Let’s Talk 1st Grade Hatchling Volume 2! [Mrs. B. & Ms. Clare]
Hatchling Volume 2 is a complete, well balanced, 1st Grade language arts curriculum. Learn tips and tricks, plus best practices for review.
Thursday 8/31
10:15 — APPLICATION Discover Music: Who are Composers? [Master Taylor]
Composers piece together notes to create melody and harmony, rhythm, and dynamic, structure and sensibility, all to tell a story. Explore the art of storytelling, why music is a vital piece of literacy, and how to inspire students to become storytellers.
11:30 — APPLICATION Discover Art: What is an Artist? [Master Taylor]
Visual artists use line, texture, shape, value, and color in imaginative ways, all to tell a story. Explore the art of storytelling, why visual art is a vital piece of literacy, and how to inspire students to become storytellers.
12:45 — Songs of the Dust [Ms. Shirean]
Integrate musicology into this tale of Billie Jo’s struggle to survive the Dust Bowl. Gather teaching tools and unlock a treasure trove of music history that will enrich the reading of this book.