Secondary English Weekly #30
VOLUME FOUR, ISSUE THIRTY /April 11-Spring Break, 2022
CCS Poetry Showcase-April 30th
Note: The Mayhem Poets Event on April 26th (see below in Student Opportunities section) could be a great place for students to practice their poems on a stage prior to the CCS Poetry Showcase. Also, students may be able to submit their poems to The Journal, an OSU literary magazine. See the next story for details.
Ohio State is Looking for Writing Submissions for High School Students of Color for their literary magazine
OSU's The Journal is a nationally regarded literary magazine. They are putting out a special issue this June called “Flyover Country: Ohio Voices,” focused on writers of color in the state. They are especially looking to publish Ohio high school students! Here are the details from their Submittable page [scroll down to the "SPECIAL FEATURE - Flyover Country: Ohio Voices (high school students)]:
- Young artists are flourishing in Ohio, as seen in the success of programs like JustWrite and Pages: Art & Writing. With “Flyover Country: Ohio Voices,” guest edited by Columbus poet Ruth Awad, The Journal wants to celebrate young writers, too. They invite submissions from students of color currently enrolled in Ohio high schools. Submissions don’t have to feature or be set in Ohio, though they welcome those that do. They always value work that is personal and political, that feels urgent and necessary. For this issue, Ruth Awad is particularly excited about transformative work that imagines what’s possible for our communities, our futures, and our world.
- It’s free to submit, and submissions close on May 1. They plan to publish the issue online in June and hope there’ll be an in-person launch party and reading—maybe at Two Dollar Radio HQ in Columbus—also in June.
- Students will need to create a Submittable account before they submit, but it’s very straightforward.
Note: Educators are, of course, also welcome to submit in the regular section!!
OSU's Young Writers Workshop 2022
The Ohio State University Young Writers Workshop (YWW) is a week-long summer program, July 10-15, 2022, for current 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade students in Columbus City Schools, charter schools in the city of Columbus, South-Western City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools, and other city schools across Ohio. YWW students will attend daily workshops and courses taught by Ohio State Department of English faculty, graduate alumni, and graduate students and have time to work on their own writing every day as well as attend readings, sessions with visiting writers in various fields, and other events, and participate in an open mic reading of their own work. YWW students study fiction, poetry and/or nonfiction. The program includes special presentations on a variety of other topics by visiting writers; potential topics include writing graphic novels, songwriting, writing for TV and literary journalism. The program will conclude with a capstone event honoring the students and their families.
Each year, Ohio State creative writing faculty choose 30 high school students from the application pool to come live on campus and study writing with writers from around the country — including current graduate students in and alumni of the Department of English's MFA Program in Creative Writing. Student participants are selected based on the promise of their writing; we don’t ask for grades or letters of recommendation, just a statement of intent and writing samples. The program is entirely funded by a generous donor, and all participating students receive full scholarships. The deadline to apply in May 20th.
The application will ask students to submit the following:
- A statement (no more than one page long) about your interest in writing, and why you would like to be a participant in the Young Writers Workshop at Ohio State
- A sample of your creative writing, in any genre(s). No more than 20 pages (excerpts from longer works are fine) and no fewer than five pages. This writing sample, along with your statement of interest, is the single basis for your admission into the Young Writers Workshop, so choose it carefully. (It can be something you’ve written for school or something you’ve written on your own, or a combination of the two.)
- Do not submit academic/analytical papers or other essays that are samples of your critical writing: we are interested in your fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction (by the latter, we mean — for example — a true story about your life, a reflective personal essay that expresses your thoughts and ideas about something you’ve observed or experienced, a piece of literary journalism or any other piece of writing that showcases your own creativity).
Note: Do not put your name or any other identifying information on your writing sample or your statement. These will be separated from your cover page and assigned a code that matches your application; they will be evaluated anonymously by the director of the YWW Program.
achieve3000 updates
It's time to announce the March winners of our monthly Achieve3000 district competition. CONGRATULATIONS to the schools with the highest average Lexile growth and honorable mention runners-up for March. Well done!
Middle Schools at Elementary Buildings
Winner: Fairwood- 30L (Repeating Winner for 3rd Month in a Row; Fourth win this year)
Honorable mention: Linden Stem- 15L, Southwood- 15L
Middle Schools
Winner: Westmoor- 12L
Honorable mention: Columbus Prep for Boys- 10L, Johnson Park- 8L
High Schools
Winner: Marion Franklin- 12L
Honorable mention: Scioto- 10L. Independence - 9L
Bravo! The winners are awarded the "CCS Achieve3000 Best in Class" trophy to showcase and celebrate in their schools for the month until the next winners are declared. They are also recognized on the CCS Achieve3000 webpage. April is the last month for this competition based on the highest Lexile growth so plan to finish strong. To keep track of the data, bookmark the Achieve school monthly data folders that contain monthly reports for each school. Those simple reports include four metrics: LevelSet completion, average first try score, average activities per week, and Lexile growth. Remember, the CCS Achieve3000 webpage is helpful for competition updates, tutorial links, contact information, and office hours. NOTE: The EOY LevelSet assessment on Achieve3000 is scheduled for May 2. Starting on that date, all students using Achieve3000 will be prompted to take that assessment. We suggest that schools wait until all OST tests are completed before having students complete the EOY LevelSet on Achieve.
THURBER HOUSE WRITING CAMPS-REGISTRATION IS OPEN
2022 Thurber House Summer Writing Camp
-Now in its 28th year, Summer Writing Camp packs creativity, writing, fun, imagination, laughter, and more into an epic five-day experience! Students work with artists, teachers, and professional authors to develop their talents through wacky and hilarious activities. Mix in creativity, a dash of imagination, a dollop of sunshine, and a heap of laughter and you have the recipe for a great week of camp! The Deadline to register: Friday, May 13.
-Each camp lasts one week. Please register for only a single week. Grades refer to the grade that the camper is entering in Fall 2022. A limited number of scholarships are available for this program. This summer, all camps will be held in-person at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215), next door to Thurber House.
- Grades 4, 5, and 6 July 25–29 (very few seats remain) 9:00 am–4:00 pm. Grab your imagination, because it's time to solve mysteries, invent ghost stories, create comic books, discover art, and more! Surprises abound this week at camp. You’ll try all kinds of new things, and maybe find an alien! LEARN MORE
- Grades 7, 8, and 9 June 6–10 | June 13–17 | June 20–24 | June 27–July 1 9:00 am–4:00 pm. Who says writing is all narrative essays? Let's think outside the box! By the end of camp, your journal will be filled with new story ideas, poems, sketches, and writing tips based on art, nature, humor, "found" objects, and more. Let's get creative and have fun! LEARN MORE
Scholarships Students who need financial assistance may enter a lottery for one of a limited number of full or partial scholarships. Visit our website for more information.
Questions? Contact Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
ESC Literacy Offerings
Literacy and Learning: Free Weekly Adolescent Literacy PD Chats With Rachel Lang Daniels
- April 21: Disciplinary Literacy
- April 28: Instructional Routines
- May 12: Text Sets
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE 2022 StudySync Media Contest-DEADLINE IS MAY 4TH
9TH ANNUAL STUDYSYNC MEDIA CONTEST
This contest could be a great way to do some project-based learning after the OSTs. Are you ready to show off your students’ creativity? Get ready for the 9th annual StudySync media contest! To enter, students can record and submit their own StudySyncTV video, podcast episode, preview video, concept definition video, novel poster, or a short story of their favorite book outside of the StudySync library. The grand prize for the top entry will be a $500 Amazon gift card (awarded to the submitting teacher) for classroom materials and a classroom Zoom chat with StudySync CEO Robert Romano; $100 Amazon gift card prizes are also awarded to the submitting teacher for top middle and high school entries in each category listed below! Teachers have until 5 pm on May 4th, 2022, to send in submissions on behalf of their students along with parent/guardian permission forms to mysynctv@studysync.com OR submit via Google form. Submissions are limited to five (5) entries per category per teacher. Consider having students peer review videos, podcasts, and posters to select the five (5) per category to be submitted. A parent or guardian permission slip must be included for each student participating.
CONTEST CATEGORIES AND DETAILS
- StudySyncTV Student-created StudySyncTV episodes have been voted the “most popular” of our annual contest. Students can collaborate to produce a 5-minute-or-less StudySyncTV-style or SkillsTV-style episode for any text or skill in the StudySync Library that currently does not include a video. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content and check the StudySync Library to ensure their choice does NOT already have a StudySyncTV video.
- Podcast Develop and record an original podcast about any text in the StudySync Library. Students can offer their perspectives on a theme or pertinent topic surrounding the text. Have your students listen to the podcasts embedded in some of our Blasts for inspiration, or even have them listen to one of their choice from Apple or Spotify! Have students take notes about what makes a good podcast to help them plan and script their own. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and/or content.
- Preview Video Produce a video mirroring the Preview videos in StudySync's Intro tab of a text. Students can highlight details about the title’s time period and theme. Please select a novel or text in the StudySync Library that does NOT currently have a Preview video or choose a favorite novel that is not yet in the StudySync Library and develop an audio-visual representation of what is typically found on a book's jacket. Create an introduction that entices fellow students to read the selection. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content.
- Concept Definition Video Produce a video mirroring the Concept Definition or SkillsTV videos! While it is ok to submit a concept definition that is already in the StudySync program, please advise students to rewrite their own script and new conversation between students. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content. To get started, download a Concept Definition sample script!
- Novel Poster Students develop a digital poster image from an original photo, digital image, or artwork as a backdrop clearly identifying the author and title of the book, for one of their favorite titles NOT already in the StudySync Library. Students should use only original images, artwork, and content.
- Graphic Novel Let your writing shine! Create a graphic novel based on a favorite title of theirs that isn’t part of the StudySync Library. Text and imagery should be original and concise as well as 10 pages or less in length. Students words should be their own! Students should use only original images, artwork, and content.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
- If you’re considering having students enter the contest, take a look at last year’s winners to get an idea of what they will need to produce.
- Assign the MyStudySyncTV Unit using the Contests filter in the Units tab within the StudySync Library. The MyStudySyncTV Unit engages students in the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills that are necessary to develop a multimedia project. Completion of the MyStudySyncTV Unit or assignments are NOT required to enter the contest.
- Have students watch several StudySync® TV, SkillsTV, and Preview videos in the Library to provide students with a framework for the project. Also, using the Blasts filter feature, locate podcasts in the Blasts Library by selecting Blasts with ‘audio’ to provide a model for podcast entries.
- Visit THIS STUDYSYNC MEDIA CONTEST site for more information.
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IDEAS
TeachingBooks Poetry Month, Arab American Heritage, Earth Day, and more!
NCTE Enter the Book-Set-a-Day GiveawayAcademy of American Poets:
- Order (for free) and display the official 2022 National Poetry Month poster
- Read about 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month online and at home
- Read about 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month in the classroom
- Join the Academy of American Poets for its virtual Poetry & the Creative Mind gala on April 28
- Encourage students in grades five through twelve to participate in the 2022 Dear Poet Project
- Sign up for Poem-a-Day and enjoy a free daily poem in your inbox, in April 2022 curated by award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye
- Share a #PocketPoem on Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 29
Lincoln Theater:
- Mayhem Poets, April 26th. For more information and to get your free ticket, click here. See Event FLYER here.
Intervention Specialist License
CCS is pleased to announce a partnership with Ohio Dominican University for certified teachers, including building substitutes, seeking to obtain a Mild/Moderate and/or Moderate/Intensive Intervention Specialist license! All instructional fees and books will be covered by CCS! CCS and ODU will be hosting two informational sessions regarding this amazing opportunity. The sessions will be held on April 27, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. and on April 28, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. HERE is the Zoom link for both sessions. The same information will be covered during both sessions.
Program Overview:
- There are six courses, and you will earn the MI and/or MM endorsement, provided you have the required prerequisites.
- Participants will take two 8-week courses per semester, unless you opt to only take one in the summer. You will only take one class at a time during the fall and spring semester.
- The application window timeframe will be announced later and the cohort will fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ohio Writing Project Summer 2022 Workshops
Join the Ohio Writing Project for their summer 2022 workshops. Sessions will focus on topics such as assessment, rethinking essay writing, indigenous literacies, genre studies, and much more. Flexible choices of online, hybrid, or on-campus workshops will let participants personalize their experiences and join from anywhere. For more information and registration visit the Ohio Writing Project Credit Workshops webpage.
Updated Resource from Folger Shakespeare Library
BECOME A MENTOR TEACHER
Are you interested in mentoring a university student next school year (student teacher, observation student, OSU FEEP student, field placements, etc.)? Would you like to earn CEUs for doing so? The credit bearing chart for Cooperating Teachers Supervising Students may be found HERE. Would you like to help increase the number of fee waivers available? Have you been employed as a CCS Teacher/Licensed Support Personnel for at least three school years? If so, please complete the online application using the link below.
-All CCS Teachers and Licensed Support Personnel who would like to mentor a university student during the 2022-23 school year must complete the online application. Upon completion of the online application, the building principal/evaluator will receive a copy and will then have the opportunity to approve or reject the application. If your application is approved, you will then go into the pool to be matched with university students. When completing the application, be sure to indicate the anticipated school(s) or department (Nurses, Psychologists, etc.) in which you will be working next year. Upon being matched, you will receive an email notification with all the details. You will then have the opportunity to accept or reject the match. If you accept, the university will be informed, and they will contact you directly. If you reject the match, you will go back into the pool. The building principal/evaluator will receive copies of the potential match information as well as your response (accept or reject). Professional Learning & Licensure hopes to place all university students needing their placements to start this August or September prior to the start of summer break. Be sure to check your CCS email (including your Clutter file) on a consistent basis!
-Here is the link to the online application: http://www.columbus.k12.oh.us/studentrequest. Your username and password are your old iLEAD username and password - NOT your current CCS username and password. If you do not remember them, please contact the HELP Desk at 8425. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to Karmen McCaslin, 614-365-5039 phone, kmccasli@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Nominate a Teacher to Win $500
Five Teachers Will Win $500
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week coming up in May, SignUpGenius wants to help you recognize the teachers around you. Enter the giveaway by nominating a genius teacher who lights up their students' lives. They will have the chance to win $500 as a thank you!
Monday, April 11
- StudySync: Differentiate for All Learners: Tools and Strategies for Students with IEPs Register 4-4:30pm
- Thurber House: Adult Writing Workshop | Editing: Content, Flow, Word Choice, and Length 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Tuesday, April 12
- StudySync Webinar: Prepare Students for End of Year and State Testing with StudySync Assessments Register 4-4:30pm
- Thurber House: Young Writers' Studio (High School) REGISTER HERE 6:30–8:30 pm
Thursday, April 14
- TeachingBooks: Creating, Analyzing, and Using Lists on TeachingBooks 4-4:20 pm
Friday, April 15
- Bill of Rights Institute: We the Student Essay Contest Deadline
Wednesday, April 20
- StudySync: Basic Training: The Reading Routine - Reading & Rigor in StudySync Register 6-6:30pm
Thursday, April 21
- McGraw Hill-StudySync: Ask-an-Expert Session April 21 8:00-8:30am password MH2022
- StudySync: Resources for Professional Development and Support Register 4-4:30pm
- ESC of Central Ohio: Literacy and Learning PD Chats With Rachel Lang Disciplinary Literacy 3:45-4:45pm
Saturday, April 23
- The Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival 9am-3:30 pm Register
LITERACY & CURRICULUM PD DAY RECORDINGS
CCS SECONDARY ENGLISH 2021 OST REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
CCS SECONDARY ENGLISH 2021 OST REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
Curriculum Maps, Course Folders, and Resource Lists
-Visit these Curriculum/Instructional Resources Quick Links on the ELA 6-12 Webpage for all Secondary English Curriculum.
At these links, you will find your COURSE FOLDERS that have everything you need for your courses including Curriculum Maps, Course Introduction Pages, Standard docs, digital novels, adopted resource trainings/tutorials, etc. To access many curricular and district, you must be logged into Google using your CCS credentials and not a personal account. Curricular documents are also linked on these Google docs:
-Here are the Resource Lists for Secondary English.
- The Tier I Instructional Resources are StudySync (English 6-12) and the Bedford Texts/Launchpad (Honors and AP English).
- The Tier II Intervention Resource is Achieve3000. The contact person for this resource is Sonja Dill.
- The Supplemental Resource is TeachingBooks.
Curriculum Resources: Access, PD, Tutorials, & Trainings
StudySync (Tier 1 Adopted Resource English 6-12)
- Access: You AND your students access StudySync via the Clever icon or http://clever.com/in/columbuscity. Click on the McGraw Hill icon. Then, launch the StudySync App.
- Students Reading & Writing Companions: For the English 6-12 courses, student consumables were sent to the buildings this summer. Be sure to locate these and distribute them to students in these courses. The six units for each grade at StudySync online are included in the consumables and can increase modality options for students.
- Change Course Names: Your classes are marked with X and Y. The X classes are for first semester and the Y classes are for second semester. If you want to change the names of your classes in StudySync, follow this guide: StudySync-How to Change Course Names
- Link with Google: Here is information about linking StudySync to Google Classroom. Webinar: StudySync Google Integrations, Teachers: Linking Your Account with Google Classroom, Students: Linking Your Account with Google Classroom
- Link with IC via Google: IC Integration for Grade Passback
- FREE PD: Weekly FREE Webinars Several Available Each Week
- Newer Features or Videos: Live Monitoring, Teacher Video Feedback Tool, Reteaching, and Advanced Scoring Feature, UDL Framework, Digital Scaffolding
Lesson Planning Guide
- Help Center: Finding the Help Center in StudySync (video): You can find self-paced Training in the Help Center.
- Tutorials: StudySync Tutorials (Some of the most popular tutorials)
- Trainings: StudySync Trainings (Recorded CCS StudySync trainings from 2020 and 2021)
- Demo Code: Here is the demo code for StudySync in case you have a student teacher, building coach, or admin that wants to see the platform and they do not have a class aligned in Clever/IC. DEMO: https://my.mheducation.com, UN: studysync2021, PW: MHEela21
- Errors: If you notice an error in a StudySync assignment, send an email to Carla Mae cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us. She will let both McGraw Hill and StudySync know so that they can make corrections.
- For the latest information at StudySync, sign up for the SyncUP monthly newsletter. Opt-in here: studysync.com/subscribe
NEW Ask-an-Expert Sessions from McGraw Hill StudySync. The password for every Zoom meeting included below is MH2022.
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Bedford/Launchpad (Tier 1 Adopted Resource Honors and AP)
Access: To get to Launchpad through Clever http://clever.com/in/columbuscity, click the Launchpad icon and click on the name of class/textbook.
Support: HELP CENTER FORM: https://macmillan.force.com/bfwhighschool/s/
- Trainings & Tutorials: Bedford Overviews, Slideshows, Trainings, and Tutorials
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- Access via the Clever icon or http://clever.com/in/columbuscity. Click on the TeachingBooks icon.
- Novel Lists: This is the tool that houses the lists of novels we have in the warehouse and in the Secondary English Curriculum Office. Use this document TEACHINGBOOKS: ACCESSING COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS’ NOVEL LISTS and/or this video TeachingBooks Tutorial to learn how to access the CCS book lists.
- CCS-Novels Available in the English 6-12 Curriculum Office
- CCS Middle School Curriculum: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS High School Curriculum: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 6: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 7: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 8: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 9: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 10: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 11: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- CCS English 12: Novels in Warehouse, Course Folder, or Adopted Resource
- TeachingBooks also is a place to get additional novel and author resources. These Overview videos/trainings from TeachingBooks can help you understand the resources: Introduction video I Slide Presentation and Training Script.
- Spring Highlights: Spring Activities on the Go, Women's History, and More!
- Some Upcoming 20-Minute Webinars:
- Creating, Analyzing, and Using Lists on TeachingBooks : April 14 4PM
- Welcome to TeachingBooks: TeachingBooks 101 : May 12 4PM
- Unlock the Magic of Fairy Tales with TeachingBooks : June 16 4PM
- Ready-to-Use Marketing Tools on TeachingBooks : July 14 4PM
- Recorded Training: October 16th PD Session for CCS: Virtual and Blending Learning Recording
- Recorded Training: February 3rd PD Session for CCS: Booklists, Virtual Ideas, and More on TeachingBooks
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Secondary English Curriculum Videos
- Video-Getting to Know Your Secondary English Resources for New Teachers
- Video Orientation to Curriculum Docs/Folders
- Video-Using the Curriculum Maps with StudySync
- Video-Using the Honors Curriculum Maps with Launchpad
- Video-Using AP Pacing Guides with Launchpad
- Video-StudySync is Your Adopted Curriculum Resource, Not Your "Program"
- Video-Close Reading of Complex, Grade-Level Texts: Research & Practice
- Video-StudySync and Vocabulary Acquisition
outings, classes, contests, grants, and additional pd
THURBER HOUSE ADULT WRITING WORKSHOPS
Adult Writing Workshops cover a variety of topics, from memoir to character development to editing to publishing. They are designed for adults of all levels of writing experience. All sessions can be attended via Zoom or in person.
Adult Writing Workshop | Editing: Content, Flow, Word Choice, and Length, MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2022, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
-Congratulations, you finished your story! If you're wondering, "Now what?" this is the class for you. Review your manuscript, take a critical look at the overall flow and then drill down to details. Enhance your writing with specific techniques to strengthen verbs, assure consistency in structure, remove unnecessary words, and develop an even better story. Be prepared for in-class work time. Bring your work-in-progress with specific questions or work on an in-class assignment. Instructor: Melissa Weber VIEW EVENT.
Adult Writing Workshop | Creating Vibrant Settings, MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
-Whether you write memoir or fiction, your story’s setting is often what makes a first impression on your reader. Setting creates a mood and provides the necessary momentum. Essayist Annie Dillard and fiction writers Margot Livesy and Viet Thanh Nguyen often do this in their work, making ordinary places feel safe or awe-inspiring—or threatening and unworldly. How do these writers create these kinds of moments and how can we emulate them? In this workshop, our activities will turn to some of these writers’ works as inspiration. We’ll learn to create vivid scenes with writing prompts focused on several techniques: training our “eyes-as-camera,” mimicking story passages, and exploring sensory details. Join us on this journey to explore and discover—whether you are just starting to write or need some inspiration—and leave with several drafts to help you get started! Instructor: Lisa Lopez Snyder VIEW EVENT.
Adult Writing Workshop | Help When You Are Stuck: Navigating the Creative Process, MONDAY, MAY 2, 2022, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
-Are you stuck? Discouraged? Starting over again and again? Feel like you’ve run out of steam? Are you fighting with your characters about what should happen next? Do you have writer’s block? This class will be a gentle nudge to help you get over the hurdle. It is help for you because it will be individualized to your questions and needs. Come to class with work in process for which you need guidance, problem-solving, and inspiration. Instructor Nicole Gnezda, Ph.D. is a Creativity Specialist and published writer who understands the ups and downs of the process and wants to help you flourish. Instructor: Nicole Gnezda, Ph.D. VIEW EVENT.
Adult Writing Workshop | Go Rogue! Superlative Sidekicks: Creating Memorable Secondary Characters, THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022, 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
-Come spend an hour writing for the heck of it! We’ll have unexpected prompts, sage advice, and the usual ridiculousness. Secondary characters are essential to plotting. In this class, you'll create two unforgettable characters, full of quirks and surprises, to spice up your stories. Instructor: Katherine Matthews View Event.
Adult Writing Workshop | Tips and Techniques for Writing Memoir, MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2022, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
-In John Irving’s novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, his protagonist writes, “You think you have a memory; but it has you!” If you can relate to this sentiment, this session for tips on writing the short memoir is for you. We’ll explore three of life’s most relatable aspects to help transform our memories to the page: childhood, food, and the people in our lives. We’ll explore techniques to guide our writing, we’ll read memoir excerpts and essays to inspire our journey, and we’ll use writing prompts—including recipes, photos, and objects—to get us started. By workshop’s end, you’ll have several drafts for the journey ahead. Join us for this trip down memory lane, whether you are currently working on a project or are just looking for a way to jumpstart your writing. Instructor: Lisa Lopez Snyder View Event.
Adult Writing Workshop | Go Rogue! Not Your Average Joe: Creating Distinctive Main Characters, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022, 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
-Come spend an hour writing for the heck of it! We’ll have unexpected prompts, sage advice, and the usual ridiculousness. This time, let's banish bland main characters! In this class, you'll design a fully rounded protagonist who is both imperfect and interesting. Or, if you've already got a main character in mind, here's your chance to polish them up—or add some rough edges. Instructor: Katherine Matthews View Event.
Adult Writing Workshop | Beating Writer's Block, MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
-This class is for anyone who has faced the blank page and the blank mind at the same time. We will experiment with prompts and exercises to kick-start your writing and discuss practices to adopt long term to help defeat the infamous writer’s block. Instructor: Andrea Taylor View Event.
AN UPCOMING FOLLETT EVENTS WITH KWAME ALEXANDER
-Beyond The Text: How to Build Voice, Trigger Literary Excitement and Confidence, and Engage Students Using Poetry; Tuesday, April 26 | 7pm
Join New York Times best-selling author, Newbery Medal winner, and poet Kwame Alexander in this mini webinar. Alexander will offer ways educators can use poetry to have students share their thoughts and understanding of a text. Reserve your spot.
STANDARDS INSTITUTE VIRTUAL SUMMITS
The Spring 2022 Virtual Summit has interactive sessions focused on strategic support and equitable instruction to ensure students have equitable access to grade-level instruction. Learn more.
-Spring 2022 Virtual Summit, April 20 & April 27 Register for the Spring Virtual Summit
OHIOANA 2022
The 2022 Ohioana Book Festival, the 16th annual celebration of Ohio literature, will be presented virtually over three days, April 29-May 1. Details are still being worked out, but you can check out their blog or newsletter to see the complete list of 2022 authors.
OHIO TEACHER OR THE YEAR
Nominations for the 2023 Ohio Teacher of the Year are open through April 30. Each year, the Ohio Teacher of the Year program celebrates exceptional teachers for their effective and inspiring work both inside and outside of the classroom. The program also gives honorees opportunities for professional growth, elevates their position as leaders and advocates for public education. The program offers two levels of statewide recognition. The regional State Board District Teacher of the Year honor goes to one teacher in each of the 11 State Board districts. From those 11 honorees, one is named as Ohio’s Teacher of the Year.
Nominees must hold a professional Ohio educator license, work full time with a minimum of five years of teaching experience under a professional license in a state-approved public school, community school or career center. They also must work directly with students at least 50% of the time, have received no previous Ohio Teacher of the Year recognition and plan to continue in active teaching status. Resident Educator License holders do not qualify.
Anyone may submit a nomination for one or multiple teachers. Self-nominations are not accepted. Qualified nominees will receive a certificate of recognition and an invitation to apply to Ohio’s most prestigious and long-standing teacher recognition program.
Nomination information is available on the Ohio Teacher of the Year webpage. Contact Angela Dicke with questions.
ESC OFFERINGS
-Gifted Institute June 6-7 The ESC of Central Ohio is pleased to announce an in-person professional development opportunity for teachers and gifted instructors on June 6 and 7, 2022. Our presenter will be Lisa Van Gemert, nationally renowned GiftedGuru. Lisa is a “giftedland” native who has vast experience as a gifted educator, parent of gifted children, and a gifted individual herself. Participants have the option to select either one-day or two-day gifted education professional development. Register Now
-Summer Literacy Institute 2022 June 14 Literacy lovers unite at our 2022 Summer Literacy Institute! Join fellow Central Ohio educators for a day full of literacy learning--from new tools to consider to curating text sets to English Learner language development. There will be a session for everyone. Learn More
-Learning and Thinking that Make a Difference June 15 Go deep this summer at the Project Zero in Ohio one-day conference. Learn how to develop and deepen cultures of thinking in your classrooms and explore practices for engaging students and educators. Learn More
-Summer Institute for Authentic Learning and Leadership July 20-21 Bring a team and join us for two inspiring days filled with hope, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. This conference will stimulate your thinking and feed your soul. You’ll be engaged in opportunities to envision authentic learning, be inspired by the work of others, personally experience authentic instructional strategies, and reflect on “lessons learned” and commit to next steps. Most importantly, you’ll find ways to help students connect intellectually and emotionally with their own learning. Register Today
2022 OHIO TEACHER LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Register now for the 2022 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit June 8 in Columbus. The free event offers educators opportunities to network and learn more about their roles as leaders.
COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY CARNEGIE AUTHOR SERIES
Here is the 2022 Carnegie Author Series lineup.
- Sunday, Aug. 28 | 2 p.m. Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief
- Sunday, Oct. 23 | 2 p.m. Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind
All author talks are free and open to all. Registration details will be released in the weeks leading up to each program on their Special Events page.
GIVEAWAYS
THE MAYHEM POETS
On Tuesday, April 26th at the Lincoln Theater (7:30pm), there will be a free community event: The Mayhem Poets. Prior to the show at 6pm, local poets aged 13-22 are invited to display their talents and share their work as the opening act through a day-of opening mic event sponsored by The Huntington National Bank.
POETRY GUIDELINES: Original poems shared at the open mic event should be 2 minutes or less and appropriate for a family-friendly event. All youth poets should also prepare a single line of poetry to share on the topic of imagining a world without injustice. At the end of the open mic event, the Mayhem Poets will call all youth poets to the stage to share their line in the creation of a collective poem. For more information and to get your free ticket, click here. See Event FLYER here.
2022 OSU-EAST ASIAN STUDIES CENTER SIJO STUDENT COMPETITION
The East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University is excited to announce Sijo (Korean Poetry) events for teachers and students. Some CCS Students were winners in last year's Sijo Competition, so be sure to have your students enter this year!
“Ohio-Kentucky Sijo (Korean Poetry) Student Competition” Jan – May 1, 2022
- Who: Any K-12 student in Ohio & Kentucky (winners in each state)
- Where: Online submission
- When: Deadline May 1, 2022
- Sijo Introduction: Online Materials
- Website: https://easc.osu.edu/events/sijo-competition-2022
- Online submission (required): online link
- Flyer: Sijo Student Competition
“Asynchronous Sijo (Korean Poetry) Workshop 101” Jan – May 1, 2022
- Who: Any educator in any state (pre-service and in-service teachers, librarians, administrators, others)
- Where: Online
- When: Self-paced, asynchronous, finish by May 1
- Benefits: Resource material for completing workshop, worth 2 contact hours
- Website: https://easc.osu.edu/events/sijo-teacher-workshop-2022
- Registration (required): online link
- Flyer: Sijo Teacher Workshop 2022
Prizes:
- Midwestern Grand Prize: $400 (Each division, KY/OH/WI)
- First Place: $250 (Each division, each state: KY & OH)
- Second Place: $150 (Each division, each state: KY & OH)
- Teachers of place winners will receive $100 of Korea-related materials.
Notes about Sijo:
Sijo (pronounced SHEE-JO) is a form of Korean poetry that was sung in three lines. The first line introduces the theme or question, the second line answers the theme or question and the last line has a twist for the end. There are a total of 44-46 syllables total, with 14-16 per line broken up in sections. Each line has a pause in the middle with smaller pauses between the other sections. Lines 1 and 2 have similar syllable count (3-4-3-4 syllables per section) and content, Line 3 has a different syllable count (3-5-4-3 per section) and content (twist). There is some variation in syllable count per line. As each line can be long, they are sometimes broken up into two. More details at Sijo Introduction.
WE THE STUDENTS ESSAY CONTEST (BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE)
PROMPT: How does an understanding of natural rights and respect build a free society?
Essays should be between 500-800 words and should demonstrate an understanding of natural rights, how they relate to the principle of respect, and how the flourishing of a free society is dependent upon them. Excellent essays will go beyond "dictionary definitions," to express their understanding and reasoning about the connections among these principles. Specific examples, and well-researched facts should be combined with students’ own observations and experiences. A good essay will demonstrate how these principles are not just abstract ideas but are part of people's everyday actions and choices. The Deadline is April 15th.
-The winners of this year’s contest will receive: 1st Place – $7,500 and a scholarship to the 2022 Constitutional Academy summer program in Washington D.C.; Runners Up – 5 prizes at $1,500 each; Honorable Mentions – 10 prizes at $500 each
THURBER HOUSE YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
For Winter/Spring 2022, Young Writers' Studio is hybrid (held in-person at Thurber Center and simultaneously Zoomed for virtual participants). You must register in advance, but students can participate from anywhere. After you register, if you will be participating virtually, they'll email you the Zoom access instructions. Young Writers' Studio is $15 per session. If students are unable to pay online or need financial assistance, please email Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
Dates/Times
Tuesday, April 12 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival
The Northwest Ohio Teen Book Festival is a new teen book festival focused on teens and tweens of Northwest Ohio. The festival will be hosted at Rossford Junior/Senior High on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 9 am to 3:30 pm. The festival will consist of five sessions, with five breakout options per session. Each attendee will be scheduled for one lunch breakout, so they will be attending four breakouts total. The event will end with a Book Signing session where participants can get their books signed by the authors! In the list of 2022 Participating Authors is CCS Teacher Sean Billingslea. Register and Learn More Here.
Carla Mae Phillips
Southland Center, Suite 125
Previous Newsletters available on the CCS ELA 6-12 Webpage.
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