#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 September 19, 2017
8:00 PM EDT

literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:00 PM EDT

Welcome to tonight’s chat! Please introduce yourself. Tell what & where you teach. Share your blog link if you have one. #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:00 PM EDT

Good evening! What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
participatechat Sep 19 @ 8:00 PM EDT

Participate in the upcoming #2ndaryELA by sharing resources and collaborating at https://t.co/7JVSn6BeQg
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:02 PM EDT

I'm Kim from MD. I currently teach Am Lit, Creative writing and AP Lit. Link to my blog: https://t.co/bvKeL4aaqt #2ndaryela
ErinBoiles Sep 19 @ 8:02 PM EDT

Erin from Texas. I teach Pre Ap English I @ Burleson Collegiate HS. Very excited to be here tonight! #2ndaryELA
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:03 PM EDT

Hi Erin. We're glad you are here too! #2ndaryELA
In reply to @ErinBoiles
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:05 PM EDT

Q1: How do you select books for literature circles? By theme? Genre? #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:06 PM EDT

#2ndaryela: My name is Lacie Fitts and I teach resource 9th grade language arts at Archer High School in Georgia
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:06 PM EDT

A1 In the past, I've done them by theme, i.e. coming of age #2ndaryELA
In reply to @ocbeachteach
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:07 PM EDT

A1 I find that doing it by theme allows me to choose a diverse set of texts w/choices that will hopefully appeal to all students #2ndaryELA
In reply to @ocbeachteach
ErinBoiles Sep 19 @ 8:07 PM EDT

Q1: I tried to pick books that went with the theme "coming of age" and tried to include a variety of genres #2ndaryELA
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:07 PM EDT

Hi Lacie. Happy Tuesday! #2ndaryELA
In reply to @literaryfitts
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:07 PM EDT

Sorry I'm late - Jen from MN. I teach G7 ELA and I blog at https://t.co/6CIzxRHZCU #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:07 PM EDT

A1: I mix them up- classics, YA, nonfiction- Just have to be by American authors. #2ndaryELA
mamawolfeto2 Sep 19 @ 8:09 PM EDT

Hi! I'm Jennifer from CA - I teach 7/8/9 ELA and AVID, and blog at https://t.co/gPzZEqwbyq #mamawolfe #2ndaryela
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:10 PM EDT

Q2: Share the titles of your favorite literature circles. #2ndaryELA
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:10 PM EDT

Our lit circles will be: theme(identities i.e. cultural, racial, family, etc.) for 3 rotations & fantasy for the last lit circle #2ndaryELA
mskirwan Sep 19 @ 8:10 PM EDT

Kristi from CA. I teach 7th grade ELA/SS #2ndaryELA
mamawolfeto2 Sep 19 @ 8:11 PM EDT

A1 I look at student interest and theme, as well as time period of US History for 8th graders #2ndaryela
hcarp_cms Sep 19 @ 8:11 PM EDT

Hello! I'm Hillary - I teach 8th grade English in Indiana! #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:11 PM EDT

Do your students have a favorite theme? #2ndaryela
In reply to @jen_roble
JJ_Burry Sep 19 @ 8:11 PM EDT

Good evening #2ndaryela! I'm Jess- 7th grade writing in Texas. I #blog at https://t.co/2Yr2h2DMWx
hcarp_cms Sep 19 @ 8:12 PM EDT

A1 - never done literature circles before except when I was in HS 🙈 looking to learn a lot tonight! #2ndaryELA
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:12 PM EDT

Welcome Jen! Happy Tuesday! #2ndaryela
In reply to @jen_roble
mskirwan Sep 19 @ 8:14 PM EDT

A2: Unwind, Ender's Game, Westing Game, The Testing, And Then There Were None #2ndaryEla
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:14 PM EDT

A2: All American Boys, Challenger Deep, If I Ever Get Out of Here, Nine Ten, Counting by 7s #2ndaryela
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:14 PM EDT

A2 Sunrise Over Fallujah, Split, The Skin I’m In, Standing Against The Wind, and The Fortune of Carmen Navarro for coming of age #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:15 PM EDT

A2: So many favorites! A Thousand Splendid Suns, Absolutely True Diary, Lone Survivor, Catcher in the Rye, Monster, Bell Jar... #2ndaryELA
massignmenthelp Sep 19 @ 8:15 PM EDT

The Complete Guide to UK Car Driving Theory Test https://t.co/skWVo4OBdl #edulive #2ndaryELA #5thchat
AssignmentHelpN Sep 19 @ 8:15 PM EDT

The SAMR Model: Effective Technology Integration in Classrooms https://t.co/N8NF3byMeG #edulive #2ndaryELA #5thchat
ErinBoiles Sep 19 @ 8:15 PM EDT

A2: In MS Moon Over Manifest was my fav. For 9th grade I started with To Kill A Mockingbird #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:16 PM EDT

Q3: Do you assign students to groups or allow them to choose? How do you prevent too few or too many students in a group? #2ndaryela
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:16 PM EDT

A3 Students pick their own. If I have a large # of students, I'll have multiple groups for the same books. #2ndaryELA
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:17 PM EDT

They like focusing on how identities are formed. We have discussions on culture, heritage, race, self-image, disabilities, etc. #2ndaryela
In reply to @ocbeachteach
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:17 PM EDT

A1: I select novels by theme. I do The Lightning Thief because of the theme of myths. #2ndaryela
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:17 PM EDT

A3 If I don't have enough copies of a book for everyone to get their 1st choice, then they get their 2nd choice #2ndaryELA
KeGaffigan Sep 19 @ 8:17 PM EDT

I’m late! I’m late! Kassidy-10th World Lit in S Metro ATL, GA. Only have 1 lit circle activity that was a success...lurking today #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:17 PM EDT

I've had students who enjoyed Sunrise Over Fallujah! #2ndaryela
In reply to @literarymaven
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:19 PM EDT

Coming in late - I teach 7th and 8th grade in Ontario, Canada #2ndaryela
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:20 PM EDT

A3: I don't have a whole lot but The Lightning Thief and The Absolutely True Diary Of a Part Time Indian. Would love suggestions #2ndaryela
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:20 PM EDT

A3: I plan my groups carefully by ability and gender. I give each group 5-6 choices to meet their interests and needs. #2ndaryela
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:20 PM EDT

A3: I focus on #personalizedlearning in my classroom so Ss pick titles & groups. Ss can only have groups of 2-3 as a rule. #2ndaryela
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:21 PM EDT

A2 - Favourites (no theme or genre) Speak, True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Life as We Knew It, Chains, We All Fall Down #2ndaryela
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:21 PM EDT

8:20 Q4: How do you hold students accountable for their reading? Are they assigned roles? #2ndaryELA
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:22 PM EDT

A2 - Also used Gone by Grant (copies are falling apart though). :( #2ndaryela
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:22 PM EDT

My students love True Diary! Great for boys who are reluctant readers. #2ndaryela
In reply to @literaryfitts
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:22 PM EDT

A4 No roles. I like to make accountability fun and easy to grade with assignments like tweet sheets https://t.co/6Oatjr0iMp #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:22 PM EDT

A3: Because I am resource I assign students based on heterogenous grouping. I want there to be mix of different skill levels. #2ndaryELA
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:23 PM EDT

A3 - I do a book pass. Ss pick top 3 choices. I make groups based on their choices, abilities, reading speed, etc. #2ndaryela
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:23 PM EDT

With small groups, what happens if a student is absent? #2ndaryela
In reply to @jen_roble
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:23 PM EDT

A4: No roles. Guiding questions & groups submit either a group summary, individual writing prompt, video clip of meeting, etc. #2ndaryela
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:24 PM EDT

#2ndaryela My Ss love it too. Turns some reluctant readers into readers!
In reply to @ocbeachteach, @literaryfitts
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:25 PM EDT

A4: My students prepare for meetings with response activities #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:25 PM EDT

Q5: How do you assess students during and after reading in literature circles? #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:25 PM EDT

They love it! And Lightning Thief. They both seem to have that effect on reluctant male readers which is why they are my go tos. #2ndaryELA
In reply to @mardieteach, @ocbeachteach
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:26 PM EDT

If a Ss is absent the group has flexibility to do other work & meet when they return-or they simply move forward to next meeting. #2ndaryela
In reply to @ocbeachteach
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:26 PM EDT

A4 - No roles. I've used many formats, but recently using sticky notes a la #Wholenovels which I've modified for my Ss/curriculum #2ndaryela
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:27 PM EDT

A5: Lots of informal Ss conferences, answers to prompts, 1 essay, a final project, & Ss self-assessment #2ndaryela
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:27 PM EDT

A4: I like to assign roles for my students because it keeps them accountable to their learning. But I let students self select #2ndaryELA
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:27 PM EDT

A5 I lean toward activities that engage readers no matter how much they've read like lit. postcards or character silhouettes #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:28 PM EDT

Mine use post-its and identify 2 meaningful quotes to share with group. #2ndaryela
In reply to @mardieteach
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:28 PM EDT

A5 Lit postcards https://t.co/DysPCX6v7h #2ndaryELA
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:28 PM EDT

A5 Character Silhouettes https://t.co/ep8FFcV09A #2ndaryELA
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:28 PM EDT

A5 - Assess conversations, sticky notes & responses (written) during. After I give Ss "Four Big Questions" to answer. #2ndaryela
KeGaffigan Sep 19 @ 8:29 PM EDT

A4/5 I’ve done same book lit circles mainly to share out roles. It was Iliad with focused-reading roles. A+for Ss understanding #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:29 PM EDT

I've been encouraging my Ss to text or email each other when someone is absent. #2ndaryela
In reply to @mardieteach, @jen_roble
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:30 PM EDT

8:30 Thanks for chatting with us tonight. Here’s a sneak peek at next week’s chat #2ndaryELA
ErinBoiles Sep 19 @ 8:30 PM EDT

A4: sometimes we do roles but the Ss pick sometimes we do activities , writing prompts, etc #2ndaryELA
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:30 PM EDT

I tried post-its(& felt it was best)but they tend to damage the books. :-( Since I buy all the books, we won't be doing it again. #2ndaryela
In reply to @ocbeachteach, @mardieteach
literarymaven - Moderator Sep 19 @ 8:31 PM EDT

And don't forget #2ndaryELA You can join us on FB to continue the conversation all week long https://t.co/p48Rqn7hbe
jen_roble Sep 19 @ 8:31 PM EDT

Thanks for a great chat! Hope to join in next week! #2ndaryela
KeGaffigan Sep 19 @ 8:32 PM EDT

I’m loving all the uses of sticky notes for lit circles!!! 😜 need to restock and try out these ideas #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:32 PM EDT

Mine put their post its on a handout I give them. Include the page #s. Maybe that would work for you? #2ndaryela
In reply to @jen_roble, @mardieteach
mardieteach Sep 19 @ 8:32 PM EDT

I had same problem, so they use post-its, record page#, & put them in a journal. Then they're all there for me to see afterwards. #2ndaryela
In reply to @jen_roble, @ocbeachteach
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:33 PM EDT

Thanks for joining me tonight! Hope you got some great ideas for your literature circles! #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:35 PM EDT

A4: I grade the work they complete in their groups and then I grade them in contributions made to their grade using a rubric #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:37 PM EDT

A5: Because each student has a role not is harder for them to plagiarize, but I do a big Amit plagiarism talk before. #2ndaryELA
literaryfitts Sep 19 @ 8:37 PM EDT

A5: I also give them a booklet that has all MLA citation information they will ever need and they are required to bring it. #2ndaryELA
ocbeachteach Sep 19 @ 8:39 PM EDT

A5: Oops, missed this. Peer and self evaluations, reflection questions #2ndaryELA