Achieve the Core Resources
Achieve the Core is a nonprofit group working to support teachers across the country by creating materials that will assist with preparing standards-based instruction, evaluating lessons and materials, designing classroom assessments, and more. Their English Language Arts resources can be found HERE.

Are your lessons and units aligned to our Kansas English Language Arts Standards? Go to Achievethecore.org and find out. Links to rubrics for lessons and units are available for free!

Are you stuck and unsure where to begin when it comes to curriculum writing? Review this comprehensive 'how to' guide created by KSDE to help you get started writing quality ELA Curriculum!

"Introduction to Resource Sets", a two day presentation by Kris Shaw and Suzy Myers, Kansas State Department of Education, was hosted by the ESU School of Library & Information Management on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Resource Sets expand on the idea of developing text sets for curriculum units in the classroom. Resource Sets focus on the process of building a set of materials, texts, audio and video clips, art, science hypotheses, or social studies essential questions into a unit. The step-by-step process is clarified by the use of an easy-to-read game board. You can access this introduction on You Tube at http://youtu.be/imxlJA8AXPk

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition and educational program that encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. 

This free program helps students in grades 9 - 12 master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about our literary heritage. Students also have the opportunity to compete for a expenses paid trip to Washington DC and over $50,000 in scholarships and prizes.

POETRY OUT LOUD encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. POL helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. POL is a great way to bring poetry alive for both students and teachers.

•  All Kansas high schools are invited to participate.
• POL is free of charge!
• Students compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes.
• POL meets many Kansas ELA and Theatre standards, as well as NCTE standards.
• KCAIC provides personalized assistance to help teachers get started and carry out the program.

Learn more about Kansas's Chapter of POL here. 

Technology can be a great tool for improving the quality and usefulness of what is taught in our classrooms. Technology can improve our ability to give students quality and timely feedback; it can allow us the opportunity to differentiate based on student need; it can foster engaging learning opportunities that appeal to a variety of learning styles; and it can help students develop 21st century skills. Here you will find an overview of some popular programs, applications, and extensions. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the many programs out there for your use; additionally, this is not an endorsement of any program or product. Rather, this document is meant to provide you with an overview of popular programs in a quick and easy format. If you have suggestions for additions, please email me at sperryman@ksde.org.