Not all of them can be answered so simply, but here are some tips for adapting your curriculum, texts, learning protocols and assessments for the virtual classroom. Give students choice.
- 8 Tips For Delivering Video Instructional
- 8 Tips For Delivering Video Instructions
- 8 Tips For Delivering Video Instruction Booklet
The National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) is the world's foremost Direct Instruction (DI) support provider. This website provides information and resources for administrators, teachers and parents to help them maximize student achievement through DI. Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Learning in Place English Resources
On March 23, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam extended his order that all public and private K-12 schools in Virginia close in response to the continued spread of COVID-19 for the remainder of the school year. The Virginia Department of Education’s English Team has compiled several Learning in Place English Resources to assist teachers, parents and students during this unprecedented time.
2017 English Curriculum Framework Videos
Former VDOE English Coordinator Tracy Robertson discusses what teachers, instructional leaders and parents need to know about the proposed 2017 English SOL Curriculum Framework. Watch the 2017 English SOL Curriculum Framework YouTube playlist.
Standards of Learning English K-12Includes:
- Curriculum Frameworks
- Enhanced Scope & Sequence Sample Lesson Plans
- Test Blueprints
- Released Tests
- Writing Practice Tool
- Performance Expectations
The goals of the English Standards of Learning are to teach students to read and to prepare students to participate in society as literate citizens, equipped with the ability to communicate effectively in their communities, in the work place, and in postsecondary education. As students progress through the school years, they become active and involved listeners and develop a full command of the English language, evidenced by their use of standard English and their rich speaking and writing vocabularies.
Professional Development Resources
VDOE has provided targeted professional development through the 2019 Deeper Learning Conference and the 2012-2015, 2018 English Language Arts Standards of Learning Institutes.
Conference Presentation Materials
Virginia Association of Teachers of English (VATE) 2013 Presentation – Rising to the Rigor of the English Standards of Learning(PPT) – This keynote presentation focuses on rigor in English instruction and assessment and provides tips for infusing nonfiction into the English classroom.
Literacy
The goal of Literacy Instruction in Virginia is to ensure that all children have the necessary skills to become successful as they progress and transition through the stages of their lives. This section includes the State Literacy Plan and other resources to support students in literacy from birth through graduation.
Comprehensive Literacy Webinar Series
The Comprehensive Literacy Webinar Series focuses on best practices in literacy instruction and resources available to school divisions. Through the diverse expertise of our partners and presenters, the Virginia Department of Education's goal is to offer timely, research-based, and instructionally sound sessions to Virginia educators.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Learning in Place English Resources
The Virginia Department of Education’s English Team has compiled several Learning in Place English Resources to assist teachers, parents, and students during this unprecedented time.
Virginia Standards of Learning – English Tracking Logs
Virginia Standards of Learning Tracking Logs for grades Kindergarten through English 12 have been developed to assist teachers with determining which standards students have had sufficient exposure and experience with prior to the COVID-19 school closure on March 13, 2020 and to make decisions regarding when and how experience with new standards might occur moving forward. Each log includes space for teachers to check off the standards that had been addressed before March 13 (the initial school closure date), those standards addressed during the closure, and those which have not yet been addressed (by the end of the ‘school year’). In addition, the Tracking Logs contain potential ties to content in the next grade level in an effort to assist divisions should they choose to fold in the content not taught into the next school year grade or course.
- Guidance & Suggested Use-This is a Word document.
- Kindergarten-This is a Word document.
- Grade 1-This is a Word document.
- Grade 2-This is a Word document.
- Grade 3-This is a Word document.
- Grade 4-This is a Word document.
- Grade 5-This is a Word document.
- Grade 6-This is a Word document.
- Grade 7-This is a Word document.
- Grade 8-This is a Word document.
- Grade 9-This is a Word document.
- Grade 10-This is a Word document.
- Grade 11-This is a Word document.
- Grade 12-This is a Word document.
Additional Available VDOE Resources
Learning in Place – Online Resources
The following list contains a few of the many resources that are free to teachers, parents, and students at all times.
Kindergarten-Grade Two
K-2 | Communication | Reading | Writing | Research |
| Unite for Literacy- Free digital access to picture books for early elementary grades, printed in English with narration available in 47 different languages | N | Y | N | N |
| National Center for Improving Literacy- information for families and KIDSZONE with at home reading activities | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Starfall- free interactive phonics resources | Y | Y | N | N |
| Kiddle Search Engine- student-friendly search engine for research | N | N | N | Y |
| Khan Academy- provides free online lessons in every subject | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ReadWriteThink- Free interactive literacy activities | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Wonderopolis- student friendly website that promotes research and exploration through sparking student interest and inquiry | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Librivox- Free, public domain books read by volunteers from around the world that can be downloaded and listened to on any device | N | Y | N | N |
8 Tips For Delivering Video Instructional
Grades Three-Five
3-5 | Communication | Reading | Writing | Research |
| Unite for Literacy- Free digital access to picture books for early elementary grades, printed in English with narration available in 47 different languages | N | Y | N | N |
| National Center for Improving Literacy- information for families and KIDSZONE with at home reading activities | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Starfall- free interactive phonics resources | Y | Y | N | N |
| CommonLit- Free collection of fiction and non-fiction texts, leveled and arranged by theme | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Kiddle Search Engine- student-friendly search engine for research | N | N | N | Y |
| Khan Academy- provides free online lessons in every subject | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ReadWriteThink- Free interactive literacy activities | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Wonderopolis- student friendly website that promotes research and exploration through sparking student interest and inquiry | N | Y | Y | Y |
| LibriVox- Free, public domain books read by volunteers from around the world that can be downloaded and listened to on any device | N | Y | N | N |
| Couch Academy- VDOE curated resources from Virginia Museums | N | Y | N | Y |
Grades Six-Eight
6-8 | Communication | Reading | Writing | Research |
| CommonLit- Free collection of fiction and non-fiction texts, leveled and arranged by theme | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Kiddle Search Engine- student-friendly search engine for research | N | N | N | Y |
| Khan Academy- provides free online lessons in every subject | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ReadWriteThink- Free interactive literacy activities | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Project Gutenberg- Free eBooks for download | N | Y | Y | Y |
| International Children’s Library- Access to children's literature from around the world | N | Y | N | N |
| Gateway to the Classics- Hundreds of classic titles with special emphasis on history, literature, and natural history along with a collection of over 2500 poems | N | Y | N | N |
| LibriVox- Free, public domain books read by volunteers from around the world that can be downloaded and listened to on any device | N | Y | N | N |
| Couch Academy- VDOE curated resources from Virginia Museums | N | Y | N | Y |
| Smithsonian Tween Tribune- Access to leveled non-fiction, high-interest articles (Common Sense Media approved) | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Poets.org- Access to various poems and biographical information about well-known poets (Common Sense Media approved) | N | Y | N | N |
Grades Nine-Twelve
9-12 | Communication | Reading | Writing | Research |
| CommonLit- Free collection of fiction and non-fiction texts, leveled and arranged by theme | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Khan Academy- provides free online lessons in every subject | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ReadWriteThink- Free interactive literacy activities | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Project Gutenberg- Free eBooks for download | N | Y | N | N |
| International Children’s Library- Access to children's literature from around the world | N | Y | N | N |
| Gateway to the Classics- Hundreds of classic titles with special emphasis on history, literature, and natural history along with a collection of over 2500 poems | N | Y | N | N |
| LibriVox- Free, public domain books read by volunteers from around the world that can be downloaded and listened to on any device | N | Y | N | N |
| AllSides- Website with news from multiple perspectives through sharing headlines about a topic from the right, center, and left | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| ProCon.org- Issues and vetted sources for both sides of the issue | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Couch Academy- VDOE curated resources from Virginia Museums | N | Y | N | Y |
| The National Writing Project- College, Career, and Community Writer's Program resource | Y | N | Y | N |
Learning in Place - Suggested Offline Activities to Engage Students
The following list contains just a few of the many resources that are available free to teachers, parents, and students.
Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Take a walk and look for things that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
- Choose a favorite story and perform it as a play for someone in your house.
- Syllable counting: Clap the syllables for everyone's name in your family. Count the number of syllables. Play 'I spy' with things around the room by using the number of syllables as the clue (e.g. I spy something with 3 syllables)
- Read! Read! Read!
Grades 3-5
- Dinner conversations: Talk with students about what they are reading during dinnertime. Ask questions such as; What is the book about? Who is the main character? Where is the book set? How do you know? What have you found interesting so far?
- Pick a favorite character from a story you are reading or have read. Create a collage about that character. It can be from pictures and words cut from a magazine or a scrapbook page that might be added to a scrapbook about the character.
- Listen to or read a news segment or news article. Make a T chart and keep a running list of facts and opinions. Another variation of this would be to write an article for the news and be sure to include both facts and opinions. Read it to someone and see if they can find them.
- Read! Read! Read!
Grades 6-8
- Watch a TV show or part of a movie. Take notes on different characters and choose one to compare and contrast to a character in a book or story you've read.
- Choose an object or place in your house. Write a description of the object or place using as many adjectives and details as possible, but do not say what the object or place is. Give your description to someone in your house and have them try to draw the object or place based on your description. When you're done, compare the drawing to the actual object or place. Discuss what adjectives and details were helpful in creating that image.
- Create a greeting card with a poem; add a picture to go with the poem. Send it to a neighbor to brighten his or her day!
- Read! Read! Read!
Grades 9-12
- Use liner notes of CDs or albums (or look up the lyrics online) and look for examples of literary devices in the lyrics. Analyze the message of the song and share your interpretation with someone else at home.
- Find an article in a magazine or newspaper. Cut out or black out different words in the article. See if you can use your context clues to determine the missing words.
- Choose a scene from a book you're reading or have read. Create a script for a newscast to deliver including the main ideas and highlights from the event. Record yourself delivering the breaking news.
- Create a Top 5 list for anything you're interested in. It could be a Top 5 favorite basketball players, book characters, songs, foods, etc. For each, write an explanation for why each choice is in each spot, being sure to provide some evidence. You can turn this into an opportunity to debate a family member or sibling after they create their own list.
- Read! Read! Read!
Learning in Place – eMediaVA Resources for K-12
Grades Kindergarten-Two
Grades Three-Five
Grades Six-Eight
Grades Nine-Twelve
Elementary School Resources
In kindergarten through third grade, the primary goal is to teach all students to read fluently and to comprehend a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections that relate to all areas of the curriculum. As they progress through the elementary grades, students continue to acquire and refine strategies for comprehending and analyzing selections that encompass all literary types, exemplify universal themes, and relate to all subjects. K-3 standards are organized in three strands: Oral Language, Reading and Writing. Beginning at grade 4 the strands become Communication: Speaking, Listening, Media Literacy, Reading, Writing, and Research.
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released test items, other elementary instructional resources include:
- Elementary Reading Early Literacy Instructional Videos – demonstrations by Virginia teachers of early literacy instructional strategies and activities
- Virginia Reads(PDF) – parent brochure highlighting preschool Foundation Blocks for Early Learning and the K-5 English SOL with suggestions for assisting children in achieving these school-readiness and reading standards
- Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online.
- Vocabulary Resources – teaching strategies, lesson plans, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of vocabulary.
- Sample Text-Dependent Questions – provide a fiction sample text from public domain and offer a series of text-dependent questions, companion nonfiction texts, and writing assignments.
- Sample Grade 3 Reading SOL – embedded Lesson Planning Template(Word)
- Sample Grade 4 Reading SOL – embedded Lesson Planning Template(Word)
- Sample Grade 5 Reading SOL – embedded Lesson Planning Template(Word)
K-3 Specific Instructional Resources
- K-3 English Achievement Record Sample – Schools maintain a record of achievement in English for each K-3 student to monitor progress and to promote achievement on third-grade SOL tests. This record accompanies a student who transfers to a new school.
- Early Intervention Reading Initiative (EIRI) – provides intervention services to students who demonstrate reading deficiencies on the Phonological and Literacy Screening (PALS) assessment
Best Practice
Additional English & Reading Resources
- Classroom Research Handbook for Teachers and Students(PDF)
- Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read(PDF)
- For Virginia Reading Assessment Contact Information, see Professional Teacher’s Assessment Requirements(PDF)
- Understand Scoring uses actual Virginia student anchor papers to provide examples of SOL scoring in each domain of writing
Middle School Resources
In middle school, standards continue to be organized in the three related strands: Oral Language, Reading and Writing. Students continue to acquire and refine strategies for comprehending and analyzing the written word.
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other middle school instructional resources include:
- Wordsalive Vocabulary Acquisition Model for Virginia – research-based graphic organizer designed to enable students to learn content vocabulary
- Interactive Reading – combines a graphic organizer with researched-based reading comprehension strategies providing a framework that supports students prior to reading, during reading and after reading across the curriculum
- Vocabulary Videos – ten three-minute videos demonstrating a vocabulary lesson or teaching strategy
- Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online.
- Vocabulary Resources – teaching strategies, lesson plans, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of vocabulary.
- Sample Text-Dependent Questions – provide a fiction sample text from public domain and offer a series of text-dependent questions, companion nonfiction texts, and writing assignments.
Best Practice
High School Resources
Standards for ninth through twelfth grades are organized in four related strands: Oral Language, Reading Analysis, Writing, and Research. Students in high school become familiar with exemplary authors and classic literary works.
In addition to the standards, curriculum frameworks, enhanced scope and sequence guides, test blueprints and released tests, other high school instructional resources include:
- Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online.
- Vocabulary Resources – teaching strategies, lesson plans, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of vocabulary.
- Sample Text-Dependent Questions – provide a fiction sample text from public domain and offer a series of text-dependent questions, companion nonfiction texts, and writing assignments.
Specific Course Information and Resources
- English Capstone Course Information – Guidance documents and links to instructional resources
Best Practice
- Language & Culture Videos
Standards of Learning Assessment Resources
- Writing Practice Tool – The Writing Practice Tool allows students to practice using the online writing format utilized by TestNav, the online testing software used in Virginia.
- Writing Practice Items and Guides – Provides the opportunity for students to practice multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items (TEI) that reflect the new content and increased rigor of the revised English Standards of Learning (SOL).
- Online Writing Resources – teaching strategies and lesson plans, video links, SOL progression charts, graphic organizers, and resource links to assist teachers at all grade levels in the instruction of the writing process. Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course SOL writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online.
- Released SOL Tests & Item Sets – Tests and item sets representative of the content and skills included in the Virginia SOL tests
Outside Websites
8 Tips For Delivering Video Instructions
- Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) – screening tool for Virginia's Early Intervention Reading Initiative consisting of PALS-K (for students in kindergarten) and PALS 1-3 (for students in grades one through three)
- Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA) – is a national center for research on early reading, representing a consortium of educators from five universities
- HELP MY CHILD READ Reading Resources – resources from the U.S. Department of Education
- Perspective's Understanding Scoring– Training tool to help Virginia's teachers prepare students for the English SOL Direct Writing Assessment
- Center on English Learning and Achievement (CELA) – Learning materials, teaching resources and online journals focusing on literacy
- National Writing Project – Professional development network for writing teachers at all grade levels
Professional Organizations
8 Tips For Delivering Video Instruction Booklet
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