Literacy Links is a blog for Maine educators that provides research-based information related to a number of aspects of literacy education, such as literacy assessment practices, Maine's Student Learning Standards for English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy, as well as essential elements of reading and writing instruction, and literacy assessment practices. Every other month a different topic is presented. Research about the topic is shared along with instructional suggestions, digital resources and additional ideas for professional reading. Readers are encouraged to follow Literacy Links and to join the conversation by responding to the blog. Literacy Links is published during even-numbered months.
Editions of Literacy Links are frequently recommended in professional workshops provided be the Maine Department of Education and are also referenced in professional learning materials developed by the Maine DOE, such as the Putting Reading First in Maine DVD Series, the literacy micro-courses and the ELA/literacy summer institutes. Educators may subscribe to receive the bi-monthly newsletters.
Newsletters from the 2016-17 School Year
- June 2017 (PDF 484 KB) Professional Learning: Supporting Growth and Achievement
- April 2017 (PDF 389 KB) Visible Literacy for Learning Transfer
- February 2017 (PDF 471 KB) Deeper Learning
- December 2016 (PDF 375KB) Surface Learning
- October 2016 (PDF 452KB) 3-Phase Model of Literacy Learning
- August 2016 (PDF 477KB) Professional Learning Opportunities
Newsletters from 2015-16 School Year
- June 2016 (PDF 465KB) Formative Assessment: Activating Students as Owners of Their Own Learning
- April 2016 (PDF 620KB) Formative Assessment: Activating Students as Learning Resources for One Another
- February 2016 (PDF 581) Formative Assessment: Providing Feedback that Moves Learning Forward
- December 2015 (PDF 532) Formative Assessment: Eliciting Evidence of Student Learning
- October 2015 (PDF 576) Formative Assessment: Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
- August 2015 (PDF 428KB) Introduction to Formative Assessment
Newsletters from 2014-15 School Year
- June 2015 (PDF 367KB) Effective Instruction to Improve Writing
- April 2015 (PDF 361KB) Mentor Texts: Tools for Strengthening Writing
- February 2015 (PDF 308KB) Editing and Revising: Developing Effective Writing
- December 2014 (PDF 321KB) Organizing Writing: Cohesive Elements
- October 2014 (PDF 315KB) Organizing Writing: Using Text Structures
- August 2014 (PDF 390KB) Writing for Understanding
Newsletters from 2013-14 School Year
- May 2014 (PDF 717KB) Evidence-based Responses
- March 2014 (PDF 240 KB) Close Reading Practices for K-12 Classrooms
- January 2014 (PDF 289 KB) Close Reading—Components and Considerations
- November 2013 (PDF, 371KB). Collaborative Conversations
- September/October 2013 (PDF, 449KB) Spotlight on Maine DOE English Language Arts Web Pages
- August 2013 (DOC) 2013-14 Cross Discipline Literacy Network
Newsletters from 2012-13 School Year
- May/June 2013. (DOC) Smarter Balanced Assessment
- April 2013. (DOC) Introduction to Smarter Balanced Assessment System
- March 2013. (DOC) Academic Vocabulary
- February 2013. (DOC) Evidence-Based Responses/Writing from Sources
- January 2013. (PDF) Text Dependent Questions & Close Reading
- December 2012. (DOC) Knowledge in the Disciplines
- November 2012. (DOC) Balancing Informational & Literary Texts, K-5
- October 2012. (DOC) Staircase of Text Complexity
- September 2012. (DOC) Instructional Shifts & CCSS for ELA
- August 2012. (DOC) Cross Discipline Literacy Network & Literacy for ME Initiative