Without the stress of planning, feeling disorganized or overwhelmed.
We all know that teaching language arts is a complex task. We feel like we are constantly pulling resources from here and there but feel like nothing really fits. We know that students need more than workbooks or photocopied work packages. They want dynamic, relevant materials that help them to make meaning from every experience. Today's students need choice, and instruction must meet the needs of the individual students through simple and manageable differentiated tasks.
A Great Literacy Program Includes
Planning a language arts program for your classroom starts with looking at the standards that you are required to teach. There are so many to cover, it is difficult to decide where to begin or how to fit it all together.
So, you begin with one thing at a time. You plan unit after unit in no specific order. Your lessons and plans are disconnected, and you begin to doubt that what you are teaching actually makes sense.
As a teacher, you question if your students are actually learning or just going through the motions. Their moans, groans, and lacklustre enthusiasm for reading and writing is discouraging. You know you have a language program that covers the expectations, but it feels disconnected and piecemeal.
By focusing on the details, we lose sight of the big picture. It is hard to build a complete language arts program when we simply see the parts instead of the machine.
Your literacy program can integrate the learning from listening, speaking, reading, writing, and media in an easy to follow and structured way. It can also be researched based, differentiated, comprehensive, use the gradual release of responsibility model, and be highly engaging and fun for both you and your students.
You can implement an exhaustive language arts program that supports all of these components to deliver a comprehensive research-based approach to language arts.
You want something that feels like a complete solution that connects the various literacy ideas while also covering your curriculum standards. Without the time and commitment to spend all of your free time planning, researching, writing, and organizing it yourself.
This is possible and totally worth it when you see the engagement on the faces of your students when it is time for language arts.
Teaching language arts in units expects that students should master a certain complex skill in 4-6 weeks.
We've all felt the frustration at the end of a unit when students don't get it. This is because they need more time and practice to master this skill. It's not that they can't it is more about them being ready.
This is why a spiralled approach to teaching language arts is better than units. It gives your students the time they need to 'get it'.
In today's classrooms, students need choice. Choice is also a big factor in keeping students engaged. It is also a key component in ensuring your language arts program is differentiated.
Reading and writing is so personal. Giving students the choice of what they want to read and write about gives them ownership. An engaged learner has ownership over his/her own learning. So if they want to write about superheroes, princesses, or dogs the choice really should be theirs.
For students to do well, they need to know and be told they are doing well. When students have goals to work towards and personalized feedback telling them how they did, then they are more likely to work harder and make more gains.
Everyone likes to be told they are doing a good job and given meaningful timely feedback. Our students still need their teachers, not as the sage on the stage, but a guide on their side.
Supporting students with meaningful feedback will guide them to quickly meet and achieve their goals as they work towards mastering a variety of language arts skills.
Extremely impressed with this resource. I have used it a number of times in my split 4/5 class. The resources and activities are enjoyable and engaging for the students. There are a number of different activities that can be used in a number of ways. I really enjoy how there are weekly read alouds that are connected to different activities. Recently used the 'Bump It Up' resource and activities and it was great to see the students engaged in the stories and picking apart what makes one story better than another. My students have also really enjoy the guided reading texts. I have had a number of students ask for copies so they could read them again at home. That is a win in my books! THANK YOU!
"Love this resource. My students get excited for the next book each week and love getting their new work booklets. The fact that we are constantly going back to refresh our memory on learned skills has really helped the students grasp many literacy ideas. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this very elaborate resource. I will be using this for years."
Introducing
Over the last 12 years as a classroom teacher, I wanted a literacy program that met the needs of my students yet at the same time provided high yield strategies that were differentiated and research based.
I needed something that worked for the variety of students in my classroom and fit with my style of teaching, using inquiry based teaching pedagogies, to engage even the most reluctant and neediest of my students (which I had plenty of both).
Ignited Literacy is a spiralled approach to teaching language arts in the classroom. It guides you through the gradual release of responsibility model and structures your language arts program in a systemic way. It hits a variety of expectations each week and revisits them throughout the year.
Because choice is a key component to this program for students, their engagement in language arts is unmatched. In my 12 years of teaching, no other program has produced better results and more engaged learners than this format.
There isn't a magic formula here, it is just based on effective instructional practices and experience of knowing how kids tick.
But the key lies in how this program simplifies and structures your language arts program. It starts by looking at the themes and big ideas, and connects the ideas across learning strands (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and media) and delivers it all together in a way that makes sense.
I hated when my language lessons felt choppy and disorganized. It always felt like I was simply making it up as I was going along. That there was a disconnect between reading and writing. In essence these two strands are strongly connected and need to be taught in conjunction with one another. Ignited Literacy solved this problem.
IGNITED LITERACY is the ONLY program of its kind that…
1. The instructional strategies used are research based and grade level appropriate.
2. Teaching and Learning is differentiated and responsive to student need and readiness. No more one size fits all lesson (or teaching 4+ different lessons at once). There is one lesson and multiple entry points.
3. Gradual Release of Responsibility Model is embedded in all teaching and learning tasks.
4. Learning is collaborative. Students and teachers participate in frequent feedback conferences, guided reading sessions, small group and whole group discussions.
5. Learning is transferrable. Language arts is full of interconnected ideas. Ignited Literacy harnesses this belief and delivers lessons that connect to a central theme with all supporting documents in a meaningful way.
So if you’re ready to finally get started with a comprehensive literacy program that meets your high expectations while avoiding the stress, overwhelm and planning.
Each weeks' lessons are inspired by a picture book. These mentor texts model a variety of text forms and strong writing skills. To prompt meaningful connections a guide to each read aloud is included to assist in modelling with the reading strategies.
Highlights:
Using high quality picture books will help you to model for your students what good readers do. It will allow you to facilitate higher order thinking skills through think alouds and discussion prompts.
Each week, you will be guided through teacher-directed lessons and student activities. These detailed lessons will give you engaging lessons and activities to teach a wide variety of topics.
Highlights:
Working in small groups with your students each week will allow you to get to know your students' strengths and weaknesses. Using flexible groupings, you can meet the specific needs of students along with where they are through small group guided reading instructions.
Module Highlights:
Each week there are guided reading lesson plans that are linked with the weekly read alouds. These are leveled guided reading texts that teachers can use with their students.
Students will work on 4 independent work centres each week. These activities will allow a high degree of student voice and choice, and support differentiated learning in the classroom. The centres are highly engaging as students choose topics that are personally relevant to them to write about.
Module Highlights:
The student independent work centres use differentiated choice boards, and integrate and connect information within the centres to the weekly teacher-directed lesson plans.
Beyond the purchase of this comprehensive literacy program you will also receive coaching and support to help you get started as you implement this program in your classroom.
When you join the private facebook group you will join the many other teachers that have already implemented this program.
You will also be supported by Patti as she answers your questions, walks you through lessons and supports you completely as you transform your literacy program.
Ignited Literacy - $250 Value
Total Value: $445
For Only
What teachers like you asked before buying IGNITED LITERACY
Let's be honest this program is not going to be perfect for everyone.
If you are simply looking for worksheets you can hand out to your students and to have them sit there and work quietly on them, then this is not the program for you.
But, if you want an engaging, dynamic program that gets your students excited about language arts, engages them with their learning, and enthusiastically dives deeper into important topics then you are in the right place.
Ignited Literacy was designed for teachers in grades 4-6 who want more out of their language arts programming. They want the ability to move away from disconnected lessons with activities that feel choppy and piecemeal, and to move towards connecting and integrating ideas across all aspects of the language curriculum.
It is for teachers that believe students should be involved in constructing their own learning and have a voice and some choice in the activities they choose. It is meant for teachers that know that good teaching means that differentiating is key and we need to meet students where they are by teaching the child not the standards.
I myself was tired of having to pull and piece things together form a variety of sources to make my language lessons fit together.
So out of this frustration this program was developed. Each weeks' lessons include EVERYTHING you need except the hard copy of the picture book.
However, many of the picture books that I have chosen are easily found in school libraries, teacher's own collections (especially if you hoard picture books like I do), or within public library collections.
However, if you cannot find the hard copy of the book alternative options and links are provided for you. Book links can be found on YouTube, TumbleBooks, or EPIC books. In some cases, I have provided additional read aloud texts that can be used as an alternative.
This program includes
I don't know about you, but I found units to be very frustrating in the classroom. Early in my career, I was told to plan a 6-week unit and expect mastery after that time. However, it never worked and it left both me and my students overwhelmed and frustrated. Not to mention they retained very little of the information.
It was out of this frustration that I looked at new strategies that were happening in math and applied it to language arts.
Spiralling the curriculum in language arts just makes sense. Gone are the static one and done units. Now, students can cycle through reading and writing skills over a long period of time and gain more mastery as they try different forms and skills, are given feedback, and have the ability to revise and improve their skills over time.
Now I get more done in my classroom, and so do the hundreds of other teachers who have used this program. My students make bigger gains over the course of the year, too. They set goals for themselves and blow them out of the water. They develop a love of learning and language. They are inspired to do more and do better each and every time.
Ignited Literacy shifts my focus away from simply covering expectations to actively teaching my students. It helps me to help them grow as readers and writers. Units are good for teachers as we systematically check off our expectations as we teach students and meet their needs as learners.
The difference is in the connection of ideas and the organization of materials.
If you're like me you have read the books, went to the PD and bought the stuff. But then you got back to your classroom and wondered..."what does actually this look like in the classroom?" You are still overwhelmed and the time you have spent planning hasn't become any shorter.
If you want simple and organized, it's important to avoid programs that have you pulling information from a million different places. Go here for your grammar lesson, go here for your guided reading lesson etc.
All of a sudden you are trying to find all the materials you need but they are all over the place.
The benefit of Ignited Literacy is everything is together. No more hunting through various files, or books for the ideas you need. Everything you need for the week for every strand is all in one place and planned together. It also means that because this is digital, you don't need to worry that you don't have enough students books for each child. The learning is cohesive and focused. You will feel organized and your planning will be simplified.
Differentiation is an important factor and is required to meet the needs for various students in your classroom.
Using key concepts from inquiry based learning, using choice and voice is a key quality in a language arts program.
Ignited Literacy was developed with this concept as a key feature throughout the learning.
Regardless of your students abilities they will be able to access materials and work at their own pace as they demonstrate the learning.
This isn't simply a case of giving everyone a different activity. It is about letting student choice determine what is the best fit for each student which naturally differentiates the learning process for students.
Ensuring that your needest student doesn't feel left out or centered out for doing different work is important. When everyone is doing something different no one notices that they are also not all the same.
Differentiated instruction and advocating for a wide variety of students has been a passion of mine for many years. I am excited that I am able to share this with you as you embark on transforming your language arts program.
Shifting your focus and changing the way you teach can sometimes be uncomfortable.
Sometimes you have questions or just want to reach out and clarify things.
The unique thing about Ignited Literacy over other school board purchased programs is that Ignited Literacy comes with lots of support and coaching.
When you buy the bundle of resources for the whole year, you are invited to join the private Facebook group.
Here, you will instantly connect with other members who have purchased this resource as well as Patti (that's me) its' author.
For the first 15 days, you will receive daily coaching posts within the group, including tips and strategies and live Q&As to answer any questions you might have.
Beyond those 15 days, you will continue to stay in the group to get support and ask questions as you are progressing through the program.
This group is full of amazing and inspiring educators, so you are in good company.
Think of this like free, amazing, ongoing PD without the stress and judgement.
Yes, you totally can.
Ignited Literacy can be purchased on a month by month basis on TpT.
However, when you buy monthly, you do miss out on the group coaching during the first 15 days and on the private Facebook group. This is an exclusive offer for those that have purchased the bundle only.
This program is an investment, I understand that. I am hear to answer and support you with any questions you might have.
You are not in this alone, but remember to think of this purchase as an investment in you. You will save more time, time it would take to plan and prep something like this for yourself.
The question many people have asked themselves when making this purchase is this:
"How much is my free time worth?"
You know yourself better than anyone else. This could be the year that you cut down on that stress and overwhelm and say YES to a solution that will give you your time back and still allow you to deliver a great comprehensive literacy program from start to finish.
This resource covers the curriculum expectations for:
These expectations are generally aligned to other provincial standards as well including:
Ignited Literacy - $250 Value
Total Value: $445
For Only
If you said “yes” to at least 5 of the above, I can’t wait to meet you inside our private Facebook group. This is going to be your best year yet!
Ignited Literacy - $250 Value
Total Value: $445
For Only
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