Secondary English Weekly #17
Volume Two, Issue Seventeen /January 6-10, 2020
CLASSROOM RESOLUTION TIME
Simply put, our students must read, write, and discuss daily to increase their literacy achievement. It is the practice of reading varied, grade-level complex texts, talking about those texts, and writing about those texts that will give our students the experience and stamina to become college and career ready. A great deal of class time with opportunities for actual reading, writing, and discussion of text must be incorporated for students to improve.
Pick Your 2020 Reading Challenge
20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. Download the free printable PDF checklist, and read your way through these 20 reading prompts. Share along the way on social media using the hashtag #20for2020reads.
The 20 in 20 Challenge. #Read20in2020. The challenge is to read 10 fiction and 10 non fiction books that fit a category.
The 2020 Reading Challenge. There are different levels, and different categories in each level. There are a lot of options but this reading challenge will also help challenge you to come out of your comfort zone. Get reading!
52 Books in 52 Weeks. The goal is to read 52 books from the 52 different categories provided – find a book that meets the criteria and check it off!
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks. The goal is to read 52 books this year.
A to Z Reading Challenge. Read at least one book whose title begins with each letter of the alphabet. Along the way, we’ll have quarterly read-a-thons and mini challenges that you can use to replace any of the more difficult letters. If that isn’t enough, try out our Monopoly-style game for book lovers!
Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. Fill your bowls with one book for each letter of the Alphabet.
Alphabet Soup – Author Edition Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read one book that has an author whose first name or last name starts with every letter of the alphabet.
The Audiobook Challenge. The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios this year.
Author and Cultural Diversity Reading Challenge. Monthly reading prompts that will challenge you to explore reading more diversely.
Backlist Reader Challenge. Read books that have been published before 2018 AND are already on your TBR list or pile.
Book Bingo 2020. This year’s bingo card has a calendar theme.
Book Award Reading Challenge. Read one award winning book each month.
The 2020 Book Bingo Reading Challenge. Choose your bingo journey + commit to a quarterly check-in. Go for the full house, which means you commit to reading 25 books in 2020, or choose a few rows and commit to finishing those during the year.
Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge. There are 24 tasks that will invite new genres, new authors, and new worlds, both real and imaginary, into your reading life.
Book to Movie Challenge. Read books being made into movies or tv series. Choose from the list on the site or add you’re own if it’s not there yet.
Books ‘N’ Tunes. This challenge is just a fun way to match music to books and share what you have with other readers.
Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is about setting New Year’s Resolutions for books, book blogging and writing.
British Crime Classics Challenge. Read stories that were written in the late 1800s to mid-1900s, and, as a participant of this challenge, you are expected to make at least two posts per month.
Calendar of Crime. Read 12 mystery books, each from of the categories in the month on the Calendar of Crime.
Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge. Read any book that is from the mystery, suspense, thriller, or crime genre.
Color Coded. Choose books where the color may either be named in the title or it may appear as the dominant color for the cover.
Craving For Cozies. Read cozy mystery books
Creativity Reading Challenge. This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life.
Cruisin’ Thru The Cozies. Read only cozy mysteries of your choice or read through the different sub-genres of cozy mysteries .
Dystopia Reading Challenge. Read and review dystopian books.
Diversity Reading Challenge. Read as many diverse books as you can, and also complete a read for the monthly theme.
Epistolary Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read books written in the form of letters, diaries, blogs, e-mails and such, either completely or partially written this way.
European Reading Challenge. Tour Europe through books. The idea is to read books by European authors or books set in European countries (no matter where the author comes from).
Finishing the Series. This challenge is focused on finally finishing those series that you’ve started but not yet completed.
Georgian Reading Challenge. Read a minimum of 4 books set in the Georgian Era.
Go Big or Go Home. The main goal of this reading challenge is to read 1 big book per month so 12 this year. But of course you can set your own goal. And there’s a reading BINGO too in case you want an extra challenge.
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. Read historical fiction books from sub-genres like 20th Century, Victorian Reader, Renaissance Reader, Medieval, Ancient History and Prehistoric fiction.
History Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Read nonfiction history books of your choice and post your reviews to the challenge hosts’ page every month.
Humor Reading Challenge. Read books that you consider funny or humorous.
Monthly Keyword Reading Challenge. Your task is to read at least one book each month whose title includes one or more of the keywords for that month.
Lets Read Indie Reading Challenge. Read as many Indie authors as you’d like, i.e. books by self-published authors or published by small indie publishers.
Library Love. The goal is to read at least 12 books from the library.
Literary Escapes Challenge. Try to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia.
Literary Pickers Reading Challenge. How keen of an observer are you? This challenge is just a fun way to see if you can find a list of items as you read no matter what romance style you pick up.
Memoir Reading Challenge. Read a minimum of five memoirs from any of the categories listed. One book can only count for one category.
Medical Examiner’s Mystery Reading Challenge. You are the Medical Examiner, and your goal is to issue as many Toe Tags as you can during 2020, by reading murder mysteries and determining the cause of death of the unfortunate victim(s).
Mental Health Reading Challenge. Read any book related to mental health – fiction or non-fiction.
Middle Grade Reading Challenge. Read a minimum of 6 MG books. Read any books you like, or focus on one author, or select a category from the checklist provided.
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. Choose between different checklists: Reading for Growth and Reading for Fun.
Monthly Motif. Read a book that corresponds to a different theme or motif each month.
Mount TBR. Knock out some of those books you OWN that have been waiting in the wings for weeks … months … even years.
Murder Mystery Bingo Reading Challenge. Complete BINGO on four cards. BINGO consists of five in a row, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
The NJM Book Challenge. There are 25 items to tick off by year’s end, and with some books likely to satisfy more than one category, it shouldn’t be too difficult for most readers to accomplish.
Newbery Reading Challenge. Challenge yourself to read more Newbery and Caldecott Award Winning books.
Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Select, read and review a book from the 12 categories during the year for a total of up to 12 books.
Out of Your Comfort Zone. The aim of this challenge is to read books that you consider to be outside of your comfort zone. Make your list and dive into genres you don’t reach for as often, but want to try out more frequently.
The Phantom of the Opera Reading & Viewing Challenge. Read any book, movie or play based on Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, or an obvious sequel or prequel to the story. Of course – there are levels, so read just one version for The Gaston Leroux Level; and read more versions to level up.
Picture Book Reading Challenge. Read 6 picture books of your choice, or select from the checklist of categories provided.
Poetry reading Challenge. There are 3 ways to tackle this challenge. Read a poem-a-day for a week once per month and write about which poems were your favorite and why. AND/OR Read at least 1 book of poetry (doesn’t have to be cover-to-cover) and write about your favorite poems and what you learned about yourself while reading those poems. AND/OR, if you want to go all out, feel free to read as many books of poetry as you can in one year.
Popsugar Reading Challenge. Read books that meet 40 random fun and interesting prompts. For an extra challenge read books that meet the 10 advanced prompts.
The Purrfect Reading Challenge. Read mysteries that have cats as main characters.
Read Around the World. Read your way around each of the 7 continents.
Reading Classic Books. Read books published 1960 or earlier, for the 12 challenge prompts listed.
Reading Women Challenge. The goal is to complete as many challenges as you can from the list provided. All the books must be written by women.
Retellings Reading Challenge. Check out the Retellings Bingo and choose books to read based on the category.
Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. Rory Gilmore was seen reading 339 books on screen. How many have you read?
Series That Never Ends Reading Challenge. Read books from those long series everyone raves about, but you’ve fallen behind on.
Series to Finish. Read ANY book that is part of a series, but every month, you will be collecting points – the challenge is to get as many points as you can … and there are several ways to collect.
Six Shooter Mystery Reading Challenge. Shoot (read) six mysteries by the same target (author). You get one notch on your gun (and a prize) for each target completed.
Social Justice Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Read nonfiction books involving social justice issues and post your reviews to the challenge hosts’ page every month.
Spacetime Reading Challenge. Choose your book(s), from any part of the science fiction genre universe – read and write about it somewhere but check in quarterly. #spacetimereads
#StartOnYourShelfaThon. Read books that they already own (whether it’s a physical or electronic bookshelf)! Set goals for yourself and read, read, read! Every time you read a book and every time you achieve a goal for yourself, you will get to collect a ‘star’.
Swords & Stars Reading Challenge. Let’s celebrate celebrate the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. Read at least one book that matches up with each one of the challenges.
Tackle My TBR Reading Challenge. The goal is to read at least ONE book from your TBR every month. It can be an ARC, ebook, audiobook or print – your choice. Any reading is good reading!
TBR (To Be Read) Challenge. Pull out long neglected books from your “to be read” list, following the theme of the month – and read. Share with #TBRChallenge
Victorian Reading Challenge. Read a minimum of four books form the Victorian era.
Vintage Mystery Extravaganza. Challengers must read five books in a chosen era (Golden or Silver) related in some way to five different categories from the combined lists.
VIRTUAL Mount TBR Reading Challenge (sister site to Mount TBR) for all those folks with mile-long “wish-list” of TBRs who would like a chance to climb as well.
What An Animal Reading Challenge. Read books where animals play a major role in the book or if a main character is (or turns into) an animal.
What’s in a Name Reading Challenge. Read a book for each of the 6 categories listed.
While I Was Reading Challenge. There are 12 categories – read a book from each.
THURBER HOUSE YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO-FIRST SESSION OF THE YEAR
New Year--New Young Writers' Studio!
Start 2020 off with Young Writers' Studio at Thurber House! Students in 9th-12th grade who love writing stories, crafting new worlds, and building never-before-seen characters, should join Young Writers' Studio, starting January 7 from 6:30-8:30pm at Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Ave.! Click here for more information or to register! 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.
OHIO POETRY ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST-DEADLINE JANUARY 15!
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
NCTE ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR THE 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE THROUGH JANUARY 15!
GET READY FOR #NCTE20!
“¡Confluencia! Songs of Ourselves” is the theme for the 2020 NCTE Annual Convention, November 19–22, in Denver, Colorado. Talk with your colleagues, plan your session, and submit your proposal by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 15.
return borrowed novels to the curriculum office when you finish with them
If you borrowed from the curriculum office and have finished with them, please return those to get them back into circulation. You can send them to Southland Center, Suite 125 to the attention of Carla Mae Phillips, or email Carla Mae Phillips (cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us) to arrange for them to be picked up from your school.
NEW RESOURCES ON THE ELA 6-12 WEBPAGE
1. No Red Ink Writing Planners
(To find these, go to the main ELA 6-12 Webpage and click on the "ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking" Quick Link. They are in the Writing Strand Column in the "WRITING PROCESS ACRONYMS/TOOLS" section.
((To find this, go to the main ELA 6-12 Webpage and click on the "ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking" Quick Link. It is in the Writing Strand Column in the "CITATION, PLAGIARISM, & STYLE GUIDES" section.
(Find these on the main ELA 6-12 Webpage in the middle column under the Quick Links.)
TEACHINGBOOKS RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY ON JANUARY 27
January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. TeachingBooks.net has compiled some links to help you prepare.
Explore these Holocaust booklists for book ideas.
Use Meet-the-Author Recordings from this list to discover why authors chose to write about the Holocaust.
- Consider these Book Guides, Activities & Lessons from this list of titles to enhance instruction.
TeachingBooks.net is the site that houses novel and author resources, as well as the lists of novels you can borrow from the warehouse and the Secondary English Curriculum Office. Here is a brief tutorial for using the site:
Ohio ASCD Winter Conference: The SEL Journey
This conference will focus on supporting the needs of the whole child, featuring Melissa McClain as Keynote, who will present on the following topics:
- Session 1— Recognizing Secondary Traumatic Stress and
- Session 2— Increasing Developmental Assets and Building Resiliency and Connecting With Children
-When/Where: Feb 6, 2020, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Xenos Conference Center, Columbus OH
-Conference Website: https://www.ohioascd.org/conference.
-Registration Downloadable Registration Form
- Member of Ohio ASCD – $150.00
- Non-Member – $200.00
You can save $20 by becoming a member of Ohio ASCD for $30.
- Registration & Membership – $180.00
Save $20 when you register and become an OhioASCD member.
___________________________________
Conference Bonus
Register five (5) team members from one organization and bring a 6th absolutely free as Ohio ASCD's guest. All team registrations must be included in a single transaction.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT LISTENWISE, A SITE FOR PODCASTS, WITH A 30-DAY FREE TRIAL
DBQ (Literature Mini-Q) TIP OF THE MONTH
Top Novels Assigned in 2019 (Vocabulary.com)
Middle School Classics (Top 10)
1. The Outsiders 6. Bud, Not Buddy
2. The Giver 7. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Hatchet 8. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
4. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 9. Number the Stars
5. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl 10. Tuck Everlasting
Middle School Contemporary (Top 10)
1. The Lightning Thief 6. Refugee
2. A Long Walk to Water 7. Holes
3. Freak the Mighty 8. Tangerine
4. Inside Out & Back Again 9. I Am Malala
5. Wonder 10. Esperanza Rising
High School Classics (Top 10)
1. The Great Gatsby 6. Lord of the Flies
2. Of Mice and Men 7. Animal Farm
3. The Crucible 8. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
4. To Kill a Mockingbird 9. Fahrenheit 451
5. Night 10. Frankenstein
High School Contemporary (Top 10)
1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 6. A Long Way Gone
2. The Hate U Give 7. Into the Wild
3. The Things They Carried 8. Speak
4. The Kite Runner 9. Monster
FOUR NOVELS COMMONLY READ IN SCHOOLS MADE THE TOP 10 BEST-SELLING BOOKS OF THE DECADE LIST
- 4. Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (2008) // 8.7 million copies (Available in CCS Secondary Curriculum Office)
- 5. Kathryn Stockett, The Help (2009) // 8.7 million copies (Available in CCS Warehouse)
- 8. John Green, The Fault in Our Stars (2012) // 8 million copies
- 10. Veronica Roth, Divergent (2011) // 6.6 million copies
Class of 2020: New in the Public Domain as of 1/1/2020
Unlike other countries, the United States does not deem a work to be in the public domain according to who created it (i.e. worked out by the death date of its creator), but rather when it was published. On January 1, 2020, a new batch of works enter the public domain that were published in the year 1924. Read more HERE and see the highlight below...
Literature
- The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- The Man in the Brown Suit and Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
- A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
- The Magic Mountain (Der Zauberberg) by Thomas Mann
- Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville
- Hotel Savoy and Rebellion by Joseph Roth
- The Dream by H. G. Wells
- The Old Maid by Edith Wharton
- The Life of Edward II of England (Leben Eduards des Zweiten von England) by Bertolt Brecht
- The Fatal Eggs (Роковые яйца) by Mikhail Bulgakov
- Hay Fever by Noël Coward
- The Rat by Ivor Novello
- When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne
- Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada) by Pablo Neruda
- The Art of the Theatre by Sarah Bernhardt
- The Gift of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois
- My Further Disillusionment in Russia by Emma Goldman
- Literature and Revolution by Leon Trotsky
- The Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain
- The Story of a Great Schoolmaster by H. G. Wells
Films
- America directed by D. W. Griffith
- The City Without Jews (Die Stadt ohne Juden) by Hans Karl Breslauer
- Girl Shy and Hot Water, starring Harold Lloyd
- Greed directed by Erich von Stroheim
- The Navigator and Sherlock, Jr. starring Buster Keaton
- The Thief of Bagdad directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Douglas Fairbanks
HERE ARE SOME RECENT AND 2019 TOP ARTICLES FOR YOUR PERUSAL
- Teachers Are Turning to Podcasts as an Instructional Tool
- Making Classroom Libraries the Hubs of Reading Engagement
- Screen Reading Worse for Comprehension, Leads to Overconfidence, New Meta-analysis Concludes
- NBCT: Why sustained silent reading works
- How "stop and think" can boost active reading
- Teacher offers 9 predictions for 2020s
- Are online teaching materials worth the cost?
- Is the Research Trustworthy? Learn to Think Like an Investigator
- Column: Why media literacy matters more than ever
- Strategies to help students identify "fake news"
- How to use video clips to deepen learning
- Ways to support deeper learning
- Teacher dumps grades to boost learning
- Teachers share 8 classroom-management tips
- Teacher: How to survive, thrive in May
- A monthly guide for teachers to build resilience
- Teacher considers market for "teachnology"
- The happy people around you probably did these 3 things
TEACHER PD OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTESTS
SOME CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS
-BULKBOOKSTORE $500 MONTHLY GIVEAWAY
-BULKBOOKSTORE LUNCH BAG GIVEAWAY
-WE ARE TEACHERS CONTEST/GIVEAWAYS
SEE THIS WEEK'S OPPORTUNITIES AT THE TOP OF THE NEWSLETTER
CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES
TINY TEACHING STORIES
Teachers’ lives are packed with powerful moments: moments of triumph, frustration, absurdity, joy, revelation, and hilarity. Education Week wants to hear about them. Submit your Tiny Teaching Story, in no more than 100 words, here. See examples below.
2020 OPPORTUNITIES
TEACHINGBOOKS WEBINARS FOR 2020
Register HERE for any of the TeachingBooks Webinars listed below.
Text Complexity: Join the Conversation
Wednesday- February 5 at 11:30 pm - Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James
Thursday- March 12 at 11:30 pm - Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen
Thursday- April 16 at 11:30 pm -Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Thursday- May 12 at 11:30 pm - I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
Discover the NEW TeachingBooks!
Monday-January 13 at 10:00 am
Wednesday-February 19 at 3:00 pm
Tuesday-March 24 at 12:00 pm
TeachingBooks: Collaborate, Customize, Communicate
Monday-January 20 at 10:00 am
Wednesday-February 26 at 3:00 pm
Tuesday-March 31 at 12:00 pm
Match Readers to Titles: TeachingBooks Tools
Tuesday-February 11at 1:00 pm
Find the Perfect TeachingBooks Resource
Tuesday-March 17 at 1:00 pm
Listen to Authors: A Springboard to Writing
Tuesday-April 21 at 1:00 pm
Authors’ Stories and Diverse Perspectives
Tuesday-May 5 at 1:00 pm
Center Stage with Reader’s Theater
Tuesday-May 19 at 1:00 pm
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.
SNAPDRAGON BOOK FOUNDATION GRANT
The Snapdragon Book Foundation offers an outstanding grant to help provide books for pre-K through 12th grade schools and libraries that serve disadvantaged students. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. Applications available in November 2019; applications due in February 2020. Snapdragon Book Foundation
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL WINTER DEBATE TOURNAMENT
The Columbus City Schools Middle School Winter Debate Tournament was held on Friday, December 6, at Capital University. Close to 80 students in grades 5 through 8 from nine schools across the district came out to argue the merits and challenges of requiring student-athletes to undergo mandatory drug testing. The competition was organized by CCS Gifted and Talented in conjunction with Capital University and the English Speaking Union.
Division 1 Grades 5/6
1st Place: Columbus Gifted Academy
2nd Place: Woodward Park Middle School Team X
3rd Place: Clinton Elementary School Team X
Division 2 Grades 7/8
1st Place: Ridgeview Middle School Team O
2nd Place: Ridgeview Middle School Team X
3rd Place: Buckeye Middle School
Alana Casto is the 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Speaker
-Columbus City Schools has selected Alana Casto to speak at the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. The contest to choose a speaker was open to all secondary students. To enter, the students recorded themselves giving their speech entry. The time limit was 3 minutes and the topic was Keep Moving Forward, King's idea to inspire yourself and others to dig deep and keep moving forward no matter what the circumstances.
-Alana Casto is in 7th grade at Columbus Gifted Academy. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is spreading her wings into numerous extracurricular activities including debate, mock trial, theater, and oratory competitions. She is passionate, articulate, and determined to be heard and to make a difference. She believes that each of us has an important message to share and that given the opportunity, we should be brave and say what is on our mind, especially in the face of injustice. She admires the fact that Dr. King was able to fight for what he believed, in spite of the adversity he faced. Alana is interested in politics and theater as career choices. She is humbled by this opportunity to express her own beliefs in her own words and she hopes that by sharing her story, you will be willing to share yours with others as well.
-There were eight competitors and the judging team from Teaching and Learning chose the winner and a runner-up on December 11, 2019. Each of the students will receive a certificate of participation and the runner-up and winner will receive an additional certificate. The winner will be one of three speakers at the MLK Breakfast on January 20, 2020 at the Columbus Convention Center. The other two speakers also come from competitions. One will be from Morehouse College and the other will be a winner in the Columbus City-Wide MLK Youth Oratorical Contest. Below is the list of all entrants. Congratulations to them all!
- WINNER-ALANA CASTO (Columbus Gifted Academy, 7th Grade)
- Runner-up-Maurice Harrison (Eastmoor Academy, 10th Grade)
- Sara Kraus (Dominion Middle School, 7th Grade)
- Maya Jolley (Columbus North International School, 9th Grade)
- Simone Crosby-Wallace (Columbus Gifted Academy, 8th Grade)
- Gretchen Reed (Columbus Gifted Academy, 7th Grade)
- Graciela Leahy (Columbus Gifted Academy, 7th Grade)
- Luna Atkins-Hanshaw (Columbus Alternative High School, 9th Grade)
REGISTRATION AND IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE 2019-20 POETRY OUT LOUD CONTEST
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.
IMPORTANT DATES:
January 29, 4:30-7:30pm-Student Workshop for School Champions (Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit Street; Register with Lydia Simon at lydia@wildgoosecreative.com)
February 1, Deadline to Send School Champion Name (lydia@wildgoosecreative.com)
February 11, 6:30-8:30pm-Regional Semifinal at King Arts Complex
March 6, 6pm-State Final at King Arts Complex
2020 ROY BRISCOE JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP-APPLICATION NOW OPEN
Columbus City Schools is pleased to announce the 2020 Roy Briscoe Journalism Scholarship. The $500 scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding senior who plans to pursue the study of journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field in college. The scholarship was established in memory of news anchor Roy Briscoe by his family and WBNS-TV. Briscoe anchored the 10TV news from 1960-1989.
Applicant Requirements:
-Student must be a graduating senior who will pursue a career in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field in college.
-Student GPA should be 3.0, but a range will be considered after examining other factors.
-Student must document community service, extracurriculars, work experience, and need.
-Student must include a portfolio of his/her best work demonstrating excellence in journalism or communications.
-Student must include a recommendation from his/her English, speech, photography, creative writing, newspaper, or yearbook teacher/advisor.
-After applying, selected students will be asked to present their portfolios to a panel of judges.
-A stipulation will be made that the student will still be eligible for other scholarship money.
-Scholarship money will be paid to the winning student’s four-year college after receiving evidence of enrollment.
Contest Timeline:
Now-April 27, 2020: Students submit applications to Carla Mae Phillips, Southland Center, Suite 125, Columbus, OH 43207, or cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us with Roy Briscoe Scholarship in the Subject Line.
April 28-May 8th: Judges meet to screen applicants and select those who will present their
portfolios and be interviewed and Selected students are interviewed.
May 11-15: Winner is announced and Award is presented to winner.
Application (You can use either version):
Google Doc Application (make digital copy to fill it in). PDF Application (download to fill it in).
Thurber House Young Writers' Studio Winter/Spring 2020
New Year--New Young Writers' Studio!
Start 2020 off with Young Writers' Studio at Thurber House! Students in 9th-12th grade who love writing stories, crafting new worlds, and building never-before-seen characters, should join Young Writers' Studio, starting January 7! Click here for more information or to register!
What is Young Writers' Studio?
They meet every other week for two hours with author and English professor, Robert Loss. They will kick off the first hour with quality writing prompts and activities. Then, after a break for provided snacks (of course!), they'll wrap up the last hour with the chance to workshop pieces that students bring in. It's a safe, low-key, fun opportunity to enjoy writing and meet others!
Dates: January 7, 21; February 4, 18; March 3, 17, 31; April 14, 28
Times: 6:30 - 8:30 pm, 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
THURBER HOUSE WRITING WIZARDS for Grades 6-8
Thurber House's Writing Wizards registration is now live! Check out the brief class descriptions below and visit their website for more details or to register: http://www.thurberhouse.org/writing-wizards. Classes meet every Saturday from February 8-March 7 are limited to 15 students.
Thurber House Writing Wizards 2020: 6-8 Grade: $125
My Voice Matters with Linda Baird, 10:00 a.m. - Noon
- Have you ever felt really passionately about something you wanted to share with others? By the end of this workshop, you’ll have an opinion piece that is ready to share with the world!
Tell Your Story with Casey Briand, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Everybody has a story to tell. In this memoir-writing class, you’ll explore tales from your own life and craft them into thoughtful written pieces.
FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: There are a limited number of full and partial scholarships available. Students who have not received a scholarship in 2019 will be given preference. Deadline to apply is Friday, January 17 and you will be notified by Friday, January 24. Click here for a downloadable brochure.
NYC MIDNIGHT'S 14TH ANNUAL SHORT STORY CHALLENGE
The 14th Annual Short Story Challenge is a creative writing competition open to writers around the world. There are 4 rounds of competition this year. In the 1st Round (January 17-25, 2020), writers are placed randomly in heats and are assigned a genre, subject, and character assignment. Writers have 8 days to write an original story no longer than 2,500 words. The judges choose a top 5 in each heat to advance to the 2nd Round (April 2-5, 2020) where writers receive new assignments, only this time they have 3 days to write a 2,000 word (maximum) short story. The judges again choose a top 5 in each heat to advance to the 3rd Round (May 15-17, 2020) where writers receive new assignments and have 2 days to write a 1,500 word (maximum) short story. Judges select finalists and the remaining writers are challenged to write a 1,250 word (maximum) story in just 24 hours (June 19-20, 2020) in the fourth and final round of the competition. Feedback from the judges is provided for every submission and there are thousands in cash and prizes for the winners. Sound like fun? Join the competition below and get ready for January 17th!
REGISTRATION: It's easy to register. First, download and read the Official Rules & Participation Agreement. Once you've read through everything, you are ready to register HERE. The entry fee is USD$48* by the early entry deadline of December 12, 2019 and USD$58* until the final entry deadline of January 16, 2020. *Get $5 off the entry fee just for tweeting! Click here to make a post to Facebook or Twitter and receive a $5 promotional code. Looking for a unique gift for the holidays? For the cost of the entry fee, you can gift the inspiring experience of the Short Story Challenge 2020! Click here to learn more. Not only does every writer receive feedback from the judges for every story submitted, but a special review forum is available for the participants to submit their stories for review from fellow writers throughout the competition. During the Short Story Challenge 2019, there were over 11,500 comments made on the 800+ stories submitted on the forum. Click here to visit the forums.
NCTE WRITING AWARD CONTESTS FOR JUNIORS AND 8TH GRADERS
TWO NCTE Student Writing Awards Application Deadline: February 15
- The Achievement Awards in Writing Program is open to high school juniors. The 2020 theme is “Why Do I Write?" (#WhyDoIWrite).
- The Promising Young Writers award is open to eighth graders. The 2020 theme is “My Nature.”
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is a free residential journalism and college preparatory program for high-achieving current juniors from low-income backgrounds who are interested in journalism. Over 10 days, students live on campus at Princeton University and learn reporting skills from professional journalists and Princeton professors. Participants hold a press conference, produce a short documentary, report on a professional sporting event from the press box, attend a play or theatrical production, visit 3-4 major news outlets, and interview subjects for their feature stories in the Princeton Summer Journal. After the program, students are paired with a volunteer college adviser, a professional journalist, to help them through their admissions process.
Program dates: Friday, July 31 - Monday, Aug 10, 2020
Cost: All program expenses, including airfare or train tickets to and from campus, are covered by the program.
Application deadline: Monday, February 17, 2020 at 11:59PM EST.
You can learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and application process on this website and from this PSJP Flyer.
Eligibility:
To apply, students must meet the following requirements:
Be a junior in high school at the time of application.
Live in the United States and intend to attend college here. Students living and attending school abroad, including U.S. citizens, will not be considered under any circumstances.
Have a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0.
Have an interest in journalism.
Meet at least one of the socioeconomic conditions below:
The combined income of custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, must not exceed $60,000.
Student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch in your high school.
Student qualifies for an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
For questions about special circumstances, please review our frequently asked questions or email psjp@princeton.edu. Find Out More HERE.
THE SCOOP & THE SCOOP HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM CONTESTS
Young people have become the leaders in the fight against climate change. Greta Thunberg, Jamie Margolin, Isra Hirsi and others are paving the way for youth voices in the media and the environmental movement. You can be a leader, too! Earth Day Network presents The Scoop Journalism Contest and invites students to submit an original essay, podcast or video reflecting on the following prompt: ″The world is starting to recognize the serious negative impacts of our food system on our planet, particularly those caused by intensive animal agriculture. How does climate change impact your community? What role do our food choices have in creating solutions to climate change?″
- Overview
Each competition will have three categories to choose from: essay, video or podcast. Each contestant may only submit to one of the three categories. There will be one winner for each of the three categories for both The Scoop and The Scoop High School competitions, with a total of six winners.Each winner and a guardian or guest will receive a trip to Washington, DC that includes transportation and lodging to participate in Earth Day 2020 activities on the National Mall on Saturday, April 25th, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. This includes backstage passes to the anniversary concert on the Mall.
By submitting an entry to this contest, all entrants agree to our official rules.
- Who can enter?
The Scoop: Students ages 18-25 who are currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program located within the United States.
The Scoop High School: Students currently enrolled in an accredited high school (grades 9-12) or equivalent GED program located within the United States.
- How to apply?
In essay, podcast or video form, tell your story using the above prompt. Specific instructions for original essay, podcast and video submissions:
Essay submissions must be between 600 – 800 words. All references must be cited in the document. Citations will not be included in word count.
Podcast and Video submissions must be between 3 – 6 minutes in length. In the body of your email submission, please include a brief explanation of your piece in 50-200 words.
The following file types will be accepted: Essay: .docx or .pdf; Video: .mp4 or .mov (or link to a Youtube upload); Podcast: .mp3 or .wav
All submissions must be sent via email: The Scoop: thescoop@earthday.org; The Scoop High School: thescoophs@earthday.org All submissions are final, and no revisions are accepted.
- Deadline:
Entries must be submitted via email before 11:59 p.m. PST on January 31, 2020. If you have a technical issue or special problem, let them know as quickly as you can at (202) 518-0044 or email (see above). Earth Day Network staff will be available to help troubleshoot until 3:00 pm PST on this date. They encourage early submission to avoid missing the deadline.
- Contest Timeline
Contest begins12:00 a.m. PST on November 18, 2019
Contest ends11:59 p.m. PST on January 31, 2020
Judging will occurFebruary 2020
Winners will be notified by Email notification early March 2020
Winners will be publicly announcedMid-March 2020
Trip to DC to participate in Earth Day eventsApril 24 – April 26, 2020
- For more information, go to https://foodprints.earthday.org/journalism-contest/ or please email: The Scoop: thescoop@earthday.org; The Scoop High School: thescoophs@earthday.org
DID YOU MISS EARLIER ISSUES OF THE SECONDARY ENGLISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER?
- December 16-January 3, Issue 16
- December 9-13, Issue 15
- November 25-December 6-Issue 14
- November 18-22-Issue 13
- November 11-15-Issue 12
- November 4-8- Issue 11
- October 28-November 1-Issue 10
- October 21-25-Issue 9
- October 14-18-Issue 8
- October 7-11-Issue 7
- September 30-October 4-Issue 6
- September 23-27-Issue 5
- September 16-20-Issue 4
- September 9-13-Issue 3
- September 2-6-Issue 2
- August 22-30-Issue 1
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, 43207, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0463