#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 February 12, 2019
8:00 PM EST

  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:00 PM EST
    Welcome to tonight’s chat! Please introduce yourself. Tell what & where you teach. Share your blog link if you have one. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:01 PM EST
    I'm Brynn Allison, chat co-host with @spanglermiddle 10 yrs teaching MS & HS ELA in Philly. Blog: https://t.co/Dxqg5wZkKC #2ndaryELA
  • EdTechJulieJ Feb 12 @ 8:03 PM EST
    📝 Is it time to have your students revisit their #OneWord? February is the perfect time to have them reflect on their choice and progress! #OneWord2019 #2ndaryela https://t.co/s4lvAm6Bh9
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:03 PM EST
    My name is Kennedy Brough. I am studying English and Special Education at Trine University in Angola, IN. I recently took AP and advanced ELA classes in high school so I figured I could have insight into some of these questions! Looking forward to hearing from others #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:04 PM EST
    Hello, all! My name is Matt and this is my first Twitter chat. I am still in my teacher-preparation program at @wilmu. However, I work full-time as a seventh-grade paraprofessional. When I graduate, I will teach Middle School ELA in Maryland! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven, @wilmu
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:05 PM EST
    Q1: What types of advanced classes do you teach? Are there requirements for taking them? #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:06 PM EST
    A1 I don't currently, but taught 9th grade Honors and 10th college prep English in the past. 9th was based on test scores and grades, 10th also included recommendations #2ndaryELA
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:06 PM EST
    A1: I do not currently teach advanced. At my high school, there were no requirements for being admitted into them. Guidance could suggest against it, but ultimately it was the student's decision. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:08 PM EST
    Would you be interested in teaching advanced courses? #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @BroughKennedy
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:10 PM EST
    Q2: How do your expectations of advanced students differ from those of on-level students? #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:11 PM EST
    A2: I feel like expectations differs from group to group, year to year regardless of level. The personality of a class and the way students interact has so much to do with expectations #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:12 PM EST
    A2 cont: Abilities and needs change just as much from year to year. A high "low" group can be in the same place as a low "high" group #2ndaryELA
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:12 PM EST
    I would love to! I felt my AP Lit and Comp teacher prepared me very well for college and the types of essays and annotations professors want. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:13 PM EST
    A2: I hold advanced students to a higher standard when it comes to grammar and spelling than I do students that may be on- or below-level. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:14 PM EST
    A2: I certainly think expectations should be fluid. Even within an advanced class, different students will have different abilities and levels of motivations. I feel it's important to recognize this, not just between advanced & on-level students #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:14 PM EST
    A2 (cont.): As long as their errors don't take away from the point students are making, I feel I can let certain grammatical/spelling errors slide for certain students depending on their goals. Thoughts? #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:15 PM EST
    Q3: Do your advanced classes have a different reading list than on-level classes or just more rigorous assignments? Give an example. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:16 PM EST
    A3 A combination of both. Regular students read Nightjohn and Honors read Kindred. I like to do thematic pairings so I can use some content for both courses #2ndaryELA
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:17 PM EST
    I can understand this! Advanced students should be expected to self-correct themselves more. As long as those on- or below- students are given positive feedback in what they could do better, it seems reasonable. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ela_hurd, @literarymaven
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:17 PM EST
    Yes, higher level students usually have less of those kinds of mistakes. Well read students are also well written #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ela_hurd
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:19 PM EST
    A3: There is a mix. Some books overlap, while others do not. Especially in AP, we read books solely for the purpose that they could be used on the AP exam. The academic students rarely read one of the same books we did. #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:20 PM EST
    Q4: How does the pacing of your advanced classes differ from on-level classes? #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:20 PM EST
    A3: Each class has bi-weekly reading trackers (that double as bookmarks) that are turned in for a grade. Students can choose their own books, but they must be on their level or above. Each student has to read at least four days and 80 pages total each week. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:21 PM EST
    A4 Because I like to do thematic pairings, a unit might have the same length at both levels, but higher levels students are expected to read more and own their own more #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:21 PM EST
    A3: (cont.) Two classes are reading "Tangerine" and another two are reading "Al Capone Does My Shirts." Certain students have more comprehension-based assignments while others have more critical thinking and real-life connection assignments. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:22 PM EST
    I like the consistency of this! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ela_hurd, @literarymaven
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:25 PM EST
    Q5: What training, PD, books, or other resources have been helpful in structuring your advanced classes? #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:25 PM EST
    I like the variation in the assignments #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ela_hurd
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:26 PM EST
    A5 No recommendations here, but I'd love to hear yours! #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:26 PM EST
    A4: I find pacing to be extra tricky in ELA because a student’s question could lead to a teachable moment/discussion. Since these are invaluable and help solidify learning for some students, some parts of a lesson may be pushed back or omitted if not totally necessary. #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:27 PM EST
    A4: (cont.) You may need to slow down the pace for on- or below-level classes to reteach or explain something a different way. Conversely, you may need to pick up the pace when teaching advanced classes to maintain engagement and stimulate curiosity! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:28 PM EST
    A5: I have never structured an advanced class. However, I know my teacher had utilized many colleague resources from different schools in my district that taught the same course to gather ideas and suggestions #2ndaryELA
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:31 PM EST
    Thanks for chatting with us tonight. Here’s a sneak peek at next week’s chat #2ndaryELA
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:31 PM EST
    A5: All, Please share any resources that have been helpful in teaching advanced or GT students with me! Most of my teaching experience is in special education (inclusion and mainstream), so I’m very interested in learning more. Thank you! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @literarymaven
  • literarymaven - Moderator Feb 12 @ 8:32 PM EST
    And don't forget #2ndaryELA You can join us on FB to continue the conversation all week long https://t.co/p48RqnoSzO
  • ela_hurd Feb 12 @ 8:34 PM EST
    Feedback, feedback, feedback! Super important!! Let's face it, English grammar can be HARD. I think that holding advanced students accountable for proper English grammar in middle/secondary school will really pay off when entering college and careers! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @BroughKennedy, @literarymaven
  • BroughKennedy Feb 12 @ 8:35 PM EST
    I certainly agree with this! I am a tutor in our writing center at Trine and you can clearly tell the students whose teachers instilled proper English in them and those who let their students get away w too much and not been held responsible! #2ndaryELA
    In reply to @ela_hurd, @literarymaven