Integrating NJSLA into Daily Instruction for English Language Arts

This workshop equips ELA teachers with practical strategies for embedding the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) into their everyday instruction. Teachers explore the structure and expectations of the NJSLA ELA assessments, including writing prompts and item types like EBSRs (Evidence-Based Selected Responses) and TECRs (Technology-Enhanced Constructed Responses). Participants learn how to select complex and appropriate texts, create NJSLA-aligned assessments, and support all learners, including those with special needs and multilingual learners. The workshop emphasizes that test preparation does not require abandoning existing curricula but rather integrating standards-based activities and formative assessments into daily practice.

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• Misalignment between daily instruction and the demands of the NJSLA ELA assessments.
  
  
• Lack of familiarity with NJSLA item types and scoring rubrics.
  
  
• Inadequate preparation of diverse learners, including students with special needs and English language learners.
  
  
• Difficulty in creating rigorous assessments that mirror NJSLA standards and format.
  

1. Design and Implement Standards-Aligned Assessments
   Participants will learn to develop NJSLA-like assessments using real test structures such as EBSRs, TECRs, and Prose Constructed Response (PCR) prompts. They'll understand how to align these with specific grade-level standards and classroom texts, ensuring that formative assessments reflect the depth and rigor of the NJSLA.
   
   
2. Integrate Assessment Practices into Existing Curriculum
   Teachers will explore how to embed NJSLA vocabulary, question types, and test-taking strategies into daily lessons without disrupting their current curriculum. This includes using released items, integrating technology tools, and applying standards-based questioning techniques across various text types.
   
   
3. Support Differentiated Needs of All Learners
   Educators will gain strategies for scaffolding instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners, including multilingual students and those with IEPs or other special needs. This includes methods such as visual supports, structured comprehension tasks, summarization strategies, and background knowledge activation.