Secondary English Weekly #5
Issue Five / September 24-28, 2018
LOOKING FOR PREVIOUS ISSUES OF THE NEWSLETTER?
LESSONS FOR YOUR USE EVERY THURSDAY-PART OF THE CCS ELA 2018 AIR REPORT WITH RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Below you will find the guiding sheet for September's Thursday Test Prep focus, reading complex texts, plus this week's and last week's lessons.
R-Read Complex Texts/Use Close Reading
E-Evidence & Exemplars
A-Analysis & Alignment
D-Daily Reading & Writing.
The lessons will be included in this weekly newsletter and are available on the ELA 6-12 Webpage, at the "Standardized Testing" Quick Link.
NOTE: If you have not had a chance to peruse the full AIR report or the READ Method items, here they are for easy access:)
THE REPORT:
- CCS 2018 AIR Data Report with Recommended Actions
THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS/RESOURCE DOCUMENTS:
BANNED BOOKS WEEK RESOURCES
IT IS BANNED BOOKS WEEK!!
The theme of Banned Books Week is "Banning Books Silences Stories." Think about celebrating the stories in banned books in your classroom this week. HERE are some educator resources for the event.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE NEW DEFINING DOCUMENTS FOR THE 2017 REVISED STANDARDS?
USE THIS LIST TO GUIDE WHAT YOU DO IN THE CLASSROOM
This week, take a closer look at number 4 on this list, "4-Provide scaffolding that does not preempt or replace text." Scaffolding should be used to support students when the struggle is too much, but sometimes, in the interest of wanting our students to see what we see in a text, we "lead" too much. With that thought in mind, read the excerpt from Mary E. Styslinger's Workshopping the Canon which is located under the list and reflect on her experiences as an English teacher.
1-Make close reading of text central to lesson.
2-Structure majority of instruction so all students read grade-level complex texts.
3-Emphasize informational texts from early grades through graduation.
4-Provide scaffolding that does not preempt or replace text.
5-Ask text-dependent questions.
6-Provide extensive research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).
7-Offer regular opportunities for students to share ideas, evidence, and research.
8-Offer systematic instruction in vocabulary.
9-Provide explicit instruction in grammar and conventions.
10-Cultivate students’ independence
"When I first began teaching, I taught differently than I do today. Like many English teachers before me, I taught Macbeth, Frankenstein, Of Mice and Men, and The Scarlet Letter; I lectured on King James and Romanticism, the Great Depression and Puritan values. Students wrote essays, created monsters and scarlet As, and took tests, listing Romantic elements and drawing Freytag’s pyramid.
Even though students were busy around these works of mostly British and American literature, generating lots of literary products, I have to ask myself, did they really “read” any of
these texts? Or did I read for them? Did I, with the very best of intentions, foster a classroom
environment that provided students with all of the information necessary to write essays, create projects, and take tests without ever having to make meaning of or transact with the text? Was literature something I did to the students, rather than something they figured out for themselves? Did I enable students not to comprehend?"
STUDENT CONTESTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
THURBER HOUSE PEN & TELL IT FOR GRADES 6-8
Pen & Tell It 2018 Registration is now open!
Do your 6th-8th graders love to write? Thurber House has a class for them! These stand-alone Sunday sessions offer something for every writing interest, from budding poets to young comedians. Registration Deadline: Monday, October 29!! Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to reserve your spot ASAP! $25 per session. REGISTER HERE.
Sunday, November 4
1:00-3:30 p.m.: What's Your Problem? with Jody Casella
The best stories have conflicts that seem unsolvable, but how do writers DO that? How many different conflicts can there really be? This class will show you how to create characters with BIG problems and stories that will keep readers guessing.
Sunday, November 11
1:00-3:30 p.m.: Write Jokes Like a Pro with Mike Larsen
There are no “dad jokes” in this class. Learn how to write funny, original jokes on any subject, for any occasion. Jokes make everything better – stories, schoolwork, trying to convince your parents to let you stay up later. You’ll learn the secrets of the comedy trade from a successful professional comedian.
Sunday, November 18
1:00-3:30 p.m.: From Page to Stage with Winter Mead
Make your words come to life! If you’ve ever thought about writing for theatre, television, or film, you know how important it is that words on the page can translate to the stage or screen. We’ll start off with some improvisation games to find inspiration, and then get that inspiration down on the page when we write and workshop scenes.
Click here for more information!
Questions? Contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org
HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.
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 7th 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
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 2nd.
DEBATE FOLDER: https://tinyurl.com/debatehs2018
MIDDLE SCHOOL DEBATE
Gifted & Talented hopes that you will join them for the winter debate at Capital University on Friday, December 7, 2018. See this memo with information regarding debate. The resolution for the middle school winter debate is Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly limit regulations on artificial intelligence.
-G &T encourages all schools to consider integrating debate through ELA or Social Studies content areas by having the students research the topic and develop arguments with supporting evidence to support a position on this topic. They also encourage schools to consider bringing a team or two to participate in the December tournament. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn how to develop writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as increase knowledge and capacity for reading informational text. Debate is one of the most effective classroom instructional strategies.
-REGISTRATION: Please submit the Intent to Participate form included in the memo either electronically or fax (number on the form) by October 19, 2018.
-Contact Michele Ballinger, Vonda Spencer-Keane, or any elementary gifted intervention specialists for resources and support.
MLK BREAKFAST SPEAKER CONTEST
CCS will select one student speaker to represent the district at the 2019 Martin Luther King Breakfast, held on January 21st 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 parent or guardians. The competition to become that speaker is open to all students in Grades 6-12. The CCS Superintendent will introduce our student speaker.
Theme of Speech: The Purpose of Education-intelligence plus character
Length of Speech: 3 minutes max.
Deadline for Entry: Monday, December 10th
How to Enter: Have your teacher send or share a recording of you reciting your speech to the ELA 6-12 Curriculum Office or have your teacher contact the ELA Curriculum Office to come out and videotape you giving your speech. Teachers can email speeches as attachments or make a requests to have students recorded to cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us, or text/share videos to 740-228-1509. Please Include the student's name, school, grade, contact information, and the teacher’s email & phone number.
WELLSPRING OF IMAGINATION POET MENTORING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Wellspring of Imagination is an extensive poetry and visual arts program for high school students. It consists of an intensive three days with prominent poets and artists, working on writing, visual arts, and presentation of poetry. The workshop culminates with a recital for family, teachers, and friends. The activities will be supplemented with hikes, music, and presentations from visual artists. The teacher/poets will then mentor the students for the next calendar year. At the conclusion of the program, a book of their poetry will be produced. High school students/teachers should contact Alan Cohen at owl111@frontier.com to participate this year. Wellspring 2018 will take place on November 1st - 3rd at a private lodge in Hocking County with the performance at Alley Park Lodge Saturday the 3rd at 7pm.
MADLAB THEATRE YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAM 2019
MadLab, a professional theatre in downtown Columbus, would like to tell you a little bit about their Young Writers Program in the hopes that you will get your students involved. Now entering their 8th year, they have worked with over 65 local high school students and produced almost 70 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 our website and youtube page. DOWNLOAD THIS FLYER TO SHARE WITH YOUR STUDENTS! DEADLINE IN NOVEMBER 9!!
TEACHER CONTESTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
PENNY KITTLE AND KELLY GALLAGHER LIVE WEBINARS
Kittle and Gallagher will present three, 75-minute webinar sessions based on their new book 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents from 6:00pm–7:15pm on
- Wednesday, October 17, 2018
- Wednesday, October 24, 2018
- Wednesday, November 7, 2018.
Overview In this webinar series, participants will learn to create the conditions that lead to engaged learning and will explore each of four pillars of engagement. Participants will use an observation tool designed to analyze engagement in their own classrooms and will discuss their findings during the second and third webinars.
SESSION 1:
- Mapping the year in reading and writing
- Designing responsive teaching in the English Language Arts classroom
- Planning classroom routines and expectations that increase confidence and skill in readers and writers
SESSION 2:
- Planning a unit
- Using formative assessment to drive better teaching and learning
- Deepening student engagement by balancing independent reading with a core text
- Balancing the reading diet
SESSION 3:
- Planning daily practices to move readers and writers
- Modeling reading, writing, and thinking to support student independence
- Meeting the challenges of conferring
Tuition The cost of this Webinar Series is $169.00 per person. If you register a group of three to nine people at the same time there is a discounted rate of $159.00 per person. When signing up ten or more participants at one time, please call in advance for large group discount pricing. Tuition also includes access to the recorded webinar sessions for up to 90 days after the conclusion of the webinar series. For group pricing information please call 800-541-2086, ext. 1100.
CORWIN WEBINAR SERIES
Corwin's free Monday Afternoon Webinar Series has begun. This season you can look forward to live Webinars with John Hattie, Jessica and John Hannigan, and Ken O'Connor—to name just a few. It doesn’t get much better! Download the print schedule here. Register here.
-The next Webinar is Adverse Childhood Experiences: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Teacher and Student Well-Being fromRicky Robertson on Monday, September 24, 3:30pm PDT/ 6:30pm EDT. In this free webinar, you will learn how you can use existing school resources differently to integrate trauma-informed practices and procedures into school-wide behavior management and instructional systems. Register Now.
FREE FALL TEACHINGBOOKS WEBINARS TO EXPLORE
-TeachingBooks has an Essential Elements Webinar Series happening this fall that includes four Webinars to introduce you to TeachingBooks and leverage your usage of TeachingBooks. Click HERE to see descriptions and to register for any of the fall webinars.
-The next Webinar is Introduce TeachingBooks.net: Your Suite of Resources
on Tuesday, September 25th at 3pm. This free Webinar will explore videos filmed in authors' studios, lesson plans, book trailers, and vocabulary lists. Discover resources that will expand the experience readers have with books. Deepen connections to books while discovering online materials to engage readers, support families, and empower colleagues.
- Locate and examine book and author resource pages
- Expand access using Google Translate
- Discover new titles
2018 OHIOANA AWARDS
Reservations are now being taken for the 2018 Ohioana Awards event in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium on Thursday, October 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. All book award winners will be present! Meet and hear Celeste Ng, Deanne Stillman, Ruth Awad, Brian Alexander, Sally Derby, and Tamara Bundy. Christopher Gellert, winner of the 2018 Marvin Grant for an Ohio writer age 30 or younger who has not yet published a book, will also be honored. Reservations are $50 per person and include a reception with hors d'oeuvres and wine and complimentary parking at the Ohio Statehouse. Make your reservations online at this link: http://ohioanalibrary.mybigcommerce.com/2018-ohioana-award…/
NCTE CONFERENCE 2018 (NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR TEACHERS OF ENGLISH)
Registration for the 2018 NCTE Annual Convention in Houston, TX on November 15-18, 2018 includes access to all General Sessions, concurrent sessions, Special Interest Group meetings, the Now Screening film festival, NCTE Central, and the Exhibit Hall. Check out featured speakers and sessions or register HERE. Register by November 5 for the best rates. After November 5, registrations will still be accepted here as well as onsite at the George R. Brown Convention Center at the higher price.
NCTE TWITTER CHATS
#NCTEchat is a fast-paced monthly Twitter chat where incredible ideas fly and solid advice comes in 280-character snippets. Join the conversation!
- Sunday, October 14, 8:00 p.m. EST: Writing for Empathy
- Sunday, November 11, 8:00 p.m. EST: #NCTE18
AMLE CONFERENCE 2018 (ASSOCIATION FOR MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION)
Are you attending AMLE2018 in Orlando on October 25-27? http://www.amle.org/annual Your choice of 400+ sessions, one-on-one discussions with education leaders, and networking with other passionate middle school educators. Save $50 off registration with promo code A18SM.
ECHOES & REFLECTIONS WEBINARS
Echoes & Reflections has a series of free one-hour Webinars designed to help educators promote student learning and understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting effect on the world. Upcoming webinars include Spotlight on Contemporary Antisemitism,Operation Last Chance: Final Efforts to Bring Nazi War Criminals to Justice, Using Holocaust Films in the Classroom, and more. Register here.
-The Next Webinar, How to Use Holocaust Films in the Classroom, will take place on October4th at 3pm.
SARAH MCCOY: THURBER HOUSE EVENINGS WITH AUTHORS
- TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
- 7:30 PM 9:00 PM
- COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART (MAP)
Sarah McCoy, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of The Mapmaker’s Children and The Baker’s Daughter, visits Thurber House with her latest novel, Marilla of Green Gables. This bold, heartfelt tale explores life at Green Gables – before Anne. Described as a “marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel,” Marilla is set in rural Prince Edward Island in the 1800s. Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is 13 when her beloved mother dies in childbirth, and Marilla must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing day-to-day life of Green Gables. In Avonlea, a small farming town on a remote island, life holds few options for farm girls. Emboldened by her aunt, Marilla dares to venture beyond the safety of Green Gables and discovers new friends and new opportunities. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
THE GREAT AMERICAN READ
Explore the list of 100 books and vote for your favorite novels once a day, every day! Voting will close on October 18th. Consider having your students vote and root for their favorites.
Vote Now. Tune into PBS every Tuesday at 8pm for The Great American Read episodes.
FREE AND FUN BOOK CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS FROM TEACHINGBOOKS BLOG
Contests and Giveaways | September 2018
BULKBOOKSTORE $500 MONTHLY GIVEAWAY
BulkBookstore's Educators Monthly Giveaway of $500 in free books shows appreciation for teachers, librarians, and schools around the country. Click HERE to enter.
Carla Mae Phillips
Email: cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12
Phone: (614) 365-8386
Tim Wangler
Email: twangler8446@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12
Phone: (614) 365-8386