Reading Teacher Websites In-service Overview: Websites can benefit reading classrooms.

Websites have a variety of purposes and uses in our modern lives. This in-service is aimed toward teachers of reading, writing, and languages at all levels. TEKS below are from varying grade levels are just a few examples of TEKS that can be met through your online site. (16) Reading/Media Literacy. Students use comprehension skills to analyze how words, images, graphics, and sounds work together in various forms to impact meaning. Students continue to apply earlier standards with greater depth in increasingly more complex texts. Students are expected to: (A) recognize different purposes of media (e.g., informational, entertainment); (17) Writing/Writing Process. Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text. Students are expected to: (A) plan a first draft by generating ideas for writing (e.g., drawing, sharing ideas, listing key ideas); (20) Oral and Written Conventions/Conventions. Students understand the function of and use the conventions of academic language when speaking and writing. Students continue to apply earlier standards with greater complexity. Students are expected to: (A) use and understand the function of the following parts of speech in the context of reading, writing, and speaking: (23) Research/Research Plan. Students ask open-ended research questions and develop a plan for answering them. Students are expected to: (A) brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate openended questions to address the major research topic; and (B) generate a research plan for gathering relevant information about the major research question. (12) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Procedural Texts. Students understand how to glean and use information in procedural texts and documents. Students are expected to: (A) follow multi-tasked instructions to complete a task, solve a problem, or perform procedures; and (13) Reading/Media Literacy. Students use comprehension skills to analyze how words, images, graphics, and sounds work together in various forms to impact meaning. Students

will continue to apply earlier standards with greater depth in increasingly more complex texts. Students are expected to: (A) interpret both explicit and implicit messages in various forms of media; (B) interpret how visual and sound techniques (e.g., special effects, camera angles, lighting, music) influence the message; (1) Creativity and innovation. The student uses creative thinking and innovative processes to construct knowledge, generate new ideas, and create products. The student is expected to: (A) identify, create, and use files in various formats such as text, raster and vector graphics, video, and audio files; (B) create original works as a means of personal or group expression;

Website: readingteachersites.weebly.com Research: Why should reading teachers consider making a website? Best practice states students use technology as a tool to analyze and improve their writing and expand their reading (Best Practices). One big problem that exists with keeping on track with reading and writing is attendance. Students will miss class, which is a fact. Websites can help students get caught up when they were absent from class or had misplaces class materials (Janicki, 2012). The author of Cleanapple.com, a 10+ year successful teacher, uses it as an easy answer to what did I miss? and meet the needs of her students who have IEP and 504 plans (Ten Reasons). In their research about the necessity of making use of mobile technology in literacy education, Elsener & Husbye found that technology has been shown to effect both learner engagement and motivation (Husbye, 2013). They continued on to find ways to support, expand, and accelerate the learning of their students in K-12 and collegiate settings. References: Zemelman, S., Daniels, H., & Hyde, A. (2005). Best practice: Today's standards for teaching and learning in America's schools, 3rd edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Ten reasons every teacher should want a web site. (n.d.). Clean Apple. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.cleanapple.com/?p=165 Best practices in the ELA classroom. (n.d.). Abilene ISD. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.abileneisd.org/cms/lib2/TX010

Janicki, E., & Chandler-Olcott, K. (2012). Secondary English Teachers Perspectives on the Design and Use of Classroom Websites. Contemporary Issues in Technology & Teacher Education, 12(2), 122-144. Husbye, N. E., & Elsener, A. A. (2013). To Move Forward, We Must Be Mobile: Practical Uses of Mobile Technology in Literacy Education Courses. Journal Of Digital Learning In Teacher Education, 30(2), 46-51. Best Practices: Help students nd real purposes to write and real audiences to reach. Websites are an excellent outlet for sharing or allowing your students to share their work with a larger audience. Help students get started. A number of tools can be put into a website to help with planning, brainstorming, researching, and discussion. Create a collection of these tools to provide additional support and fuel learning. Guide students as they draft and revise. A website is a great place for students and teachers to communicate outside of the classroom. A discussion board or posts by the teacher can provide excellent guidance for students at home. Show the students how writing is created. Upload videos and examples of your own writing process or input them from online sources easily. Create a database of the best examples you can find that is always readily accessible.

Timeline: 8:30-8:45 8:45-9:00 9:00-10:15 10:15-10:30 10:30-11:45 11:45-1:00 1:00-1:45 1:45-2:00 2:00-3:00 3:00-3:30 Check-in Welcome/Introduction Part I: The Why (Supporting Research) Break Part II: What Sites Allow Us to Do Lunch Break Part III: The How (Examples & Videos) Break Part IV: Build a Site Together Questions, Comments, & General Assistance

Materials/Cost: Computers/tablets for those attending Weebly (can be free or paid, visit http://readingteachersites.weebly.com/pricing.html for more)