Melissa and Lori Love Literacy: The State of Nebraska’s Transition to ELA HQIM

Melissa and Lori Love Literacy is a podcast for educators interested in learning more about the science of reading, knowledge building, and high-quality curriculum. During this episode, Dr. Cory Epler shares why and how Nebraska transitioned to ELA HQIM.  In the course of eight years, the state formed a partnership with EdReports and The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), built transparency of HQIM in Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and provided guidance around high quality materials. These key actions created coherence and agency across the state.

Planning for Implementation of New Instructional Materials (Hosted by the Nebraska Department of Education and Instruction Partners on April 7, 2022)

Description: Did your school district recently purchase new high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs)? Whether ESSER or general funds were used, this webinar is for you! We will explore resources that can be used to develop an intentional implementation plan for your HQIMs. We will also outline steps that can be taken to ensure the materials are implemented as intended, highlighting tools and resources available through the Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative. (Notecatcher)

What is the Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative? (Hosted by Cory Epler, Nebraska Department of Education on September 27, 2018)

Description:  Learn more about the Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative and the resources NDE has developed to support the selection and implementation of high-quality instructional materials.  Contact: Cory Epler ([email protected])

Anchoring Learning Using Instructional Materials

Abby Burke, NDE Reading Specialist, facilitated a discussion with panelists Caryn Ziettlow, ESU #2, Sarah Woodward, Great Minds, and Suruchi Keenheel, AIM Pathways, during the 2021 NeMTSS Summer Reading Symposium.

Research has demonstrated that student achievement is correlated with access to high-quality instructional materials implemented with fidelity by teachers knowledgeable in the science of reading. Equitable access to high quality instructional material anchors the work of effective learning and serves as the foundation for student success. Learn more from this panel of experts as they address the need for educators to unpack, study, organize, and adapt materials to the needs of their students.

Building Knowledge to Build Lifelong Readers

Description:  In the wake of COVID-19 school closures, levels of unfinished learning among students have grown exponentially, particularly in the area of literacy.

How can educators ensure emerging readers are provided the high-quality instructional materials they need to become proficient readers?

This 30-minute webinar Introduces Geodes, a new approach to early literacy from Great Minds® that provides beginning readers the opportunity to learn how to read while reading to learn.

Geodes are rich with facts and ideas that spark students’ curiosity about the world around them.

myView Literacy: K-5 Language Arts

Description: myView Literacy K-5 Language Arts is a top-rated, integrated literacy program grounded in the science of learning. myView helps teachers provide high-quality literacy instruction in all content areas with an emphasis on social-emotional learning. To learn more, please contact [email protected].

The Science of Reading: Phonological Awareness & PhonicsPhonemic awareness has a direct and significant effect on learning to read and spell; it can and should be taught explicitly and systematically. Phonics instruction teaches students the predictable relationships between sounds and the spellings that represent those sounds in written language.

Science of Reading: Knowledge & Vocabulary

Instruction using complex texts provide students’ knowledge and vocabulary they need to become successful readers.

Science of Reading: Comprehension & Fluency

Research points to some effective instructional supports and scaffolds to help struggling readers access complex text without compromising rigor or content.  Fluency instruction and practice supports student to make the transition from basic decoding skill to reading that sounds like speech, freeing up mental energy to focus on meaning.

Science of Reading: Analyzing & Responding to Data in Foundational Literacy

Use data to determine where you will need to take corrective action for individual students and where you will need to target your formative assessments during whole group instruction.

Melissa and Lori Love Literacy

Description: Melissa and Lori Love Literacy is a regular podcast from two literacy educators in Baltimore.  The purpose is to bring teachers together in a positive way to share successes and struggles with Wit and Wisdom curriculum implementation.

They recently featured Sioux City’s Director of Curriculum, Dr. Tracy Heilman, in Success Amidst a Pandemic in Sioux City, NE. Dr. Heilman shares how her district transitioned both materials and mindsets to  facilitate access to high quality instruction with Wit & Wisdom ELA.

Other topics include dyslexia, standards alignment, curriculum adoption and more.

myView Literacy: K-5 Language Arts

Description: myView Literacy K-5 Language Arts is a top-rated, integrated literacy program grounded in the science of learning. myView helps teachers provide high-quality literacy instruction in all content areas with an emphasis on social-emotional learning. To learn more, please contact [email protected].

Teaching with Text Sets: K-5 Instructional Practices and Reading Resources for Building Knowledge (Hosted by Marissa Payzant, American Reading Company, and Open Up Resources) on August 7, 2020.

Description: Text sets, which are collections of print and digital resources focused on a high-interest topic, are a powerful tool for helping students build background knowledge and vocabulary. Please join this event to learn more from reading experts about text sets in practice, including resources for prioritizing instructional content and remote learning. (Please note:  Breakout sessions started at 1:00:00 on the recording. Please skip to 2:43:00 for more presentation). Building Knowledge through Text Sets PowerPoint

High Quality Instructional Materials in ELA (Hosted by Marissa Payzant, Nebraska Department of Education and Katie Keown, Student Achievement Partners on March 15, 2019)

Description: This webinar highlights the instructional materials landscape today and how the selection of high-quality ELA materials can make a difference in student outcomes and learning.  Contact: Marissa Payzant ([email protected]) and Katie Keown ([email protected])

Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) and Amplify ELA (Hosted by Amplify on March 18, 2019)

Description: Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for PreK–5 is a curriculum that combines rich, diverse content knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts in an intentional sequence with explicit, systematic foundational skills instruction to improve comprehension. Amplify ELA is built specifically for middle school students and teachers.  Amplify ELA includes embedded teacher support, powerful differentiation tools, print and digital instruction and more to improve student outcomes for middle school students.  Amplify Contact: Bob McCarty ([email protected])

EL Education and Bookworms (Hosted by Open Up Resources on March 19, 2019)

Description: EL Education K–5 Language Arts is designed around science and social studies topics, and is proven to improve literacy outcomes, higher-order thinking, and teacher-effectiveness when paired with professional learning. Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing, a research-based curriculum designed to make high-quality literacy instruction easier for teachers, balances fiction with nonfiction texts and spans a broad range of topics. Open Up Resources Contact: Christina Magee ([email protected])

ARC Core  (Hosted by the American Reading Company on March 20, 2019)

Description: ARC Core is a basal alternative designed to dramatically improve outcomes for both students and teachers. Organized into thematic units, ARC Core provides flexibility for districts to customize its scope and sequence, and is available K-12 in English and K-5 in Spanish.

Nebraska 2021 College and Career Ready ELA Standards ARC Core Crosswalk

American Reading Company Contact: Andy Lowery ([email protected])

Wit & Wisdom (Hosted by Great Minds on February 2, 2022)

Description: Wit & Wisdom is a comprehensive K–8 ELA curriculum that transforms ELA instruction. Great Minds believes that classrooms are places where students and teachers encounter wit, wisdom, wonder, rigor, and knowledge, and that literature, history, art, and science all have a place in ELA instruction. By providing a framework for inquiry, Wit & Wisdom helps students build rich layers of knowledge. It inspires teachers and students to experience complex texts and ideas on a deeper level by fostering the questioning spirit that will shape the next generation of great writers, thinkers, and leaders. Great Minds Contact: Jeremy Newth ([email protected])

Geodes: Building Knowledge to Build Lifelong Readers (Hosted by Great Minds on February 15, 2022)

Description: Reading opens new worlds for students by helping them build knowledge and spark curiosity. But often students don’t gain access to enriching literacy experiences until they’ve mastered basic reading skills. Geodes change that. Geodes are phonetically aligned, accessible knowledge building information-rich books for emerging and developing readers. Each book in the collection is designed to cultivate a deep reading experience, enabling students to apply decoding skills while building knowledge. Great Minds contact: Jeremy Newth ([email protected])

ReadyGEN (Hosted by Pearson on March 22, 2019)

Description: ReadyGEN is an integrated approach to reading and writing instruction for students in grades K–6. Authentic, rigorous text sets build knowledge around unit themes that actively engage students, and a complete array of print and digital resources provide teachers with daily support and flexibility. Point-of-use scaffolds, strategic support, and individualized intervention provide the resources to accelerate learning for all.

Pearson Contact: Todd Villotta  ([email protected])

Understanding Structured Literacy  (Hosted by Abby Burke and Rhea Hochstein, Nebraska Department of Education, October 24, 2019)

Description:  Structured literacy is an effective approach for students who experience reading difficulties or have reading disabilities including dyslexia. Research has indicated that students learn to read better with structured literacy teaching components and methods. Learn the connection between the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, the Dyslexia Act, reading-related difficulties, and dyslexia. Facilitators will describe components and key principles of structured literacy. This Webinar will be of interest to PreK-12 general and special education teachers, school and district leaders, reading specialists / interventionists.  Contact: Rhea Hochstein ([email protected]) and Abby Burke ([email protected]).

Implementing Culturally Responsive ELA Instructional Materials – Learning from Open Up Resources (Hosted by Open Up Resources on February 5, 2020)

Description: What does cultural responsiveness look like within high-quality instructional materials? This webinar highlights the approach taken by Open Up Resources to design instructional materials with equity in mind. EL Education Language Arts (K-8), a content-based curriculum with a student-centered approach, provides teachers with embedded supports to meet all learners’ needs. Bookworms Reading & Writing (K-5), a high-volume, high-interest approach to literacy, is driven by research and designed to help students develop a love for reading by exposing them to all kinds of texts. In this webinar, we’ll highlight how both curricula embed equitable and culturally responsive teaching practices in their philosophy and structure. Open Up Contact Christina Magee ([email protected])

High Quality Instructional Materials in Mathematics Series

High Quality Instructional Materials in Math (Hosted by Deb Romanek & Marissa Payzant, Nebraska Department of Education and Astrid Fossum, Student Achievement Partners on September 14, 2020)

Description: This webinar highlights the instructional materials landscape today and how the selection of high-quality Math materials can make a difference in student outcomes and learning.  Contact: Deb Romanek ([email protected]) and Astrid Fossum ([email protected])

Bridges in Mathematics (Hosted by Math Learning Center on September 15, 2020)

Description: Bridges in Mathematics is a comprehensive PK–5 curriculum that is rigorous, coherent, engaging, and accessible to all learners. The curriculum focuses on developing students’ deep understandings of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and ability to solve complex and novel problems. Bridges blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration. It taps into the intelligence and strengths of all students by presenting material that is as linguistically, visually, and kinesthetically rich as it is mathematically powerful.  For more details please contact Shanel Parette at [email protected]

Zearn Math (Hosted by Zearn on September 16, 2020)

Description: Zearn Math is a top-rated K–8 math curriculum that brings together hands-on teaching and immersive digital learning through instructional materials and daily personalized software-based lessons. In addition to curricular materials, Zearn Math offers comprehensive professional development, and actionable data on student learning. Zearn Math has received a top-rating from EdReports and is aligned to Nebraska’s College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics. Zearn Math is published by Zearn, a nonprofit curriculum publisher. Zearn Contact: Carolina Lescano ([email protected] / [email protected]).

enVision Math (Hosted by Savvas on September 17, 2020)

Description: The Savvas team (formerly known as Pearson) stopped by to talk about how the NEW enVision 2020 helps kids SEE the math and teachers SEE results.  enVision 2020 can be used in any environment: in-person, print, and/or 100% digital on the Realize digital platform.  Watch the recording to see how enVision can adapt to students’ needs, identify their gaps in learning, and provide you with the resources to fill those gaps.  See how the proven-effective lesson design makes math STICK.  Witness how 3-Act Math, built right into the scope and sequence with teacher guidance, creates not only more enthusiastic problem-solvers, but turns students into problem POSERS and ignites a passion for seeing and being curious about math in their world.  Experience how students and families can access short, easy-to-understand instructional videos in EVERY lesson, as well as just-in-time, scaffolded tutorials for each and every question in their classwork or homework.  Take note of the differentiation and cross-curricular resources in every lesson – these won’t let students fall through the cracks and will challenge students, while providing student choice, so kids are the authors of their own learning.  All of this and more is included in a K-12 curriculum that meets all expectations on NEmaterialsmatter.org; that is 100% aligned to not only the Nebraska standards (see correlations at https://bit.ly/305px0J), but also to Nebraska’s key instructional shifts.  Contact us to find out more!  Todd Villotta at [email protected] (402) 650-0722

K-8 Science Selection Process Webinar (Hosted by NDE and EdReports)

High School Science Selection Process (Hosted by NDE and EdReports)

Description: Making decisions centered around vision and standards-aligned effective teaching and learning for science? Not sure where to start when it comes to science selection or implementation for materials? Noticing your district materials need wrap-around support for teachers to promote evidence-based practices for NE students? NDE and EdReports partnered in a webinar to answer some of the most pressing questions from the field. Watch our K-8 or 9-12 webinars.

Ph.D. Science (Hosted by Great Minds on January 25, 2022)

Description: PhD Science is an authentic phenomenon-based K-5 curriculum that provides students with a science education as limitless as science itself. The curriculum’s hands-on approach sparks students’ natural curiosity about the real world and its wonders as they build a deep, lasting knowledge of science concepts that they revisit throughout elementary school. Great Minds contact: Jeremy Newth ([email protected])

Amplify Science (Hosted by Amplify on March 28, 2019)

Description:  Description: Amplify Science engages students in a relevant, real-world problem where they investigate scientific phenomena, engage in collaboration and discussion, and develop models or explanations in order to arrive at solutions.  Amplify Contact: Bob McCarty ([email protected])