Determining Importance & Summarizing Informational Text

Determining importance and summarizing is a complicated task for many readers. This professional development provides participants with instructional scaffolds that will help students comprehend informational text.
Six Syllable Types and Morphology

This set of videos is organized into two topics: Six Syllables Types and Morphology. The videos are edited from a six-hour professional development and may be used as a sequenced set of lessons or individually.
Asking and Answering Questions

The Asking and Answering Professional Development provides strategies to teach students how to ask and answer questions more effectively to improve comprehension in the classroom and on standardized assessments such as the STAAR.
Language Arts Resources
LAR utilizes many techniques to help students learn the content. This is done by breaking the concepts down into smaller/targeted concepts, utilizing color coding, charts, mnemonics, graphics, audio clips, easy-to-grasp written and/or auditory explanations that students can internalize with ease; font size for emphasis; practice quizzes for students to self-check for understanding; level quizzes that progress from surface knowledge --> to connecting several concepts --> to applying the content to practical examples.
These learning techniques are especially beneficial for students who are English Language Learners (ELL), Limited English Proficient (LEP), English As Second Language (ESL), Special Education (SPED), and/or Sect. 504 students.
Visit the Language Arts Resources site to access student lessons, quizzes, and more!
Beginning Reading Instruction
This resource outlines the components of research-based programs for beginning reading instruction and is for all educators who want to learn more about how to support beginning reading instruction in students of all ages. Links to videos, handouts, and sample lesson plans are included.
Promoting Vocabulary Development
This resource outlines the components of vocabulary development. Links to videos, handouts, and sample lesson plans are included.
Comprehension Instruction
This resource outlines the components of research-based programs for reading comprehension instruction and is for all educators who want to learn more about how to support reading comprehension for students of all ages. Links to videos, handouts, and sample lesson plans are included.
Understanding Poetry

You will learn how to find the meanings of words through analogy and other word relationships.
Analyze the Central Characters in Literary Text/Fiction

You will learn how the central characters’ qualities influence them and resolution of the central conflict.
Compare/Contrast Themes and Genres in Literary Texts

You will learn how to analyze, make inferences, and draw conclusions about theme and genre in different cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support your understanding.
Spelling

You will learn strategies to help you edit your writing for correct spelling.
Understanding Drama

You will learn how to make complex inferences in a play and use textual evidence to support your understanding.
Simile and Metaphor

You will learn how to explain the effect of similes and extended metaphors in literary text.
Imagery and Figurative Language (Grade 8)

You will learn how to make complex inferences and use textual evidence such as imagery and figurative language to support understanding.
Find Connections Across Texts Including Other Media

You will learn how to evaluate the role of media in focusing attention on events and informing opinions on issues as well as techniques used to create point of view, and how this impacts the audience.
Subordinating Conjunctions

You will learn how to use and understand the purpose of subordinating conjunctions.
Main and Subordinate Clauses

You will learn how to use and understand the purpose of main clauses and subordinate clauses.
Capitalization

You will learn strategies to help you edit your writing for correct capitalization.
Evaluate Graphics in Informational Text

You will learn how to evaluate graphics for their clarity in communicating meaning and achieving a specific purpose.
Edit Drafts for Grammar, Mechanics, and Spelling

You will learn how to edit a draft for grammar, mechanics, and spelling using editing strategies.