Secondary English Weekly #23
VOLUME FOUR, ISSUE TWENTY-THREE /February 21-25, 2022
CCS POETRY SLAM 2022
After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 2022 CCS District Poetry Slam will tentatively be held on Saturday, April 30, 5-9p.m. at Eastmoor Academy High School. Download and complete this POETRY SLAM REGISTRATION to get your school into the competition! Schools do not have to have a full team in order to compete. Download the POETRY SLAM FLIER to post around your school and community.
Middle School Poetry Slam Rules
1. Each middle school may bring a total of eight (8) poets.
2. Each middle school will have four slots or times to perform (four individual and/or group poems total).
3. The same rules apply as in the high school slam:
a. No props, costumes, instruments, or music.
b. There is a three minute time limit with a ten second grace period.
4. No poet may perform in more than two poems, for instance, a poet may perform one individual poem and one group poem, or in two group poems.
5. Group poems may not have more than six (6) poets on stage at once.
6. Poets may bring their typed poem up on stage; there will be a music stand.
7. Poems must be school appropriate.
High School Poetry Slam Rules
1. Each high school may bring a total of six (6) poets.
2. Each high school will have four individual slots or times to perform (four poems total—one per poet).
3. The same rules apply as in the middle school slam:
a. No props, costumes, instruments, or music.
b. There is a three minute time limit with a ten second grace period.
4. Poets may bring their typed poem up on stage; there will be a music stand.
5. Poems must be school appropriate.
Optional High School Group Poetry Rules
There will be an optional group poem competition for the high school slam. Group poems follow the same rules as above, but schools may only have up to six poets on stage. The high school group poems will be performed prior to intermission.
Judging
There are five judges who will score the poems on a scale of 0-10 (out to one decimal point). The scores are not shown to the audience (which is different than a traditional slam).
Trophies and Medals will be awarded for each of the following:
- “Sandy Cox” Memorial Trophy-Winning High School Team
- CCS Middle School Trophy-Winning Middle School Team
- Medals-Top Three Middle and High School Teams
- Medals-Top Three Middle and High School Poets
- Medals-Top High School Group Poem
Deadline: After the March 28th deadline, we will open up the slam to other districts in central Ohio. Please send your registration and $25 entry fee to Slam Coordinator Wyk McGowan at Eastmoor Academy and Contact him with any questions. 614.804.5535 or wmcgowan8259@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Round One English Positions
OCTELA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2022 IS THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!
The OCTELA Conference will be held virtually on February 25th and 26th.
Included with Registration:
- Two days of LIVE conference sessions and keynote speakers
- On-demand PRE-RECORDED sessions for attendees to watch
- Up to 15 contact hours (depending on days attended and number of on-demand sessions watched)
- One-year OCTELA Membership (current members will have their membership extended for one year) which includes digital access to Ohio Voices, the Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, and the Teacher Resources section of the website.
- Conference Website
Registration:
- You can register online. The online form will allow you to pay with a credit card, check/money order, or by school purchase order.
- If you need to register using a traditional paper registration form, please email Lena Moore at lmoore@nlsd.k12.oh.us
- Registration is $73.00. Register Now. Registrations after February 11th will incur a $15 late registration fee.
Conference Theme: Storylines
Featured Speakers: Cornelius Minor and Kristen Simmons
ODE Accepting Applications for OST ELA Content Advisory Committees
The Ohio Department of Education is now accepting applications for participants to serve on two ELA Content Advisory committees for Ohio’s State Tests. The committees review and evaluate test questions and related test materials to ensure that each question is a valid and appropriate measure of the Ohio Learning Standards for that particular subject area and grade level. Content advisory committees meet on an ongoing basis to review new test questions and materials as they are developed. The number and frequency of meetings depends on the volume of new test item development, but typically these committees meet once or twice annually.The content advisory committees will convene in June for virtual meetings. The dates for each of the grade level meetings are listed below. These dates are specific only to the June 2022 meetings. If you are chosen to serve on a content advisory committee, we will invite you to the June meeting and then subsequent meetings as they are scheduled.
- ELA Grade 6: June 21
- ELA II: June 22
Complete this application if interested in applying.
NCTE AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN
During the month of February, you can host an African American Read-In (AARI) virtual event. The African American Read-In was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than 6 million participants around the world. If you host an event in your classroom or school, include your event in the 2022 Report Card by completing this Host Report Card submission form after your event by March 15, 2022.
Resources:
- Access this year's AARI toolkit.
- See suggested titles HERE.
THURBER HOUSE WRITING WIZARDS GRADES 6-8: REGISTRATION DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!!
Writing Wizards Workshops
1. It's a Long Story, Saturdays: March 5, 12, 19, 26 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm
This fast-paced class will help you think outside of the box as you write the perfect TV show and then have to work around crazy restrictions provided by “the network.” Cue laughter.
Teachers: Justin Martin (he/him) is a high school English teacher pursuing his licensure at Vanderbilt University. Frankie Diederich (she/they) has a degree in Television Writing & Producing from Columbia College Chicago. They're both lifelong Thurber alumni and sworn enemies. However, a terrible explosion during their duel to the death at a nuclear power plant fused them into one horrific creature who still loves to help young writers get creative.
Tuition (includes all four classes): $120
2. Bonus Round! Saturdays: March 5, 12, 19, 26 from 1:30-3:30 pm
Level up your story ideas! You’ll work on ways to build plots, create memorable characters, and write a blockbuster no matter what genre you explore.
Teacher: Matt Betts (he/him) is a science fiction and horror author from Columbus. He has written about aliens on Venus, monsters attacking trains, and Bigfoot's side hustle. His work is sometimes scary, sometimes funny, and always a little bit weird.
Tuition (includes all four classes): $120
-REGISTER FOR ONE OF BOTH WORKSHOPS HERE. Learn more HERE. The registration deadline is February 25th. All staff and students must wear a mask indoors at all times. Tables and chairs will be sanitized between classes. Students who need financial assistance may enter a lottery for one of a limited number of scholarships. To apply, fill out the regular online registration form, check the applicable boxes, and include the $10 registration fee. This will put you in the lottery for a scholarship. For questions about the scholarship or how to apply, please email megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
Princeton Summer Journalism Program: DEADLINE APPROACHING
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program offers a tuition-free journalism institute and college counseling program for high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds. Participants spend 10 days in late July/early August at Princeton University, where they learn about inquiry and truth in reporting through workshops taught by Princeton University professors and professional journalists. The summer institute culminates in the publication of the student-produced newspaper, The Princeton Summer Journal. Although students who have been actively involved in journalistic activities are welcome, no prior experience is required to qualify. Students apply through three rounds of consideration during their junior year and begin participation the following summer. During their senior year, students work closely with a volunteer college counselor to complete the college admissions process. Learn more about PSJP application process and refer a student to receive more information via this PSJP Website. The Application Deadline is Monday, February 28, 2022.
ODE: THE SHARED BOOKSHELF
New! The Shared Bookshelf: An Open Space Group for English Language Arts Educators in Ohio
The purpose of the group is to build a virtual bookshelf of lesson plans and discussions to support English language arts instruction in K-12 classrooms. Ohio English language arts teachers will be able to collect, collaborate and share ideas with colleagues across the state.
Visit The Shared Bookshelf to join or for more information. Contact Teresa Castellaneta with questions. teresa.castellaneta@education.ohio.gov
Sunday, February 20
Tuesday, February 22
- StudySync Webinar: Differentiate for All Learners: Stretch the Rigor for Advanced Students Register 4-4:30pm
Wednesday, February 23
- StudySync Webinar: Basic Training: The Reading Routine - Reading & Rigor in StudySync Register 6-6:30pm
Thursday, February 24
- Standards Institute: Winter 2022 Virtual Summit, February 24 & March 3 Register
Friday, February 25
- StudySync Webinar: Cover All Your Standards with Spotlight Skills Register 2-2:30pm
- OCTELA Conference Register Now 6-8pm
- Thurber House: Writing Wizards (MS) Registration Deadline REGISTER.
Saturday, February 26
- OCTELA Conference Register Now 9am-4pm
RECENT STUDYSYNC ARTICLES & PODCASTS
-Effective Test Prep WHAT REALLY WORKS?
Test preparation can be a dreaded subject among teachers and students, but getting kids ready for summative assessments doesn’t have to be tiresome. Here are 3 tips for effective test prep. Test Prep Tips
-The Balance Podcast
In this mini-episode of The Balance, Dr. Catlin Tucker discusses how she was able to reevaluate her approach to grading by asking one straightforward question: what is the purpose of this work? Listen
-Celebrating Black History Month
Explore pairing one of StudySync’s daily, high-interest Blasts with a related reading from the Library to recognize Black History Month. Ready-to-go Plans
CCS SECONDARY ENGLISH 2021 OST REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
CCS SECONDARY ENGLISH 2021 OST REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
WRITING QUESTION PROMPTS UPDATED ON OST PRACTICE TESTS
The English Language Arts Practice Tests for the OST were updated to change the language on the writing questions. You can check out the updates on the writing questions on the practice tests for each grade level at the Standardized Testing Quick Link on the English 6-12 Webpage.
LITERACY & CURRICULUM PD DAY RECORDINGS FROM JANUARY 18TH and ON-DEMand from February 2nd
ANNENBERG LEARNER: READING AND WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES
Description: This course provides teachers and literacy coaches with an overview of disciplinary literacy, essential concepts related to proficient reading and writing, and general instructional practices that support literacy development. The course encompasses four discipline strands: Mathematics, Science, English and History/Social Studies. Teachers will see videos with classroom examples specific to each discipline, research on what literacy means in the four disciplines, and case studies of professionals using literacy in their daily work. An extensive website houses the course text and interactive features.
Course Site: https://www.learner.org/series/reading-writing-in-the-disciplines/
BUILDING LITERACY: MORPHOLOGY, ACADEMIC LANGUAGE, AND TEXT SCAFFOLDING
Morphology Video Presentation (21:09) Session One
DESCRIPTION: This presentation from the Ohio Literacy Academy will help you identify the basic units of the English language, explore meaningful morphemes in the content areas, and plan meaningful opportunities for secondary students to practice using morphemes. This can help build capacity around increasing literacy achievement in Columbus City Schools.
--Remember that you have access to Greek/Latin/Roots/Affixes skills lessons in StudySync both in the library (library tab, skills subtab, search for "Roots") and in the Vocabulary PDF workbooks in your Course Folders. In addition, you can filter for your grade level and "Academic Vocabulary" once on the library tab, skills subtab in StudySync for additional word study lessons.
--On the English 6-12 Webpage at the ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking Quick Link in the Language Strand section, you have the following resources concerning roots/affixes: Greek/Latin Vocabulary Guiding Doc and Vocabulary Roots Online Greek/Latin Practice, in addition to other vocabulary links. Here is a helpful list of morphemes that are common across content areas. Think about how you can allow for students’ meaningful practice with those morphemes and words in the classroom.
Academic Language Video Presentation (21:41) Session Two
DESCRIPTION: This presentation from the Ohio Literacy Academy will help you identify key features of academic sentences and paragraphs, identify different types of connective words, and plan actionable approaches for supporting secondary students’ knowledge and use of connectives.
--On the English 6-12 Webpage at the ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking Quick Link in the Writing Strand section, you have the following resources concerning transitions, academic sentence stems, and connectives:
--Remember that you also have access to transition skills lessons in the StudySync Library (library tab, skills subtab, search for "transitions"), and work with organization within the CORE ELA Units. Many of the slide-in scaffolds in StudySync have sentence stems for discussion and writing. Think about how you can allow for students’ meaningful practice with academic language in the classroom.
Scaffolding Texts Video Presentation (21:21) Session Three
DESCRIPTION: This presentation from the Ohio Literacy Academy will help you explain the importance of text scaffolding, as well as plan for before, during and after reading scaffolds for content area texts.
--On the English 6-12 Webpage at the ELA Strand Resources for Reading, Writing, Language, & Speaking Quick Link in the Reading Strand section, you have several resources concerning text scaffolding including the ones below. There are also many graphic organizers for analyzing text at the same quick link.
- Struggling Reader Strategies
- Strategies for Supporting Struggling Readers (SAP)
- Quarter Turns: Supports to Access Complex Text
- Close Reading Guide
- Close Reading Annotation Guide
- Close Reading Annotation Bookmarks
- Close Reading Unlocking Prose
- Close Reading Unlocking Poetry
- Close Reading Unlocking Informational Text
- Close Reading Analysis Questions-Literary Text
- Close Reading Analysis Questions-Informational Text
- Close Reading Text-Dependent Questioning Guide
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
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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.
- Some Upcoming 20-Minute Webinars:
- Welcome to TeachingBooks! February 15 3:00PM
- Plan Ahead for Summer Reading with TeachingBooks : March 17 3PM
- 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
COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY CARNEGIE AUTHOR SERIES
Here is the 2022 Carnegie Author Series lineup.
- Sunday, Feb. 20 | 2 p.m. (virtual) Beverly Jenkins, author of Wild Rain REGISTER NOW
- Saturday, April 9 | 2 p.m. Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray, authors of The Personal Librarian
- 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.
OCTELA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2022-REGISTRATION OPEN
The OCTELA Conference will be held virtually on February 25th and 26th. Advanced registration for the 2022 conference will close February 11, 2022! Registrations after this date will incur a $15 late registration fee.
Included with Registration:
- Two days of LIVE conference sessions and keynote speakers
- On-demand PRE-RECORDED sessions for attendees to watch
- Up to 15 contact hours (depending on days attended and number of on-demand sessions watched)
- One-year OCTELA Membership (current members will have their membership extended for one year) which includes digital access to Ohio Voices, the Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, and the Teacher Resources section of the website.
- Conference Website
Registration:
- You can register online. The online form will allow you to pay with a credit card, check/money order, or by school purchase order.
- If you need to register using a traditional paper registration form, please email Lena Moore at lmoore@nlsd.k12.oh.us
- Registration is $73.00. Register Now.
Conference Theme: Storylines
Featured Speakers: Cornelius Minor and Kristen Simmons
STANDARDS INSTITUTE VIRTUAL SUMMITS
Dates were just released for Winter and Spring 2022 Virtual Summits with interactive sessions focused on strategic support and equitable instruction to ensure students have equitable access to grade-level instruction. Learn more.
-Winter 2022 Virtual Summit, February 24 & March 3 Register for the Winter Virtual Summit
-Spring 2022 Virtual Summit, April 20 & April 27 Register for the Spring Virtual Summit
NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE HAROLD W. MCGRAW, JR. PRIZE IN EDUCATION
A nomination for the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education may be submitted on behalf of any person who meets the nomination criteria. The Prize recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education and whose accomplishments are making a difference. Winners are awarded $50,000.
Pre-K–12 Education Nomination Criteria
- Leadership- Explain how the nominee provides innovative leadership in their organization and beyond.
- Innovation- Provide examples of the nominee’s innovative thinking and practices within Pre-K–12 Education.
- Impact- Describe the significant impact the nominee has made on the field of Pre-K–12 Education.
- Reputation- Provide evidence that the nominee has earned the respect of their colleagues and peers and continues to inspire others.
McGraw Prize winners are chosen over three rounds of judging, including review by independent researchers and University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education faculty, staff, students, and alumni with expertise in education. A distinguished jury of peers reviews a shortlist of finalists and recommends one Honoree in each category to win the McGraw Prize in Education. Nominate HERE. More information HERE. DEADLINE: MARCH 1
STANDARDS INSTITUTE
The Standards Institute is an immersive and transformative five-day in-person learning experience for teachers, coaches, and leaders. Educators who attend the Standards Institute have conversations about race, examine bias and its role in instruction and learning, and commit to adaptive change within themselves as practitioners while learning practical strategies that can improve instructional practice and leadership in schools and systems.
The Institute
- Five days of in-person immersive, coherent learning sessions led by our highly trained facilitators Monday, March 28, 2022 – Friday, April 1, 2022 Las Vegas, NV
Price: $2,800 / person
- Powerful, transformational keynote speakers
- Courageous conversations and open dialogue about implicit bias and racist structures, with insights and actions to share with colleagues
- Tools, strategies, and frameworks to enhance instructional practices
- The opportunity to form strategic relationships with like-minded educators leading the movement towards equitable and anti-racist instruction
EVENT DETAILS AND REGISTRATION
OHIO TEACHER LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2022
The Ohio Department of Education would like you to consider applying to present at the 2022 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit. The Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit is scheduled for June 8, 2022 at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus. The Summit highlights innovation in teacher leadership in Ohio. The goal of the Summit is to build a statewide network of teacher leaders and administrators to promote and strengthen teacher leadership in Ohio. The Department is seeking teachers, principals and other school leaders engaged in innovative teacher leadership practices at the school and district levels to share their successes, challenges and lessons learned with others in the state. Breakout sessions can be presented in various formats such as panel sessions, discussions and lectures. The Call for Presenters is open through Jan. 10, 2022. Teachers are invited to submit an application. Questions may be addressed to teacher.leadership@education.ohio.gov.
GIVEAWAYS
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, March 1 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday, March 15 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday, March 29 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday, April 12 from 6:30–8:30 pm
Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30–8:30 pm
2022 StudySync Media Contest
9TH ANNUAL STUDYSYNC MEDIA CONTEST
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.
POETRY OUT LOUD REGISTRATION OPEN
Poetry Out Loud (POL) encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps high school 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 Ohio Arts Council and Wild Goose Creative. 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.
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