Secondary English Weekly #11
Volume Two, Issue Eleven / November 4-8, 2019
TEACHINGBOOKS WEBINAR
TeachingBooks, the online resource that houses our lists of books in the warehouse & Secondary English Curriculum Office and gives you access to author and novel resources for any book, is newly designed for the 2019/20 school year. The following Webinar can help you learn the latest and greatest ways to collaboratively enrich the literacy work in your school. If you need a quick reminder of how to access and use the resource, use this brief TeachingBooks Video Tutorial from the ELA 6-12 Webpage.
- Discover the NEW TeachingBooks! Webinar Registration Monday-November 4 at 4:00 pm
TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST: ANALYZING PROPAGANDA
TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST
Join this free upcoming Webinar from Echoes & Reflections and become equipped to teach about the Holocaust. The timely one-hour webinar is designed to help educators promote student learning and understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting effect on the world..
- Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy Tuesday, 11/5 at 5pm
THURBER HOUSE YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO Grades 9-12
Young Writers' Studio meets every other week for two hours with author and English professor, Robert Loss. The first hour is filled with quality writing prompts and activities. Then, after a break for provided snacks (of course!), the last hour offers a chance to workshop pieces that students or others bring in. It's a safe, low-key, fun opportunity to enjoy writing and meet others! Tell your high schoolers that there is a a session this week: November 5 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Ave. Columbus, OH 43215). The cost is $15 and it can be paid in advance or at the door. A limited number of scholarships are available for this program and can be accessed by Emailing Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org. Register Here.
REGISTER THIS WEEK FOR HIGH SCHOOL WINTER DEBATE TOURNAMENT
Use this DEBATE FLYER to get students interested. To register, fill in your school's information on the "Registration for CCS High School DebateTournament-Winter 2019" form inside the DEBATE FOLDER.
IT WOULD BE FABULOUS TO HAVE ALL HIGH SCHOOLS REPRESENTED!! MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS DEBATED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE COMPETING.
See detailed information about the Winter Debate Tournament in the Student Opportunities section below.
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CHAIR MEETING-November 6, 2019
ELL WEBINAR FROM ASCD
There is a Webinar: Dispelling Misconceptions About English Language Learners on November 7, 2019, 3:00 p.m. Fifty-six percent of the nation's public school teachers have had at least one English language learner in their classrooms, according to The National Center for Education Statistics. Are you prepared to help ELLs reach their full academic potential? Barbara Gottschalk, author of Dispelling Misconceptions About English Language Learners: Research-Based Ways to Improve Instruction, will use research and examples from years of classroom observations to give educators the knowledge they need to improve instruction and respect ELLs' unique sets of needs and strengths. Register HERE.
TWO CONFERENCES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS
2019 OHIO MIDDLE LEVEL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, NOV. 7-8
The 2019 Ohio Middle Level Association Conference, Thriving in the Middle – Planting Seeds for a Growing Tomorrow, is happening this week, Nov. 7-8, at the Columbus Hilton at Easton. Click the link for information and registration.
AMLE ANNUAL CONFERENCE-NOVEMBER 7-9 IN NASHVILLE, TN
The AMLE conference is designed around four powerful strands, helping you to customize your experience. You can now view online the featured sessions in each strand, presented by education experts and thought leaders. Click here for Registration and Information.
BUCKEYE CHILDREN’S AND TEEN BOOK AWARD—LAST WEEK TO VOTE!!
The Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Award program is designed to encourage students in Ohio to read literature critically, to promote teacher and librarian involvement in young adult literature programs, and to commend authors of such literature. The Buckeyes are one of the only state reader's choice awards in which students get to nominate the titles as well as vote on the final winners. The only adults who may submit nominations or votes are teachers and librarians who are representing a group of students from their school or library. This allows the Buckeyes to be truly a student-chosen award in all aspects.
Nominating occurs year-round, on the Buckeye Awards website, and voting closes Nov. 10. The winners will be announced on December 1, so have your students go to www.bcbookaward.info to vote, nominate, choose novels to read, and see past winners!
OHIO POETRY ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST
The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) is sponsoring its annual high school poetry contest, offering prizes and publication to winners in nine categories. A grand prize winning poem will be published in Common Threads, OPA’s poetry journal. Winning poems will be sent to the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Give this OPA CONTEST FLYER to your students so that they may enter.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- All poems must be the original work of the student and must be unpublished (in print or online, including social media) or not accepted for publication.
- Each poem must be titled. There may be only one entry per student in any category, and no poem may be entered in more than one category. There is no limit on the number of categories to which a student may submit. NOTE: For Manningham eligibility, there is a limit of 30 lines for any poem and only one poem per student can be sent.
- All poems must be typed or computer generated in a plain font no larger than 12-point. Times New Roman font is suggested.
- All poems must be in English, single-spaced, printed on one side of the page only, and all category requirements must be observed. No illustrations or decorations.
- Two copies of each poem must be submitted. Each copy must contain the name Senior Division and the category (number only) in the upper left-hand corner. On the second copy only, the name of the student, name of school (or if home-schooled, your mailing address), grade level, and language arts/English teacher (or parent-teacher for home-schoolers) must appear in the upper right-hand corner. At the bottom of the second copy with the student name and school address identification, the statement below must be typed and signed by the student:
“I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole
or in part from any author’s poems in print or posted on the Internet."
Signed: ___________________________________________ - Each school should send all entries from the school together, mailed flat in one envelope, with the name of the teacher or parent-teacher on a note inside or marked clearly on the envelope.
- ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 15, 2019.
Special Note for Teachers: Teachers are strongly encouraged to read all student poems for appropriateness. No personal names of friends or family members should appear in poems. No poems will be returned.
CONTEST CATEGORIES & SPONSORS
- Voices from the Past – A persona poem in any style in the voice of an American patriot from America’s past, e.g., a survivor from any war fought to keep America free. Sponsor: Mark Hersman
- David Francis Smith Award – A poem in any form on any subject. 30-line limit. Sponsor: Teresa Santmyer
- New Beginnings – Using your imagination and fresh imagery, describe how change of any kind can affect your life. 30-line limit. Sponsor: Great Expectations Writers
- Humor – A poem that makes us laugh—amusing, humorous, funny (but clean enough to print) in any form. 30-line limit. Sponsor: Pat Snyder Hurley
- Sonnets – The sonnet is one of the longest lived of verse forms. Its rhyme scheme makes music out of repeated sounds, and its metrical pattern of iambic pentameter rocks with rhythm! Compose your own sonnet on any subject. Sponsor: Betsy Hughes
- Ekphrasitic – Choose a work of art from any art museum and write a poem in response to that work. At the bottom of your page, note the name of the work of art; the artist; the museum where you viewed it; and a website location (URL) of the art, if available. 30-line limit. Sponsor: Jane Kretschmann and Deborah Strozier
- A Sense of Place – A poem that captures a memorable landscape, cityscape, seascape, building, or interior. Any form. 30-line limit. Sponsor: William R. Reyer
- Short and to the Point – A poem in any form, on any subject, not to exceed 12 lines. The poem may be free verse or a form such as haiku/senryu, tanka, cinquain, limerick, double dactyl (higgledy-piggledy), minute, or triolet – any established form as long as it’s 12 lines or under. Sponsor: Springfield Writers Club
- Cinquain – Write an American cinquain, a poem of five lines of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllables and unrhymed. It usually features a single image from nature. The image you should focus on for this contest is water (rivers, sea, oceans—be creative!) For examples see: www.cinquain.org/cinquain.html Sponsor: PentaPoets
PRIZES & PUBLICATION
Awards for each category are $25, $15, and $10, with the possibility of honorable mentions. All judges reserve the right not to award a prize in a category if entries do not meet the category and/or judge’s requirements. Award winners will be published in a chapbook. Chapbooks for award-winning students will be sent to each school.
MAIL ALL POETRY SUBMISSIONS TO:
Sharon Fish Mooney, OPA Student Contests
86545 Cramblett Road
Scio, Ohio 43988
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest
The City of Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest will be held Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the King Arts Complex (867 Mt. Vernon Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Winners of the City of Columbus Youth Oratorical Contest will have the opportunity to present at the MLK Jr. Breakfast and City of Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. evening program. They will also have the opportunity to compete in the Statewide MLK Youth Oratorical Contest in April 2020.
To register for the contest, you must complete and submit the following:
1. The photo and video release waiver
2. A copy of the oration
3. The registration form (if submitting online, no need to complete word document below)
There are two ways to submit these three documents:
1. The Smartsheet link below (link includes registration form, do not fill out word document)
2. Drop off at the Department of Neighborhoods office, at 1111 E. Broad St, Columbus, OH 43205 at the front desk in an envelope marked ATTN: Julia Carter
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR ORATION, RELEASE, AND REGISTRATION IS NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019.
Rules and Regulation
Photo and Release Waiver
Registration Form (Only for drop off method of submission)
SmartSheet Link for Online Submission
NOTE: STUDENTS MAY BE ABLE TO REWORK THE SAME SPEECH THEY USE FOR THE MLK BREAKFAST SPEAKER CONTEST FOR THEIR ENTRY.
NANOWRIMO (NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH)
1. Middle School and High School Workbooks for NaNoWriMo can be found on the English 6-12 Webpage at the "ELA Strand Resources" Quick Link. Once on the Strand Resources page, you will find them in the Writing Resources list.
2. You can sign up to "officially" be part of NaNoWriMo at https://nanowrimo.org.
KEEPING UP WITH THE CHANGES IN AP LANGUAGE & AP LITERATURE
AP Central's AP Language and Composition Page
- AP English Language Course Exam and Description
- AP English Language Course Exam and Description (Errata Sheet)
- AP English Language Course-at-a-Glance
- AP English Language Scoring Rubrics
- AP English Language Scoring Rubrics (One-Pagers)
- AP English Language Scoring Guidelines
AP Central's AP Literature and Composition Page.
- AP English Literature Course Exam and Description
- AP English Literature Course Exam and Description (Errata Sheet)
- AP English Literature Course-at-a-Glance
- AP English Literature Scoring Rubrics
- AP English Literature Scoring Rubrics (One-Pagers)
- AP English Literature Scoring Guidelines
-If you want the information in a binder that refines and clarifies the scope of content that can be assessed on the AP Exam for college credit, and provides teachers with a suggested topic and skill sequence they can adapt to their needs rather than having to build from scratch, order your free copy HERE. AP teachers in the United States who have completed the AP Course Audit may request a free copy of the binder through January 31, 2020. New AP teachers should wait to request their binder until their Course Audit form for 2019-20 has been approved by their administrator.
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-Our AP Textbook provider, Bedford, Freeman, & Worth, has provided adaptations based the new AP Language and AP Literature Frameworks for both AP textbooks,The Language of Composition and Literature and Composition. Check out the AP Language Updates Page, the AP Literature Updates Page, and the following links for more information.
AP® LANGUAGE
- Course Changes Videos
- Handouts of extra content
- Unit Based Pacing Guide for The Language of Composition, 3rd Edition,
- Unit Based Pacing Guide for The Language of Composition-2nd Edition
- Unit Based Pacing Guide for The Language of Composition-1st Edition - This document cuts the text content up into units that the College Board suggests in their new CED, making this a very helpful resource for using a flexible book like The Language of Composition. It offers an engaging and thematic approach while adhering to the new skills outlined in the framework.
- Course Changes Videos
- Unit Based Pacing Guide for Literature and Composition-2nd Edition
- Unit Based Pacing Guide for Literature and Composition-1st Edition - This document cuts the text content up into units that the College Board suggests in their new CED, making this a very helpful resource for using a flexible book like Literature & Composition. It offers an engaging and thematic approach while adhering to the new skills outlined in the framework.
ENGLISH PILOT RESOURCES: VENDOR KICK-OFF ON NOVEMBER 5TH
Secondary English Courses 6-12
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Into Literature) CCPSB, Marion-Franklin, West, Westmoor, Woodward Park
- McGraw Hill (Study Sync) Champion, CAHS, Columbus Scioto, Northland, Whetstone, Yorktown
- Pearson (My Perspectives) Buckeye, Centennial, Independence, Linden STEM, Mifflin Middle, Sherwood
Honors English Courses 9 & 10
- Bedford, Freeman, and Worth (Foundations of Language & Literature; Advanced Language & Literature) South, Walnut Ridge
HERE ARE SOME RECENT ARTICLES FOR YOUR PERUSAL
Cool New Study on Text Difficulty and Adolescent Literacy (YES!!)
- 'No Progress' Seen in Reading or Math on Nation's Report Card
- Latest Round of ACT Scores Show Another Decline in Performance
To Reverse The Decline In Reading Scores, We Need To Build Knowledge
- Focus on Student Engagement for Better Academic Outcomes
- Teens' Online Video Viewing Soared Over the Past Four Years, Report Finds
UPCOMING AUTHOR VISITS
Senator Sherrod Brown, DESK 88 November 17 | 7:00 pm | Capital University
Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Sherrod Brown has sat on the Senate floor at a desk with a proud history: Desk 88. Brown profiles eight Senators who were there before him, all of whom fought for a more just America. They range from Hugo Black, who helped to lift millions of American workers out of poverty, to Robert F. Kennedy, whose eyes were opened by an undernourished Mississippi child, to Idaho’s Glen Taylor, a singing cowboy who stood up to segregationists.
Scott Woods, URBAN CONTEMPORARY HISTORY MONTH POEMS November 19 | 7:00 pm | Columbus Museum of Art
Scott Woods interrogates identity and society through topics such as police abuse, idol worship, the definition of Black culture, and the importance of the blues—chipping away at our acceptance of American life as we know it. The collection includes meditations on juke joint culture, a cento comprised of the first lines of Stephen King stories, and more. Scott Woods is a Columbus Foundation Spirit of Columbus Award recipient and was named the “Face of Columbus” by Columbus Alive.
Mo Rocca, MOBITUARIES November 23 | 7:00 pm | The King Arts Complex
CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca presents a charmingly irreverent and rigorously researched book that celebrates the dead people who made life worth living. Not every notable world leader, innovator, or artist has gotten the send-off she or he deserves. In Mobituaries, Rocca profiles the 20th century’s greatest entertainer, sitcom characters gone all too soon, a shamefully forgotten Founding Father, and more. Even if you know the names, you’ve never understood why they matter—until now.
Deirdre Bair, PARISIAN LIVES: SAMUEL BECKETT, SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR, AND ME A MEMOIR November 26 | 7:30 pm | Columbus Museum of Art
National Book Award recipient Deirdre Bair spent 15 years in Paris with Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir. Years of intimate conversations with Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett resulted in a National Book Award-winning biography. Bair's next subject was Simone de Beauvoir. Bair hid out in the back rooms of Paris cafés as she worked with the difficult de Beauvior on another groundbreaking biography. Parisian Lives revisits these experiences with never-before-told anecdotes and details that were impossible to publish at the time.
Kathryn Sullivan, HANDPRINTS ON HUBBLE: AN ASTRONAUT'S STORY OF INVENTION December 14 | 7:00 pm | Thurber Center
Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, recounts her experience as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope.
Jodi Picoult, The Facts Behind the Fiction, March 3 | 7:00 pm | Westerville South High School
Discover the facts behind the fiction as bestselling author Jodi Picoult describes her page-turning plots that feature timely social issues. Get a behind-the-scenes at her writing process as well as thoughtful inquiry into some of the most pressing issues of our time. Tickets include presentation, audience Q&A, book signing & book sale.
TEACHER PD OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTESTS
SOME CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS
-TEACHINGBOOKS CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYS
-BULKBOOKSTORE $500 MONTHLY GIVEAWAY
-BULKBOOKSTORE LUNCH BAG GIVEAWAY
-WE ARE TEACHERS CONTEST/GIVEAWAYS
NOVEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
TEACHINGBOOKS WEBINARS
TeachingBooks, the online resource that houses our lists of books in the warehouse and Secondary English Curriculum Office and gives you access to author and novel resources for any book, is newly designed for the 2019/20 school year. The following Webinars can help you learn the latest and greatest ways to collaboratively enrich the literacy work in your school. To register for any of the Webinars listed below, click HERE.
Discover the NEW TeachingBooks!
‣Monday-November 4 at 4:00 pm
TeachingBooks: Collaborate, Customize, Communicate
‣Monday-November 11 at 5:00 pm
Make Your Library Talk with TeachingBooks Resources:
‣Tuesday-November 19 at 3:00 pm
TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST
Join one of the free upcoming Webinars from Echoes & Reflections and become equipped to teach about the Holocaust. The timely one-hour webinars are designed to help educators promote student learning and understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting effect on the world. Register today. Below are the webinars for November.
- Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy Tuesday, 11/5 at 5pm
- Spiritual Resistance 11/12 at 3pm
- The Life and Legacy of Anne Frank 11/14 at 4pm
ELL WEBINAR FROM ASCD
Webinar: Dispelling Misconceptions About English Language Learners, November 7, 2019, 3:00 p.m. Fifty-six percent of the nation's public school teachers have had at least one English language learner in their classrooms, according to The National Center for Education Statistics. Are you prepared to help ELLs reach their full academic potential? Barbara Gottschalk, author of Dispelling Misconceptions About English Language Learners: Research-Based Ways to Improve Instruction, will use research and examples from years of classroom observations to give educators the knowledge they need to improve instruction and respect ELLs' unique sets of needs and strengths. Register HERE.
2019 OHIO MIDDLE LEVEL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, NOV. 7-8
REGISTER NOW for the 2019 Ohio Middle Level Association Conference, Thriving in the Middle – Planting Seeds for a Growing Tomorrow, Nov. 7-8, at the Columbus Hilton at Easton.
AMLE ANNUAL CONFERENCE-NOVEMBER 7-9 IN NASHVILLE, TN
Registration & housing are now open! The conference is designed around four powerful strands, helping you to customize your experience. You can now view online the featured sessions in each strand, presented by education experts and thought leaders.
CORWIN'S FREE ONE-HOUR MONDAY AFTERNOON WEBINAR SERIES
Book your space now for Corwin's free Monday Afternoon Webinar Series; seats are already filling fast. Download the full schedule of upcoming Webinars HERE. Below are the Webinars happening in November.
Breaking Down the Wall: Essential Shifts for English Learners' Success Monday, November 11, 2019 - 6:30pm; Presented by Margarita Espino Calderon, Maria G. Dove, Diane Staehr Fenner, Margo Gottlieb, Andrea Honigsfeld, Tonya Ward Singer, Shawn Slakk, Ivannia Soto, and Debbie Zacarian
MASTER TEACHER AND NATIONAL BOARD MEETING
There will be an informational meeting regarding both the Master Teacher Designation as well as becoming a National Board Certified Teacher on Tuesday, November 12th from 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. in Conference Room #4 at 17th Avenue (889 E. 17th Avenue). Please find details about the Master Teacher Designation at https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/2292. Please find details about the National Board Certified Teacher program at https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/2293. I also encourage you to visit https://www.nbpts.org/national-board-certification/. Please note: teachers pursuing NBCT, who meet all guidelines, will have all NBCT components paid by CCS (except a $75 registration fee). In addition, NBCT who follow all stipend guidelines are eligible to receive a $1,500 yearly stipend. Attendance at this meeting is NOT necessary to pursue either designation. However, if you decide to pursue NBCT, please let me know so you may be updated on support session dates, which are part of the requirements for the district to pay the cost of the components. If you have any questions or concerns, please CONTACT Karmen McCaslin kmccasli@columbus.k12.oh.us.
NEWSELA WORKSHOP
Newsela recently partnered with the ESC of Central Ohio, and they will host a LIVE Newsela Certified Educator Workshop on Thursday, November 14th from 8:30AM to 11:30AM at the ESC of Central Ohio. This is a 3-hour interactive training to help educators creatively activate Newsela classroom applications. During the workshop, participants will design an instructional text set that can be immediately implemented in the new school year. Here is the program overview with additional details including objectives, an agenda, PD validation, and facilitator credentials. Breakfast and coffee are provided. Teachers will get an exclusive PRO Trial extension. You can register and RSVP for free using this link. (Note: Newsela is not a supplemental product purchased by the district.)
TELL EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABOUT A STRATEGY YOU USE TO ENGAGE STRUGGLING READERS
Educational Leadership wants to hear your stories. In each issue, Educational Leadership's "Tell Us About" column publishes brief contributions from readers describing their experiences related to that issue's theme. For the February 2020 issue, they'd like to hear about a strategy you use to engage struggling readers. Share your 100- to 200-word submission by November 14. Share your experience here.
AMLE WEBINAR FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS
You may need to be a member to attend, but joining AMLE is a great idea for middle level educators.
Middle Schools: A Place to Belong and Become, Presented by Patti Kinney, Laurie Barron, Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 4–5pm ET
If we reduce down what research tells us about quality middle level education, two concepts rise to the top—belonging and becoming. Schools must be places where students feel they belong and are both respected and valued. They must also be places where students can become, where their academic and personal potential is recognized and nurtured. Based on the AMLE book of the same name, the authors, both award-winning former middle level principals, will share practical strategies they used to ensure their schools were a place where students could both belong and become.
DIGITAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
Britannica Digital Learning will be hosting a FREE Lunch N Learn on Thursday, November 21st 11:30 am at the ESC of Central Ohio. Lunch will be catered by City BBQ and the topic will be Engaging Students with Digital Storytelling. Here is the Digital Storytelling Eventbrite sign-up link.
OFFICE HOURS FOR UNITS OF STUDY
(MIDDLE SCHOOL WRITING WORKSHOP SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE)
Office Hours webinar series from Lucy Calkins and the TCRWP will occur on the first and third Thursday of the month at 4:00 PM (ET), Lucy will respond to questions you pose live regarding your use of the supplemental product for middle school-Units of Study in Writing. Each middle school has two sets of the workshops and with codes from the boxes, you can access the entire resource digitally. REGISTER NOW for the opportunity to discuss your burning questions with Lucy and to receive practical advice.Unlike last season, you only need to register for the fall Office Hours webinars once. When you register through the link above, you will receive a confirmation email and then reminder emails before each webinar with your personalized link to join. The next session is on November 21 at 4:00 PM.
NCTE ANNUAL CONVENTION-NOVEMBER 21-24 IN BALTIMORE, MD
Registration is open for the Annual NCTE Convention. Register by November 11 for the best rates. There is a 20% discount if a school or district sends 10 or more teachers and makes a single payment to cover the balance of the invoice. Register your group here. The conference theme is Spirited Inquiry. You can now view online the featured speakers.
OCTELA 20/20 CONFERENCE CALL FOR PROPOSALS-DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30TH
The 2020s offer a fresh decade to envision new possibilities for teaching ELA and professional transformation: What might our future classrooms look like? Envisioning diverse future(s) across grade levels and specialized curriculum may conjure a mixed bag of hope, excitement, inspiration, and, well, maybe even a little bit of anxiety. So, in the spirit of meeting teachers’ and students’ needs in facing the new decade, OCTELA aims to create a space for open inquiry, sharing, and optimism. The OCTELA Conference (FEBRUARY 21-22 IN WORTHINGTON, OHIO) inspires teachers to gather and discuss what they do best, what inspires them to keep pushing forward, and what strategies support authentic student learning. See this OCTELA Proposal Flyer for more information. If you have something you would like to present at this conference, go to the Call for Submissions page to read more about the theme. If you are ready to submit a proposal, to to the Submit a Proposal page. They are especially looking for ideas that tie into their LGBTQ, multicultural, and gifted education strands.
DECEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST
Join one of the free upcoming Webinars from Echoes & Reflections and become equipped to teach about the Holocaust. The timely one-hour webinars are designed to help educators promote student learning and understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting effect on the world. Register today. Below are the webinars for November.
- Examining Stages of Genocide 12/5 at 4pm
- Teaching with the Pyramid of Hate 12/10 at 5pm
- Non-Jewish Victims of Nazi Prosecution 12/12 at 3pm
- Complicity and Action During the Holocaust 12/17 at 7pm
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
APPLICATIONS NEEDED FOR THE BONNIE CHAMBERS AWARD-OCTELA
Early career (years 2-5) K-8 ELA teachers (you can teach ELA and other subjects) please consider applying for the Bonnie Chambers Award through the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts. The award can be used to fund professional development. Use THIS LINK to apply.
OCTELA REGIONAL MEETINGS FOR CENTRAL OHIO
If you don't want to wait until February to talk with other OCTELA ELA colleagues, contact our own Pattie Niese (pniese3300@columbus.k12.oh.us) to get involved in the OCTELA Central Region. Also, connect with the group on Facebook: Central Ohio Region for OCTELA.
2020 OPPORTUNITIES
CURIOSITY ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: PURSUING ENGAGEMENT, LITERACY, AND ACTION THROUGH INQUIRY (Heinemann PD Presents a Multi-Day Institute, January 17-20, 2020 in Charleston, SC)
Over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, there will be a practical and personal institute, presented by a team of nationally recognized author-educators: Harvey "Smokey" Daniels, Nancy Steineke, Chad Everett, Kristin Ziemke, and Sara Ahmed. The institute is a blend of keynote sessions, breakout workshops, and job-alike meetings, where you'll spend part of each day working in a group that matches your grade range. You'll also join a team of colleagues in a multidisciplinary inquiry project, drawing on the complex sights, spaces, people, and history of Charleston itself. ENROLL NOW!
OCTELA ANNUAL CONFERENCE-FEBRUARY 21-22 IN WORTHINGTON OHIO
REGISTER NOW for the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Annual Conference. Don't miss your opportunity to see this year's keynote speakers: Daniel Jose Older, Tony M. Vinci, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Tanny McGregor. The theme is Envisioning Our Future(s). The 2020s offer a fresh decade to envision new possibilities for teaching ELA and professional transformation: What might our future classrooms look like? Envisioning diverse future(s) across grade levels and specialized curriculum may conjure a mixed bag of hope, excitement, inspiration, and, well, maybe even a little bit of anxiety. So, in the spirit of meeting teachers’ and students’ needs in facing the new decade, OCTELA aims to create a space for open inquiry, sharing, and optimism. This conference inspires teachers to gather and discuss what they do best, what inspires them to keep pushing forward, and what strategies support authentic student learning. Check out more information on the OCTELA Conference Page.
DON'T HESITATE-SIGN UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE
IT ONLY TAKES TWO STUDENTS TO FORM A DEBATE TEAM. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET EVERY HIGH SCHOOL TO BRING AT LEAST ONE TEAM (TWO STUDENTS) TO THE 3RD ANNUAL CCS HIGH SCHOOL WINTER DEBATE TOURNAMENT AT CAPITAL UNIVERSITY. EACH SCHOOL CAN BRING UP TO 5 TEAMS (10 TOTAL STUDENTS).
Registration and Resources: Click HERE to access the debate folder with registration form and numerous resources for preparing your students to be great debaters. Be sure to register your school NOW even if you don’t yet know the names of students on your teams. That can be added later. The deadline for having all your names added is November 25th.
RESOLUTION Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities should not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.
Debate Type: Policy This is a two-on-two debate that focuses on a policy question that hones a student’s research, analytical, and delivery skills. Policy debate involves the proposal of a plan by the affirmative team to enact a policy, while the negative team offers reasons to reject that proposal and stay with the status quo. Throughout the debate, students give constructive and rebuttal speeches and have the opportunity to cross-examine one another. Each Constructive speech is 8 minutes. Each Cross Examination is 3 minutes. Each Rebuttal is 5 minutes. Each team has 5 minutes of prep time that can be used during the debate. A judge or panel of judges determines the winner based on the arguments presented.
Debate Teams: Debate teams are made of two students. Those students prepare to debate both the affirmative and negative sides of the debate resolution. On the day of the debate, each two-person team will be told which side (affirmative or negative) they will be debating during each of the three rounds. Each school can bring up to five teams (10 students).
Date of Debate Tournament: Friday, December 6th from 8:30am-1pm Team Check-ins from 8-8:30am; Tournament from 8:30am-12:30pm (three rounds: 8:30-9:44, 9:50-11:04am, and 11:10am-12:24pm); Award Ceremony from 12:45-1pm.
Location of Debate Tournament: Capital University, Ruff Learning Center, 631 Pleasant Ridge, Bexley, OH 43209
DEBATE FOLDER: https://tinyurl.com/ccsdebate2019
MADLAB THEATRE YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAM 2020-DEADLINE NOVEMBER 17!
SUBMIT YOUR PLAY HERE FOR THE 2020 MADLAB THEATRE YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAM. MadLab, a non-profit professional theatre in downtown Columbus, would like you to get your students involved in their Young Writers Program. Now entering their 9th year, they have worked with over 70 local high school students and produced almost 80 of their short plays. This 6-minute introductory video can tell you more about the program that began in 2011 as a way to help high school students grow as artists and playwrights, gain professional theatrical experience, and develop critical thinking and editing skills that will help them in the future. Each year, they select up to 10 short plays by local students to be produced in a festival. Over the course of 6 months students will:
Participate in writing workshops
See staged readings of their scripts by MadLab actors
Work with local and national playwright mentors to revise and improve their scripts
Experience a full-scale production of their scripts at MadLab
The Young Writers program is offered at no cost to the students. They are striving to reach new communities and populations with this program, and are willing to provide transportation, translation services, and anything else students who are selected might require. More information, photos, and videos from previous years can be found on the MadLab Website and the MadLab Submission Page. DOWNLOAD THIS FLYER TO SHARE WITH YOUR STUDENTS! DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 17th!!
2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Speaker Contest
CCS will select one student speaker to represent the district at the 2020 Martin Luther King Breakfast, held on January 20, 2020 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Exhibition Hall C. The student chosen will get into the breakfast free and receive two complimentary tickets for his/her parents or guardians. The competition to become that speaker is only open to Columbus City Schools' students in Grades 6-12. CCS Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon will introduce our student speaker. SHARE THIS FLYER FOR THE MLK BREAKFAST SPEAKER WITH YOUR STUDENTS.
- Theme of Speech: Keep Moving Forward (This is MLK's call to inspire yourself and others to keep moving forward no matter what the circumstances.)
- Length of Speech: 3 minutes max.
- Deadline for Entry: Monday, December 9th
- How to Enter: Send, text, or share a recording of the student reciting his/her speech to Carla Mae Phillips (Southland Center, Suite 125, 740-228-1509, or cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us) or make a request for Carla Mae Phillips to come to your school and record student speeches. Please put “MLK Breakfast” in the Subject Line when sending emails and texts and include the student's name, school, grade, contact information, and the teacher’s email & phone number.
2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Essay, and Multimedia Contest
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission submission period is open for the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Essay, and Multimedia Contest! This year's theme is "standing for what matters." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leading voice against the injustices that affected minorities throughout the United States. For standing up against racism and bigotry, Dr. King had to face great adversity. He was arrested, verbally abused, and a target of many due to his civil rights advocacy. Despite this trouble, Dr. King never strayed from his mission and he continued to speak out against injustice. Dr. King’s great civil rights achievements would not have been possible if he had been intimidated by the possible dangers of advocating the truth. His actions show us that doing what is right may not be the easiest choice, but if justice is to prevail, difficult choices must be taken. On March 8, 1965, the day after “Bloody Sunday,” on which civil rights protestors were attacked and beaten by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Dr. King said: "A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” His words remind us that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Contest Entries: Dr. King was a leader because he spoke out when others were resigned to silence. Think about times in your life where you spoke out against an injustice. What impact did it leave on you and your community? Each participant in the art contest is invited to participate by creating work that creatively responds to the following question:
When have you had or will you have the courage to speak out for something that truly matters? For 2020 Contest Rules and the Official Entry Form, Click Here. To fill out the form digitally, save a copy to your computer first, then fill out the form.
The 2020 MLK Contest Deadline is December 20, 2019. All entries are required to be emailed or received by mail no later than December 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM. Please factor in holiday shipping times when choosing shipping options. Questions? Call (888) 278-7101.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2019-20 POETRY OUT LOUD CONTEST & THE DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE POETRY OUT LOAD WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS
GET YOUR HIGH SCHOOL REGISTERED NOW FOR POETRY OUT LOUD HERE!
Poetry Out Loud (POL) encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary heritage and contemporary life. Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is administered in partnership with the State Arts Agencies of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Teachers, librarians, or administrators register their high schools each year with the Ohio Arts Council and organize contests with one class, several classes, or a whole school. Contests, workshops, and multi-media program materials, including curricula, are free. Poetry Out Loud is aligned with Common Core and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards. See more information at the Poetry Out Loud Ohio Page and at the Poetry Out Loud National Page.
Here is the Poetry Out Loud Teacher's Guide and Ohio's Contest Schedule.
TEEN OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THURBER HOUSE
THURBER HOUSE YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO FOR GRADES 9-12
Young Writers' Studio meets every other week for two hours with author and English professor, Robert Loss. The first hour is filled with quality writing prompts and activities. Then, after a break for provided snacks (of course!), the last hour offers a chance to workshop pieces that students or others bring in. It's a safe, low-key, fun opportunity to enjoy writing and meet others!
Dates: November 5 & 19, December 3
Times: 6:30-8:30 pm at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Ave. Columbus, OH 43215)
Cost: $15 per session - can be paid in advance or at the door. A limited number of scholarships are available for this program. Email Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org
WELLSPRING OF IMAGINATION 2019
DID YOU MISS EARLIER ISSUES OF THE SECONDARY ENGLISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER?
Carla Mae Phillips
Southland Center, Suite 125
Email: cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0463
Tim Wangler
Southland Center, Suite 125
Email: twangler8446@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0462