On My Bookshelf: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

The basic plot from Amazon: Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met.

Incredibly funny and poignant, this twenty-first-century coming-of-age, coming out story—wrapped in a geek romance—is a knockout of a debut novel by Becky Albertalli.

Why I liked it: In Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Simon is your typical teenager, trying to figure out where he fits in and decide who he is; he just also happens to be not so openly gay and being blackmailed by a classmate for it.

Friendship and relationships are universal themes in the novel. Nick, Leah, and Simon have always been a close trio of friends, but now Simon is also growing close with Abby and Abby and Nick may be developing a not so platonic relationship, which leaves Leah feeling left out. Family relationships are also changing for Simon as his older sister Alice is in her first year of college and his younger sister Nora is developing new interests.

Classroom application: The issues surrounding gossip and the use of social media to harass and bully are ones to which all teens can relate. 13 Reasons Why would be a great novel to pair with this one, especially to compare the effects that these issues can have on teenage girls versus teenage boys. It's also an issue that is constantly popping up in current events unfortunately with far too many young people taking their own lives over online harassment and bullying.

The LGBT themes and characters (the main character and others) will help to diversify your classroom library. Because of the sexual content (some dick jokes, fantasizing, and kissing/petting), though it is mild, I would hesitate to include it in a middle school classroom library.

In a mature classroom, you could discuss the range of attitudes that people have toward gays, from accepting to tolerant to slightly homophobic to completely anti-gay. Another rich topic of discussion could be the difficulties of coming out to family and friends, and examining the reactions of Simon and Bram's parents and friends. Do they react appropriately? Are their reactions understandable? Does this make them good or bad parents or friends? A final interesting discussion topic could be the role of parents in general. Simon's parents are frequently featured in the novel. Do students agree with their rules and expectations of their children? Are they similar to the rules and expectations of students' parents?

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Independent Reading & Engaging Readers

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, November 1, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about independent reading and engaging readers.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: -What type of independent reading occurs in your classroom? Teacher or student selected? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: How do you hold students accountable for their independent reading? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: How do you motivate your students to complete independent reading in a timely manner? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What are some of the best independent reading projects or assignments you use? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: Share some strategies, blog posts or ideas to help other teachers with independent reading in their classroom. #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

Project Based Learning, Genius Hour, & 20% Time: How to Individualize Student Learning

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about individualizing student learning through project based learning (PBL), genius hour, and 20% time. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the types of individualized learning they use in their classroom, and  how they got started and introduced it to students. Teachers also shared past PBL units, final projects, successes and obstacles.

Read through the chat below for ways to spark students' interest and project based learning topics to connect with classroom curriculum. You'll get ideas about end products that are both engaging and rigorous. You'll also find advice on what works and tips for overcoming challenges.

Hope you'll join us next Tuesday November 1st at 8pm EST to talk about independent reading and engaging readers. We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On My Bookshelf: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Basic plot from Amazon: Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.

Why I liked it: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, is the tale of two best friends serving in unusual roles during WWII. Maddie, mechanically skilled, becomes a pilot and Julia, fluent in multiple languages, works in espionage.

The first half of the book is written by Julia while held captive in Nazi-occupied France. She hopes her writing will save her or at least prolong her time alive.

"Oh, God I am so tired. They have kept me at it all night. It is the third night I have had no sleep. Too little, at any rate. I don't recognize the people guarding me; Thibaut and Engel are all tucked up in their pensions, and von Linden is busy tormenting that screaming French girl.

I like writing about Maddie. I like remembering. I like constructing it, focusing, crafting the story, pulling together the memories. But I am so tired. I can't craft anything more tonight. Whenever I seem to stop, to stretch, to reach for another sheet of paper, to rub my eyes, this utter shit of a bastard who is guarding me touches the back of my neck with his cigarette."

The second half of the book is written by Maddie, her plane downed in France, and hoping to find her captured friend. Both girls display extreme courage in perilous situations. Their stories weave a beautiful tale of friendship and devotion.

Classroom application: The plot is full of unexpected twists and as a slightly obsessive reader of WWII literature, I would highly recommend it as an independent book pick for my students. The novel could also be used in a history class to study aviation, espionage or women's roles during WWII.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Code Name Verity for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Project Based Learning

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, October 25, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about project based learning.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: Do you do project based learning (PBL), genius hour, or 20% time in your classroom? What purpose does it serve? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: How did you get started with this type of learning and how did you introduce it to students? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What PBL units have you done or are you interested in doing? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: How do you plan final products that are standards-based and rigorous while still engaging for students? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What have been the biggest obstacles? Biggest successes? #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

On My Bookshelf: Winter by Marissa Meyer

The basic plot from Amazon: Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

Why I liked it: Winter, Book 4 of the Lunar Chronicles, is a futuristic version of the classic fairy tale of Snow White. Princess Winter is loved and admired while her evil step-mother, Queen Levena, must rely on her powers to control the people of Luna. She uses her glamour to cover up her disfigurement caused by the torture she endured as a child by Cinder's mother, Channery.

Unlike other Lunars, Winter refuses to use her powers over others as she believes that even when she has good intentions for doing so, it only ends up causing further harm. Because she does not use her gift, she is slowly going mad, but proves to be a useful ally for Cinder and her rebellious friends.

The book ends happily ever after without tying everything up too neatly. Scarlet and Wolf are set to return to Scarlet's farm, Cress and Throne will be aboard the Rampion, Winter and Jacin will serve as Lunar ambassadors to Earth, Kai will return to being emperor, and Cinder may someday join him after establishing a democracy on Luna.

Classroom application: Many connections with historical or current events could be made with this novel. The revolution/rebellion led by Cinder and her friends could be connected to the American or French revolution in the past or more recent revolution in Ukraine and Egypt. The desire for a change in government from a monarchy or dictatorship to a democracy or more balanced form of government could be related to these revolutions, past and recent, as well.

Another issue in the book (and the series) is the inequality between cyborgs and humans on Earth, an issue that is very personal for Cinder. Cyborgs are treated like second class citizens which could be connected to the struggles of blacks in the American South under segregation, aborigines in Australia prior to 1967, apartheid in South Africa, women in Saudi Arabia under Saudi law, Dalits in India and Nepal, and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland.

Queen Levena's beast army, wolf-like men who were taken from their families as young boys, are threatened and brainwashed similar to child soldiers in Africa and the Middle East. Winter's character and her refusal to use her powers/gift despite the effect on her mental health could lead to discussion of mental health issues and the undesirable side effects of some medications.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Winter for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Close Reading & Text Annotation

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, October 18, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about close reading and text annotation.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: What does “close reading” mean in your classroom? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What types of texts do you ask students to do a close reading of? For what purpose? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: How do you teach text annotation to your students? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Do you have a standardized method of annotation or so you allow students to develop their own? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: For what types of assignments do you require text annotation? How do you grade these assignments? #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

Diversify Your ELA Curriculum: Non-Traditional Texts to Engage Middle & High School Students

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about using non-traditional texts in the ELA classroom. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed sources for contemporary fiction and nonfiction. Teachers also shared their experiences with verse novels, graphic novels and "reading" other media: videos, images, and infographics.

Read through the chat below for recommended collections of new fiction, lists of award winning young adult literature, and titles of graphic and verse novels. You'll find sites with teen-friendly current event articles and other high-interest topics. You'll also get ideas about where to find and/or create your own videos and infographics to share with students.

Hope you'll join us next Tuesday October 18th at 8pm EST to talk about close reading and annotating texts. We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On My Bookshelf: On The Come Up by Hannah Weyer

Basic plot from Amazon: Based on a true story, an impassioned and propulsive debut novel about a headstrong girl from Far Rockaway, Queens, who is trying to find her place in the world.

Written in an urban vernacular that’s electrifying and intimate, On the Come Up introduces a heroine whose voice is irrepressible, dynamic, and unstintingly honest. Thirteen-year-old AnnMarie Walker dreams of a world beyond Far Rockaway, where the sway of the neighborhood keeps her tied to old ideas about success. While attending a school for pregnant teens, AnnMarie comes across a flyer advertising movie auditions in Manhattan. Astonishingly, improbably, and four months before she’s due to give birth—she lands a lead role. For a time, AnnMarie soars—acting for the camera, flying to the Sundance Film Festival, seeing her face on-screen. But when the film fades from view and the realities of her life set in, AnnMarie’s grit and determination are the only tools left to keep her moving forward.

Told with remarkable compassion and based on the real-life story of Anna Simpson, whom the author met during the filming of the award-winning Our Song, Hannah Weyer’s debut novel is an incredible act of literary ventriloquism that powerfully illuminates the lives of the urban unseen.

Why I liked it: In On the Come Up, AnnMarie begins the novel as a 13 year old girl struggling to take care of her mother and herself. The novel covers all sorts of teenage issues: abuse (both physical and sexual), gangs, drug use, violence, sexual identity, teenage pregnancy, mean girls, relationships, etc. but what struck me most was the character's voice.

"She didn't know why Brittany hated her, just that she did. It all got started sometime last year, Brittany saying, Stay away from Rashad. AnnMarie'd said, Rashad? Who the f*ck Rashad? But it didn't matter, they jumped her anyway and it went on from there...

AnnMarie stared daggers into that girl. She hope they eyes meet so Brittany could feel the cut, all them blades slicing her apart. But Brittany didn't notice. Her arm shot up, waving to somebody across the auditorium. F*ck that girl."

Classroom application: I am always looking for strong African American female characters to share with my students. Too often the books they are reading with African American female characters fall under my definition of "sexy trash." In On The Come Up, AnnMarie's speech and thoughts are that of a real urban teenager. She isn't perfect, she doesn't make all the right choices (or all the wrong ones), and every day is a struggle. This is no ghettoized romance novel. There is no happy ending, though there is some hope that AnnMarie is growing and learning from her past mistakes.

I also think I could use excerpts from this book for examples as I teach my students narrative writing in following Linda Christensen's ideas from Teaching for Joy and Justice. Show them an example of good dialogue and then have them write their own. Show them an example of good "blocking" (description of a character's actions) and then have them write their own.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of On the Come Up for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Engaging Students with Non-Traditional Texts

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, October 11, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about engaging students with non-traditional texts.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: Where/how do you find contemporary fiction (short stories, novels) to engage your students? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: Where/how do you find nonfiction texts related to current issues or on topics of interest to your students? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: Have you tried using graphic novels or verse novels with your students? Recommendations? Experiences? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Where/how do you find appropriate videos, images, and infographics for your students to “read?” #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What strategies do you use to help students read and understand non-traditional texts? #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

On My Bookshelf: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Basic plot from Amazon: Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

With a forward by Markus Zusak, interviews with Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney, and four-color interior art throughout, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike.

Why I liked it: Just before Junior, in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, describes finding out about his sister’s death, he reflects on his grandmother’s death and the death of Eugene, his father’s best friend. He makes this statement about funerals:

“I’m fourteen years old and I’ve been to forty-two funerals.

That’s really the difference between Indians and white people.

A few of my white classmates have been to a grandparent’s funeral. And a few have lost an uncle or aunt. And one guy’s brother died of leukemia when he was in third grade.

But there’s nobody who has been to more than five funerals."

What struck me here is that even death, a universal experience, is something Junior feels separates him from his classmates because of the number of deaths he has experienced (42 as opposed to their 5) and the cause, usually alcohol.

On a personal level, I can relate to Junior’s experience here. I know I have been to more funerals than the average person my age though not all connected to a similar cause (though in my experience, one death in a family or circle of friends often leads to others). As a teacher, I think this could be a very powerful moment in the book for my students, many of whom have experienced death, too much of it, and are themselves just fourteen years old. The deaths in my students’ lives are usually one of two causes: violence or health issues (and though I am not a medical expert, I would bet many are poverty related health issues).

Classroom application: Before reading Linda Christensen’s Teaching for Joy and Justice, I might have let this moment pass in my classroom. To share my own experiences on this topic with my students would be painful. How would they respond? How would I react? What would the students share? How would they respond to each other? How would I react? (I am a cryer; I cry reading the newspaper.)

After reading Linda Christensen’s Teaching for Joy and Justice, I see this moment as an opportunity to engage my students in discussion and writing that is real and relevant to them. Students could reflect on the lives lost and write poetry to praise those individuals: a “metaphor” poem, a “write that I poem,” or a “mirror” poem. Christensen’s poetry lesson “For My People” could easily be steered in the direction of “For My Lost People” and praise a group rather than just an individual. Students could then address the reason for the lives lost: violence, drugs, disease, etc.

After writing poetry, students could turn the same topic into an essay like Christensen’s “profile essay,” used to honor ancestors. In this essay students would practice narrative writing skills like writing a physical description of a “character,” and showing a “character” in action. Students would also give important background information about that person, and the impact of that person on their lives and their futures. 

Through read-alouds students would share their writing and their experiences. Hopefully, students would walk away knowing “I am not alone.” When Arnold returns to school, he is overwhelmed by the kindness of his white classmates and teachers. He too learns, he is not alone.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Nonfiction and Real World Connections

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, October 4, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about nonfiction and real world connections.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: How do you use nonfiction texts and media in your classroom?
8:10 Q2: What is your favorite resource for finding nonfiction texts that are timely and apply to teens?
8:15 Q3: What short/long term benefits do you find from using nonfiction materials related to current events and real life issues?
8:20 Q4: How do you handle sensitive topics in the nonfiction materials you use in the classroom?
8:25 Q5: Describe your favorite lesson or unit that incorporates nonfiction material related to a current event or real life issue.

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here: