When I was a first-grade teacher at a Title I school on the east side of Michigan, I often spent time with the media specialist and librarians at the local public library trying to find a wide range of books to use for interactive read-alouds that also connected to science or social studies content and standards. I would walk away with many engaging recommendations and titles that made my heart sing. Not to mention the incredible relationships I came to foster with those talented and knowledgeable librarians! I tapped into these resources because I knew my classroom library collection wasn’t robust enough, the provided science and social studies curricular resources were not always high quality or were missing, and getting funds to cover the cost of new resources was sometimes a challenge.
Discovering REMC 8: A Powerful Resource for Educators
In my new role as an early literacy coach at Kent ISD, I recently reflected on the challenges I faced as a first-grade teacher. What if there was another resource I could have used? Well, on this side of the state, there is. In this blog, we will explore the Regional Educational Media Center (REMC), a cornerstone of support for Michigan’s teachers and students. Nestled at Kent ISD, REMC 8 offers an array of resources to be borrowed at no cost to Kent, Ionia, and Montcalm County educators, ensuring equity and quality education for Pre-K-12 students.
Exploring the Early Literacy Collection: A Valuable Asset
Educators know the importance of books in students’ lives. They also understand the importance of exposing students to a wide variety of high-quality texts, fictional and informational, starting in Pre-K. But, sometimes, it can be challenging to find such titles, not to mention the expense.
One of the resources available through REMC 8 is the Early Literacy Collection. So, what makes this collection unique? It contains a variety of titles covering different subjects, such as climate change, astronaut training, coral reefs, communities, citizenship, being a Michigan kid, and making friends. This collection supports learning in science, social studies, character education, and more.
They are guaranteed to engage and excite students. All the titles in the collection are linked to a literacy engagement series developed by the Michigan Learning Channel and MAISA (Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators) called “Read, Write, ROAR!”
The Power of “Read, Write, ROAR!”: Transforming Literacy Instruction
The Michigan educators seen teaching in the “Read, Write, ROAR!” lessons model research-based early literacy instructional practices developed by the statewide literacy coaching network (Early Literacy Essentials). They offer explicit reading and literacy instruction that aligns with Michigan content standards and connects to science, social studies, or character education.
As an example, consider Season 1, Episode 1, where first-grade students compare how schools looked in the past to how they look now and then learn the /sh/ sound with a sorting sounds in words activity. In this one lesson, students learn social studies content and engage with a foundational skill (learning the SH- sound). To view this lesson in action, click on the video below.
This example beautifully illustrates how the ‘Read, Write, ROAR!’ program seamlessly merges foundational skills with content knowledge, offering a holistic approach to literacy instruction. These lessons are invaluable resources for educators. They integrate seamlessly into the curriculum to address literacy skills and content standards, nurturing essential abilities while deepening students’ understanding of the subject matter.
Aligned with Michigan content standards and grounded in research-based practices, these lessons provide a structured framework for engaging and effective literacy instruction, ensuring students receive a comprehensive learning experience. Educators enrich literacy education by incorporating “Read, Write, ROAR!” into their teaching, fostering both skill development and content mastery in students.
Engaging Families: Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom
Additionally, this collection is an invaluable resource for educators, students, and their families. Educators can utilize the titles in class to explore concepts and ideas, incorporating “Read, Write, ROAR!” lessons into their curriculum or as engaging extension activities. This approach encourages family involvement, as caregivers can watch ‘Read, Write, ROAR!’ episodes with their children, fostering meaningful discussions. By participating at home, families gain insight into the daily pace and methodologies used in the classroom, empowering them to support their child’s literacy development and education actively. Furthermore, families can further engage with connected activities and printables.
Accessing REMC 8 Early Literacy Collection: A Step-by-Step Guide
To access all 75 book titles, each labeled with its grade level and corresponding ‘Read, Write, ROAR!’ episode:
- Visit the REMC 8 Website
- Click on the green button that says ONLINE CATALOG
- Click on REMC 8 Collection
- Click the word ‘Catalog’ in the upper left-hand corner of the screen
- Type “Read Write Roar” into the ‘Find’ field
- Hit enter on your keyboard
Before reserving any books, educators must create a REMC account. For assistance with setting up an account, contact Erin Hoekema at erinhoekema@kentisd.org or (616) 365-2386 or Dejana Puranovic Smith at dejanasmith@kentisd.org or (616) 365-2232.
Any educator can freely access these books, and courier services will deliver them to schools utilizing this service across Kent, Ionia, and Montcalm counties. If your school is not participating in the courier service, you can pick up your reserved collection at Kent ISD. To view the ‘Read, Write, ROAR!’ lessons, visit http://www.michiganlearning.org or youtube.com
Visit REMC 8 to explore the Early Literacy Collection and other resources and meet Erin and Dejana. This collection supports educators in fostering literacy joy within students, families, and communities, offering diverse titles and “Read, Write, ROAR!” lessons aligned with Michigan standards.
#LiteracySolutions #TeacherEmpowerment #CurriculumIntegration #HighQualityResources #EducatorSuccess #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd #REMC8
This blog post was written by Sonali Deshpande, Early Literacy Coach for Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, T/L Marketing and Communication Specialist for Kent ISD.
The Bulletin 