#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 July 24, 2018
8:00 PM EDT

  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    Welcome! What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:00 PM EDT
    Hi Heather from Vegas. I teach Eng 10 and 11 Honors. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    Hi! I'm Lisa and am one of your new co-hosts for the #2ndaryELA chats! I'm from FL where I teach Middle School ELA. I blog here: https://t.co/T0SGs1rrCs
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    I'm Brynn Allison, chat co-host. 10 yrs teaching MS & HS ELA in Philly. Blog: https://t.co/cyx1WlfdS8 #2ndaryELA
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    Hi #2ndaryELA! I'm Shari, and I teach HS English (all 4 grades this year!) in northern NJ. Excited to learn w/you all tonight!
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    6th grade language arts, Fort Collins, CO https://t.co/WPyvEanB6h #2ndaryela
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:01 PM EDT
    8th grade ELA. Central Ohio #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Q1: Goodevening, 2ndaryELA. I am Jessica Ogden the Instructional Lead Teacher at Richmond Hill Middle School in Georgia. I do not currently have a blog, but I am hoping to work on beginning one this year 😊 #2ndaryELA
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Hi #2ndaryELA - I'm Jeff, and I teach 9th and 12th grades in NJ. You can see my blog at https://t.co/7qgjZsdBMo (though I need to update this more frequently...)
  • tetaime Jul 24 @ 8:03 PM EDT
    Hi, Tal from Durham NC. Lateral entry teacher, About to start my 1st year teaching 6th gr. Here to learn! #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:03 PM EDT
    I'm Leslie and I teach 11th grade in California #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:04 PM EDT
    Glad you're here! Please remember to add #2ndaryELA at the end of your tweets. :)
    • ms_jandrews Jul 24 @ 8:03 PM EDT
      Hello, I teach freshman in Indiana. Looking forward to chatting with you all tonight.
      In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    Q1: How do you organize your classroom? #2ndaryELA
  • ms_jandrews Jul 24 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:06 PM EDT
    A1: I try to think about the flow of my room to organize it. I think of it as my own "Feng-shui". So that means I want easy entrances and exits from the room. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:06 PM EDT
    A1 Here's what my HS room looked like https://t.co/GpA3Q9cIBy I'm moving to MS & looking for new ideas #2ndaryela
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:06 PM EDT
    A1: Right now, my classroom is set up with stations/groups of 4-5 students, with a book shelf in the back. I am trying to find ways to incorporate flexible seating arrangements and drastically build my classroom library for this upcoming year. #2ndaryELA
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:06 PM EDT
    A1: I think I’m going to have my students in groups this year as I want to have more conferring going on. #2ndaryELA
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    A1: Teaching 6th grade for the first time at a 1:1 school. Thinking of a way to seat students in groups and still see screens! #2ndaryela
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    Last year I had groups of 5, this year I'm moving to row groups of 4 and a podium/station for me in the back to promote talking to the class, not just to me #2ndaryela
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    Having a group arrangement has been really helpful for me in maximizing 1:1 time w/ Ss #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @hsengteach
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    I also have four bookshelves in the back for reading. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @MrKrapels
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    I'm very lucky to have tables on wheels, so I have a flexible set up: pods of 4, singleton tables for 2, a long conference table set up for 8 and 2 sets of semi-circle tables! #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:08 PM EDT
    #2ndaryELA
    • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:08 PM EDT
      A1: I also use an old toy organizer for all my class supplies
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:09 PM EDT
    Table groups of 4-6 kids. Plenty of shelves of books and a couple carpets and stools/ special chairs for flexible seating. #2ndaryELA
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:09 PM EDT
    Love that idea! Anyone have a reading nook in their room? It's my goal to have one this year! #2ndaryela
    In reply to @hsengteach
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:09 PM EDT
    Q1:: I organize my classroom into different spaces (1) Class Data/Growth Wall (2) Teacher-directed small group center (3) Student group work area w/ baskets in the middle to organize materials for the day’s lesson (handouts, markers, etc.)—The baskets are a LIFESAVER! #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    Q2: What do you do on the first day of school? #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    I used to have a shelf for each class here they handed in their papers, stored textbooks and notebooks. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ms_jandrews
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    I have bins for each class to turn in and get back work. I don’t have time to spend turning back work. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ms_jandrews, @SpanglerMiddle
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    Yes, I called it the "Book Nook" and it had big pillows and a little rug - all from IKEA. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @upahk, @hsengteach
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2 In the past I've done stations https://t.co/RsechZszVN last year I did a breakout https://t.co/Tj00b4gzZF This year I may do both #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2: I do ice breakers and other kinds of team building - including asking Ss what they need to be successful. #2ndaryELA
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2: In recent years, I've gotten away from the typical 1st day of school routine. Now, I jump right into a lesson, and explain to Ss that as necessary, I will explain procedures/rules, etc. No reason to waste class time #2ndaryELA
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    I'm trying to find ways to "automate" that process a little more - I find that having students hand things in digitally whenever possible helps! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @hsengteach, @ms_jandrews, @SpanglerMiddle
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    Also have a couple standing desks for students who prefer to stand. #2ndaryELA
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2: I like to have 2 different games prepared: 1 for students to get to know me as a person & 1 to get to know each other #2ndaryela
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    A2: One year I did stations to get to know the room and the rules. I might try that again. Still trying to figure out how. #2ndaryELA
  • MMofromtheNo Jul 24 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    Hi #2ndaryELA! I teach 10th grade in Fresno, CA.
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    Yes, well I said "used to" because this year we're all 1:1 and so I don't think we'll need those shelves! :) #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @Mrs_Krapels, @hsengteach, @ms_jandrews
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    A2: I teach 4 different preps, so I do something a little different for each (depending on content!) - I do try to spend some time getting some data and feedback from them RIGHT AWAY about their reading/writing skills/preferences #2ndaryELA
  • ms_jandrews Jul 24 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    That’s a good idea. I only have 5 classes so it might be doable. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @SpanglerMiddle
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    A2 Last year I did stations: goal setting, chart response to perfect classroom, paperwork station, get to know groupmate puzzle #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    A2: I typically do a stations activity that allows students to meet each other and me in smaller settings, move around the classroom, and avoids the amount of extensive talking "at them" that I used to do #2ndaryela
  • ms_jandrews Jul 24 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    We are moving 1:1 this year as well so that should help. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @hsengteach, @SpanglerMiddle
  • MissShrayder Jul 24 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    A2: I have them fill out a student inventory, and I just created a scavenger hunt for the students to figure out classroom procedures! #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    Do you have a kind of virtual way to see screens? We have LanSchool... #2ndaryELA
    • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:07 PM EDT
      A1: Teaching 6th grade for the first time at a 1:1 school. Thinking of a way to seat students in groups and still see screens! #2ndaryela
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:14 PM EDT
    Also photo station with crazy props, and writing station. Second day procedures and ice breakers #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    Q3: What routines and procedures do you teach during the first week? #2ndaryELA
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:15 PM EDT
    After reading #EDUProtocols I decided to spend more time getting to know my students and what I expect, we’ll see how it works. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: Entering and exiting room, turning things in, coming to attention, group versus independent working #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: We develop our class expectations and then where things belong or are kept or can be found. #2ndaryELA
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: I don't so much "teach" them as find ways to make our most frequent procedures clear by drawing attn to them as needed (ie bathroom pass stuff, laptop use, etc.) #2ndaryELA
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    Q2: After an intro of classroom expectations, Ss explore a mysterious file of information about me for students to organize the info based on the explicit vs. implicit information they have learned to reinforce group procedures then I end with a 6-word memoir #2ndaryELA
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A3: Specifically for language arts, how to check out books & return them from our class library #2ndaryela
  • cordie_sidney Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    #2NDARYELA any advice for me and my cohorts who will be working with elementary schoolers coming up this fall for student teaching?? #CI5307
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    I think it’s important to talk about how we treat each other and how to be successful during the first week. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    I would recommend routine, routine, routine! :) :) #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @cordie_sidney
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    A3: This year, I'm going to branch out my usual bathroom, warm ups, and discussion partner routines and begin with norm setting for each class and building on it for a master list #2ndaryela
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:17 PM EDT
    A3 Aside from fire drill, where to turn in work, collect papers, restroom procedures, checking out books, cell phone usage, #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    A3: Oh and also this year, I'll be teaching them how to properly format a document and heading in the first week #2ndaryela
  • teachermom318 Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    Also talking and listening in groups, borrowing items from teacher #2ndaryELA
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    You make a really good point - the "how to be successful" stuff is SO important. I find that my students sometimes experience school as a thing that happens TO them - this type of thinking undoes those notions #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @hsengteach
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    A3: I don't teach procedures or rules in isolation. They come up naturally when the situation calls for it. I try to avoid overloading Ss with info that they may not need to know right away. My main goal is to build a routine and class culture as soon as possible. #2ndaryELA
  • MMofromtheNo Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    A3: We’re shifting towards blended learning, so expectations for tablet work/digital citizenship is a must #2ndaryela
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    A3: Exceptions when entering the classroom, when and where to find supplies for lessons, how to turn in class assignments, how to clean their work space at the end of the lesson #2ndaryela
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:19 PM EDT
    @CommonSenseEd has GREAT resources for digcit stuff for students! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @MMofromtheNo, @CommonSenseEd
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:20 PM EDT
    Q4: How do build community in your class? #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4 I'm really focused on building a community of readers this yr. Students will email book selfies so I can create a bulletin board showing off their summer reads for the first day of school #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: I call our "rules" agreements instead - they are what we all agree we need to be successful. #2ndaryELA
  • Mrs_Krapels Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: Setting norms and expectations TOGETHER is a really important step in this. I teach in a really small school, so often the community aspect is already there; I try to frame things as Ss welcoming me to THEIR community #2ndaryELA
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: I have done the Marshmallow building activity. Four Corners likes and dislikes. Still looking for something great. #2ndaryELA
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: By creating activities for Ss to learn about me as well as each other! I complete many group tasks from the beginning to practice and establish group work norms, but this also allows students the time to build our classroom community. #2ndaryela
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: To be honest, this has always been really hard for me after the initial first week stuff. So, I'm hoping to really move seats a lot even draw a card and find a pair at the door kind of movement and TONS of structured convos in the first few weeks #2ndaryela
  • MrKrapels Jul 24 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A4: Frequent talk. The best part of my job is getting to know my Ss, and I try to keep a sense of humor in class, and build in a lot of opportunities for conference time. This helps me learn strengths & also builds their confidence #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A4 cont. A 1st day/week activity will be sorting our class library into genres, identifying gaps, creating a book wishlist #2ndaryela
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A4: We do a lot of name games at the beginning, then getting to know each other, and finally more trust-building activities #2ndaryela
  • MMofromtheNo Jul 24 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    A4: writing together and sharing our writing has been amazing for community! 1st unit is about cultural identity— eye opening! #2ndaryELA
  • kristyace Jul 24 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    I'm late to the party! I'm going into my 19th year teaching high school English. I also have an author website since I write YA. https://t.co/n7mTtJegp4 #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    A4 cont. Also hoping to do one big reading event per trimester: a book tasting, blind date with a book, and reading in the wild. #2ndaryela
  • mindyhildebrand Jul 24 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    Hi all! 👋🏼 New here! I've been in MS for 23 years. Though I'm staying in 7/8, I'm adding on a 9th grade class this year! So excited to be in #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:23 PM EDT
    After the first month, I'm hoping to continue the push for them to be comfortable with ambiguity by changing groups for activities, getting them up and moving and talking, and making it a point to showcase answers to promote a sense of communal effort in the classroom #2ndaryELA
  • MMofromtheNo Jul 24 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    A4: of course, breaking bread helps 😋 we frost cookies on Day 1 #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    Me too! What is reading in the wild, though? #2ndaryela
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    I’d love to hear more about this. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @MMofromtheNo
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    A4: I like to do "community circles" where we pass around a talking object and discuss academic things as well as related social things. #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Q5: What will be the first content lesson that you will teach? #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Me too, I love the idea of sharing, but so many students are really nervous and hesitant about it. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @hsengteach, @MMofromtheNo
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    A5: For me it's usually vocabulary for our theme/central idea unit. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    A5 To help me get to know students and start working on writing skills, I like to do a writer's workshop using coming of age poetry https://t.co/yALbj2DT6X #2ndaryela
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:26 PM EDT
    We play vocabulary dominoes in groups and even have a friendly competition! #2ndaryELA
  • upahk Jul 24 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    A5: We are using Lucy Calkins this year. Not sure what's in store first, but can't wait to see! :) #2ndaryela
  • hsengteach Jul 24 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    A5: I’m starting Eng 11 with a unit defining America and Americans. Still putting it together, but I know discussing “The New Colossus” is part of it. #2ndaryELA
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    That is so cool! #2ndaryela
    In reply to @MMofromtheNo
  • jessicaleeogden Jul 24 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    A5: My first lesson is typically a 5 Elements of a Short Story review for students! #irapflocabulary #2ndaryela
  • teachinELA Jul 24 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    A5: Our first unit will be The Crucible I think, so maybe historical context or vocabulary, but also just a possibility of going over MLA format and in text citations #2ndaryela
  • ms_croberts1 Jul 24 @ 8:30 PM EDT
    My name is Christy, and I’m excited to be joining ya’ll tonight #2ndaryela. Our librarian is going to help with book tasting, and I’m so excited.
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • kristyace Jul 24 @ 8:31 PM EDT
    A1. Teachers float into my room, & the chairs are attached to the desks, so can't group. I color-code IN & OUT folders for 8 classes to stay organized. I create Google Classrooms for sections. I have clear procedures that we practice (I don't collect/pass back work) #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:31 PM EDT
    Thanks so much for joining us tonight for our first chat of the 2018-2019 school year! We hope you'll join us next week! #2ndaryELA
  • MMofromtheNo Jul 24 @ 8:32 PM EDT
    So much fun to watch Pixar shorts for these #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @jessicaleeogden
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:32 PM EDT
    And remember that we keep the conversations going over at our Facebook group! https://t.co/JGbfk4DP78 #2ndaryELA
  • Geneiveve_James Jul 24 @ 8:33 PM EDT
    A4: To build a community I try to share what I can about my life with students. I think if they see me as a human being it helps us to begin to build trust with one another. I feel like in an ELA class trust is so important because we put so much into our work. #2ndaryela
  • kristyace Jul 24 @ 8:33 PM EDT
    A2. Introduce myself, my background, acclimate them to expectations, have them fill in a sheet about their interests and reading/writing habits, then teach them something fun and have them interact (usually with sticky notes). #2ndaryELA
  • mindyhildebrand Jul 24 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    A5: I was thinking of starting with an email etiquette unit that @DaringEnglish has! #2ndaryELA
  • SpanglerMiddle Jul 24 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    Sneak Peek at Next Week's Questions: #2ndaryELA
  • Geneiveve_James Jul 24 @ 8:35 PM EDT
    A5: The first content related lesson I am doing is going to be about genres so that my 7th grade Ss will have a basis to start our discussion for all things that we read. It will provide them with a point of reference that they can rely on for the whole school year. #2ndaryela
  • kristyace Jul 24 @ 8:38 PM EDT
    A3. Routines for handing in assignments, feedback, how to work with other students in my classroom, silent time vs discussion time vs creative time expectations. My goal is to make them comfortable, with an expectation that I am there to push them and make them think. #2ndaryELA
  • mindyhildebrand Jul 24 @ 8:38 PM EDT
    Yes! #booksnaps #2ndaryela #REALedu
    In reply to @Geneiveve_James
  • literarymaven - Moderator Jul 24 @ 8:42 PM EDT
    We're an environmentally focused school so it will be a hike, read, hike back event #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @teachinELA
  • MissShrayder Jul 24 @ 8:43 PM EDT
    A5. We’re going to do email etiquette right away to make all the teachers happy! #2ndaryELA
  • kristyace Jul 24 @ 8:58 PM EDT
    A4. Staying consistent. Respect students' time and needs. I admit when I don't know something or when I make a mistake. Students see me as super curious. I try to learn from their talents. I mentally set a "clean slate" each day, so yesterday's bad day doesn't repeat. #2ndaryELA