ANet’s unique Virtual Learning Modules are designed as quick (30-45 dedicated minutes) online courses sequenced on high impact topics in ELA, aimed at helping you tackle foundational topics first, and increasingly specialized topics as your knowledge builds. Each of these modules are currently free for all educators. To learn more about partnering with ANet, visit us at achievementnetwork.org. 

Module

Objectives

When to Use

The Three Shifts in ELA

Gain a detailed understanding of the three shifts in ELA and learn about resources to help deepen your knowledge.
  • Understand that new literacy standards are founded on equity 
  • Become familiar with 3 shifts
  • Learn about resources to help bring the shifts to life  in the classroom

 

Share anytime with anyone who is unfamiliar with ELA’s three shifts or could use a refresher.

 

K-2 Literacy

Assembling the best thinking on how schools can support K-2 literacy development, this module explores the role of foundational skills, structured phonics, and Read Alouds that build world knowledge and vocabulary. 

* For K-2 classrooms
  • Understand how K-2 literacy is founded on equity 
  • Articulate what research shows are essential to K-2 literacy instruction
  • Appreciate the importance of a structured phonics 
  • Internalize the role of Fluency and the Read Aloud

 

Use during summer training or at the beginning of the year to set a K-2 literacy vision.

 

Introduction to Text Complexity

Learn about the role of text complexity in advancing equity, while exploring its quantitative and qualitative components. Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to practice evaluating the complexity of texts.
  • Articulate why text complexity matters
  • Define qualitative components of text complexity 
  • Analyze a grade-level text for text complexity 
  • Use text complexity to deepen literacy planning and data analysis

 

Share at any time with anyone who is unfamiliar with text complexity or could use a refresher.

Text-Dependent Questions

Explore what TDQs are, why they matter, and how to craft them effectively. Recommended for anyone who would like to learn more about this essential practice.
  • Name why text-dependent questioning matters
  • Generate and/or select text-dependent questions to go along with the high-quality texts
  • Locate resources on myANet and elsewhere that will help teachers BWK plan

 

Use as pre-work for a data meeting or planning meeting.

 

Building World Knowledge

Bringing to life Key Shift #3, this module explores why building world knowledge is essential to teaching literacy and advancing equity in the classroom. You’ll observe two teachers and study text sets centered around a topic of focus.
  • Articulate why building world knowledge is essential and how we see it incorporated within the standards 
  • Understand two approaches to choosing text sets that can help build world knowledge

 

Use as pre-work for a planning meeting, or during teacher collaboration time. 

 

Juicy Sentences for English Language Learners   

This module gives an overview of research-based classroom practice that helps ELLs access complex grade-level texts. 
  • Articulate why juicy sentence conversations can be an effective way to support English Learners and all students to become proficient readers of grade-level texts
  • Identify juicy sentences within a larger text
  • Prepare for a conversation around a juicy sentence for their grade band

 

Use as pre-work for a planning meeting, or during teacher collaboration time. 

 

ELA Instructional Practice Guide (IPG)  

These modules provide a detailed overview of the IPG and its roots within the standards and instructional equity.
  • Articulate the purpose of the IPG and its underpinnings in ELA standards and
    equitable instruction
  • Become familiar with the Core Action indicators
  • Begin confidently using the IPG at their school for classroom observation and feedback follow up

 

Complete as pre-work for a classroom observation.