#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 May 10, 2016
Welcome to tonight’s chat! Please introduce yourself. Tell what & where you teach. Share your blog link if you have one.
Hi, In Kim from MD, and I teach high school English.
I'm Hillary - I teach 8th grade LA in Indy!
Don't forget: use on responses & replies to others, label your responses w/A1, A2, & follow anyone chatting with us
I'm Brynn Allison, chat co-host. 7 yrs teaching HS English & reading interventions in Philly. Blog: https://t.co/cyx1WlfdS8
I'm Charlie and I teach high school (9&10) English in Ohio.
Jimmy here popping into for a bit. Hope everyone is well.
Q1: Do you have final exams at the end of the year? How do you make review interesting for students?
A1: We no longer have final exams because of PARCC testing. However, we have a two hour block while other classes have exams.
I'm Carissa and I teach 6th grade LA in OK
Yay! I had my alarm set and am finally back! I'm Jennifer and teach 7&8 ELA in SW Ontario, Canada.
A1: We don't have official final exams but I like to prep my students for high school with exams.
A1: We have state testing at end of yr. coming up in less than 2 weeks. Review is best when fun games can be incorporated.
As we are doing intros, just wanted to put out an offer for a Text Set and Prompt Swap. Great way to trade sets. Plenty 2 gain.
A1: Our state tests are our final exams in my district for middle school.
A1: To make exam review fun I try to make it game based, and student directed review. See more: https://t.co/YY6SySfivg
A1: I don't have one for the 7s, but will have a mock exam for the 8s to prepare them for Grade 9. 1 of 2
A1 As the Response to Intervention (RTI) Specialist at my school I'm not responsible for finals thankfully
A1 - No cumulative final, but 1 that focuses on skills learned - main idea, citing evidence, etc. with fiction/nonfiction txts
We do have final exams. State testing in April for 9/10. Give practice ACT for 10th exam. All have to take next year for real.
A1: I am looking for review ideas to keep them engaged as well - most likely some games, have them teach a topic.
A2: Kahoot is a fun way to review. I also find QR code scavenger hunts to be a great way for kids to review while moving around.
A1 We do have final exams. State testing in April for 9/10. Give practice ACT for 10th exam. All have to take next year for real.
A1 - I have also wanted to try review stations to help prep for tests
My students love stations
Q2: What final papers and projects do you do at the end of the year? Share favorites.
You know I always love your ideas! Thanks for your generosity!
A2: Reading projects (literary feast is fun), Present “snapshots” for readings, tea party & role play for end of TKAM
A1 - Have also seen "Literary Jenga" - been wanting to try. We are reading The Diary of Anne Frank & want to use it to review
For review I use stations and other activities to keep them moving around the room
A2: We have the students work on serious items like essay writing and fun items like movie/PSA making.
A2: We are ending the year with Kate DiCamillo author study. 5 different groups reading 5 different books.
Stephanie 8th grade ELA from Indy. I am loving Quizlet Live! It is too fun!
A2: Love research projects. Fav is finding songs that symbolize Ss life from birth to future goals & analyze lyrics.
That sounds interesting! How do you organize the stations?
A2 Favorite end of yr project is having students design a literary theme park https://t.co/mDPe5TSnVu great review of lit terms
Q2 - I've been using StoryBoardThat a lot in class lately - helps with summarizing, different types of conflicts, etc.
A2: Fav project they create own Greek god/goddess and write own nature myth. Then have a sharing "party"
That's so creative - I love it!
A2: We are wrapping up a final essay (expository for 7s, literary for 8s) & then media podcasts and speeches for Grade 8 grad.
A2: I use Kahoot for review. I like to also use quizlet for vocab
A2 - Tomorrow we are taking a virtual tour through Google Cultural Institute to learn more about Anne Frank's life.
Welcome Stephanie! Are you using the team version of ?
A2- We make a year in review music video. We talk about "We Didn't Start the Fire," then we create our own.
A2: I have had Ss create a poem anthology based around a theme also. Can even write their own.
My 10th graders are wrapping up a unit in "hard won Liberty" they are doing a research paper and presentation in groups.
A2: My 10th graders are wrapping up a unit in "hard won Liberty" they are doing a research paper and presentation in groups.
Q3: How do you recognize student growth and achievement at the end of the year?
A3: Pre & Post test data can show growth. I also like students to write & reflect on their own growth.
A3: Reflection on goals and growth seen in conferences held throughout the yr. https://t.co/LAwFUB7ok1
Q3: How do you recognize student growth and achievement at the end of the year?
A3 I'll have a little pizza party with awards for all my students who have shown growth and/or met their RTI goals
A3 - Had SS write memoirs @ beginning of the year - I will show them their latest piece of writing @ the end and we will compare
I hope togas are a requirement for entry into the party! :-)
Yes that is one and the same! So much fun!
Better Late than Never, right? Lisa from FL - MS ELA and Inclusion
A3: this is something I don't do well and need to improve upon.
A3: I used this year and gave Ss time to reflect on all work throughout year and blog about it. Talk. about. powerful!
A3: I had Ss create a goal for themselves in the first week of class. We will be reflecting on that & their selected term goals.
That sounds great! I'm going to look into that for next year.
A3: Analyze all summative data. Also have individual conferences with Ss about their growth
A3: I am going to try balloons with messages inside that have us review something new each day.
Q4: Do you have any special end of the year celebrations in your classroom? Academics related or just for fun?
A4: My AP Lit class will be watching a YouTube graduation speech each day leading up to the end. And of course we’ll add food!
A3: Reflections for sure!
you definitely should. It's a robust tool with high functionality and ease of use. Great parent piece, too.
This is silly. We used https://t.co/Bk1AVoCmaG to write goals to our future selves. We reflected on them when our emails came.
A4 Field day is coming up. Its a culmination of yr long competition. Think Hogwarts House Cup
A4: 8th graders get a graduation ceremony and celebration dance plus year end trip where I teach.
A3: I also have conferences with Ss during and after projects to discuss strengths and next steps.
What kinds of things go into your students' portfolios?
I love your memoir idea!!
As lit coach, I 'deliver' snacks 2 classrooms I've wrkd in-just my way saying thxs 2 kids https://t.co/7SbtoB60Rh
Q4: Do you have any special end of the year celebrations in your classroom? Academics related or just for fun?
Q4: We have fun-picnic, talent show, kickball tourney
written & typed responses, visualization drawings, voice feedback to peers, parent comments,
A4: I wish I had taken a picture today...I have a BINGO board where Ss put their tickets for "super" prizes..
A4: At end of yr our 8th graders take a trip to DC. Lots of fun. Plus promotion ceremony and dance, field day.
A2. My Ss write a thank you letter to a teacher they had this year. Ts and Ss love this.
Me too! Would love to see a pic of this.
A4- I write each kiddo in my class note to let them know how important they are.
A4 - we have an 8th grade awards night for our kids :) kind of like a mini-graduation ceremony!
Can you give us more info about this game?
I do this too during Teacher Appreciation Week
A4: We have an end of year trip and activities, as well as Grade 8 grad. I want to do something special for all my Ss as well.
I'll post one tomorrow... :)
Q5: Share a lesson or tip for what to do with students on those really hot days.
A5: Turn on the AC and have students get comfy around the classroom and read for pure enjoyment.
A4. Each grade level has a special field trip on last day. 6th gr goes roller skating.
A5: On really hot days, my students like to go outside and read under the trees or play soccer baseball.
A5: It's always hot in FL! We have A/C though... I buy those popsicles in a tube as prizes for games...
A4: we have tiled floors, so each tile is a "space on the 15x15 board. laminated letters with values in them. Students in groups
A5: I also like to "get crafty" and make fun things!
That is a great idea. My personal kiddos love those things.
A5: I just bought an origami kit for this year...
A5: Don't be afraid to go outside. Do a descriptive sensory writing assignment.
A5: I think we can write favorite memories on the paper and then fold em up!
A5; Just taught grad class; Ss found a choice book to teach in content area-YA lit helps content cm alive https://t.co/fz9z8zbiHU
A5: Turn on the AC and have students get comfy around the classroom and read for pure enjoyment.
A5: Always hot and humid in OK. Ss are used to it. We allow water bottles to curb...it's hot I need a drink
A5: do "cold reads" - just kidding! Couldn't help myself with the pun opportunity!
Thanks for chatting with us tonight. Next week's chat: reflecting on teaching. See you on 5/17 at 8pm EST
We’re already planning for next year. could you take a few minutes to give us some feedback? https://t.co/R1oGAVISD9
Thanks so much for hosting!
Thanks for great chat See you next week!! TY
Thanks for a good chat Remember to contact me to trade 9/10 text sets and prompts! Get plenty of resources!
We have positive referrals. Teachers also get to choose one student each quarter to brag about. Get a spec lunch
