#2ndaryELA Archive
#2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. We chat every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST using #2ndaryELA. We'd love for you to join us!
Tuesday April 5, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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Welcome to tonight’s chat! Please introduce yourself. Tell what & where you teach. Share your blog link if you have one.
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Diane from Ohio. ELA 7-8.
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Don't forget: use on responses & replies 2 others, label yr responses w/A1, A2, & follow anyone chatting w/us 2night
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Hello! I am Hillary from IN and I teach 8th grade ELA :)
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. I teach ELA 9-12 in rural Eastern Wasington.
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I'm Brynn Allison, chat co-host. 7 yrs teaching HS English & reading interventions in Philly. Blog: https://t.co/cyx1WlfdS8
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A2 I LOVE science fiction short stories, but this gets hardly any attention in my classes.
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Q1: Do you require students to read a variety of genres? Explain your thinking.
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A1: Teach many genres. Often students read fiction & nonfic for ind reading. Read plays with whole class at end of year.
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A1: I require students to read a different genre each month and I try to ensure my anchor texts are not all the same genre.
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A1 As an RTI specialist, most reading w/Ss is NF. As a classroom teacher though, I think it is better to encourage than require
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A1: I used paired passages to cover different genre types. I always try to match a fiction with a nonfiction and a poem.
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A1: Use/teach a variety of genres--1 genre/qtr. Want to expose Ss to diff ones and stretch themselves.
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In my curriculum across the school year, I teach a classic, dystopian, Shakespeare and historical fiction and build in articles.
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. Our textbook helps, but even w/o I would require. It helps students see thematics across genres, style, etc
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This year I've really pushed more NF to kids - keeps them more interested esp. w/ current events issues such as the election
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Yes NF is super important!
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Thanks! Need to put it into my schedule...time seems to be an issue.
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My students can choose anything for their Million Word Challenge, but I'll admint I don't have good variety of NF in my library
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A1: I think diff. genres require diff. levels of thinking. Nonfiction seems to be more technical; fiction/poetry, abstract.
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Amber, Academic Coach, from Texas joint a few min late. Can't wait to see what everyone has to say.
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A1 - I have found that I can still do novels but integrate the NF via concepts/themes presented in the novels :)
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A2 Magical realism is a close 2nd. Sts can make their own stories based on real life, prove movies are MR, etc.
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A1: Allowing students to explore one topic through different genres allows them more chances to "get it."
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Q2: What is your favourite genre to teach? Give an example of a favourite lesson.
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. I hear "I want to read more of this" after NF!
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A2: I love teaching poetry. Good genre for practice with close reading. I like to pair poems with other texts by theme.
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I use Article of the Week to get more NF into my classroom. My students enjoy reading something new each week.
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A2: I love teaching historical fiction most! Didn't realize how much I loved it until I started teaching it.
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are all programs I've used this year to help integrate NF :)
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A2: My favorite genre is "poetry." I think my students think harder about it than anything else.
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A2 My fav genre is hist. fiction. After reading Kindred, my students had to pick a time period to research, use as story setting
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A2: I also like to teach poetry because not many of my kids come to me enjoying it. I like to build their relationship with it.
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I do love Newsela! Don't remember to use it often enough...I teach 8th and want more NF books though. Any suggestions?
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A2: American War poetry! Love taking them through the different poems to see similar and different reactions to war.
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A2 one of my new favs is historical fiction - we read The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti this yr
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A2 I also love doing poetry - we do a "rhyme battle" w/ Hughes vs. Tupac which kids really enjoy! :)
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A2: Do you have any suggestions/resources? I have a colleague wants to teach Am. History with literature next year
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A2: like & I like hist fiction. Love "Dark Water Rising" with my 7th graders
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Ripley's Believe It or Not books, anything weird is great NF esp for boys
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A2: My fav. lesson is the Poetry Diner which I also just made into a TpT product. Lots of opportunity for differentiation.
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A2: Sorry to roll in late. I love writing and teaching creative nonfiction. There's just enough exaggeration to make it fun.
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Great idea! Need to add those titles to my Scholatic Reading Club wishlist!
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A3 I teach struggling students (ESL/IEP...) so they tend to be low readers I start with short stories to hook them!
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Q3: How do you encourage your students to read a variety of books? What method has been most successful?
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A3: I try for 5 texts/semester. Engage Ss w/free choice to start. Gatsby next, LC novels, Into the Wild, & Raisin in the Sun.
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Q3: I don't know about a variety, but the Million Word Challenge has been hugely successful for my 8th graders this year!
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Look at a college Am. Lit. anthologies, usually ordered chronologically and great for pairing with history
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A3: I require students to read at least 1 book a month for independent reading. I am looking for more inspiring ideas.
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We just read A Raisin in the Sun - ss loved it! Pleasantly surprised :)
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When I give my students an assignment to go with their reading they usually complete their reading and enjoy it.
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A3: "Date W/ A Book" @ the start of the yr. and they pick 4 books from diff. genres to read through the yr. 1 per quarter.
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In a new school this year, so have to start this process from the beginning. Work w/ librarian to have wide selection
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A3 I just read "Flowers for Algernon" w/ ss before spring break w/ ss - short story version to help keep interest :)
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A3 I encourage my Ss to talk to each other about books. They are more likely to read a suggestion from a friend.
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A3: Also have a menu they can choose from w/ a 2-3 word description of the book. Allows to choice by interest & peaks curiosity.
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Q4: What genres and authors are the most popular among your students?
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I agree! I love when a book is passed from student to student!
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A3: Rob from WI here. We require 1 book per month as a min. for our 8th graders. Promote title with book trailer Tuesday-
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A4: For free choice Ss like YA (John Green), romance (N Sparks), Nonfic (Lone Survivor) & dystopian lit
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I'll recommend books to Ss personally that I think they'll enjoy.
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A3 I used Greek mythology @ the start of the year to hook ss interest and not "overwhelm" them w/ a novel right off the bat
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A4: "Speak" a novel by Laurie Halse Anderson is always a favorite. I teach it every semester to my 9s.
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A3: 600 pgs of outside reading/quarter. Ss allowed one "no brainer" book. Those stuck in one genre have to step outside once.
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Do you do "book talk" presentations? or just informally?
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A4 Dystopia & fantasy popular with students, i.e. Lunar Chronicles by & Red Queen series by
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. Are they in your room or check out from library?
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I loved Speak when I was in school, and it's one of my first to recommend!
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A4 -I taught 7th grade last yr and ss loved "The Outsiders!"
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A3 many Ss I uavr are velow hrade level. Mist popukat is pro ably Diary of a Wimpy kid
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A4: My students love NF, Realistic Fiction and Science Fiction!
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A4: Dystopian literature seems to be fairly popular among my current Ss.
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A4: Dystopian is my favorite to teach, along with "Harrison Bergeron." Students read Giver and then do lit circles
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A4 - Many ss enjoy fantasy, historical fiction - "Wonder" has been popular as well
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A4: City of Bones series and Gone series have barely stayed on my shelves this year!
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A4 - I would love to do a short scifi unit next year but unsure if it would appeal to the girls I have as much as boys
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We read Lose Now, Pay Later and both genders liked the short story.
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A4: Lots of dystopian...still. Lockdown series, Unwind Dystology, Twisted (LHAnderson), Rash(Hautman)
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Do it! If the boys are engaged, likely the girls will be too!
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Q5: Share a great resource, website or tip for teaching different genres.
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So many great titles coming through. Looking forward to adding some diversity to what I've been teaching.
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A5 Don't be afraid to try something new! Genre, story, anything!
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A5 I have a Pinterest board of reading suggestions gor students https://t.co/bST5hvb0Z6 It's my go to for new YA books to read
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Q5: If I know a student likes a certain genre, I'll recommend a book in another genre that has a similar writing style.
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You can find novels that would appeal to both.
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Just informally. Would love to do book talks. One year I recorded them doing recommendations which they loved.
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A5: Pair passages as much as you can!
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Can't believe I forgot about Gone series...kids are flying through them and they are thick!!
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Q5 if you recommend a book in a genre that isnt S preferred follow up asking qurstions about eventd or characters.
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. Don't shy away from NF. Most of us ELA Ts probably grew up loving Fiction, but a lot of kids don't connect to it.
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I couldn't stop reading them, either! I spent my anniversary weekend reading the Gone series!
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A4 Sci-fi/fantasy and we just finished The Outsiders which they loved. Wonder is being passé around
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A5: my reluctant male readers liked Boost and anything by Mike Lupica.
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https://t.co/69WbAjoDmu had great leveled short texts organized my theme that are perfect to pair with longer works
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A5 - Choice boards have really helped me esp w/ creative writing - more options, more ways to connect to SS
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Do your students go to the board, or is it just your collection?
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Thanks for chatting with us tonight. Next week's chat: Research Papers. See you on April 12 at 8pm EST
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The book Notice & Note: Nonfiction has really helped me build in NF texts with deep engagement
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For my sports enhusiasts who are relunctant he's a go to.
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We’re already planning for next year. could you take a few minutes to give us some feedback?https://t.co/jQDAPXVAs7
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Right now it is just for me, but that is a great idea!
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Thank you all SO much for the new ideas! :)
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Fantastic chat! Thanks to everyone for their GREAT ideas.
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Thank you! Glad to be back!
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Yeah, I have some ideas in mind too--like a collaborative board with student recommendations.
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starts in just a few minutes! Join us at 9pm ET/8pm CT/6pm PT!
