October 30, 2017

On My Bookshelf: Scrawl by Mark Shulman

Scrawl by Mark Shulman is written in a journal format by Tod as he sits in detention with his guidance counselor. He's a "bad kid" who loathes everything about the establishment of school and has quite the humorous way of describing his dislikes to his reader. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Tod Munn is a bully. He's tough, but times are even tougher. The wimps have stopped coughing up their lunch money. The administration is cracking down. Then to make things worse, Tod and his friends get busted doing something bad. Something really bad.

Lucky Tod must spend his daily detention in a hot, empty room with Mrs. Woodrow, a no-nonsense guidance counselor. He doesn't know why he's there, but she does. Tod's punishment: to scrawl his story in a beat-up notebook. He can be painfully funny and he can be brutally honest. But can Mrs. Woodrow help Tod stop playing the bad guy before he actually turns into one . . . for real?

Read Tod's notebook for yourself.

Why I liked it: Scrawl is written in a journal format by Tod as he sits in detention with his guidance
Scrawl by Mark Shulman is written in a journal format by Tod as he sits in detention with his guidance counselor. He's a "bad kid" who loathes everything about the establishment of school and has quite the humorous way of describing his dislikes to his reader. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
counselor. Even though his first few entries jump from topic to topic, I was immediately drawn in by Tod's voice. He's a "bad kid" who loathes everything about the establishment of school and has quite the humorous way of describing his dislikes to his reader (whose terse voice in her occasional responses to his writing contrasts the detail in his writing). 

As Tod continues to write, it becomes clear that he isn't such a bad kid; he's more of a Robin Hood figure, taking lunch money from the nerds to cushion his own desperate existence. He slowly reveals the details of his dismal home life and his friendships with his "gang:" Bernie, Rex, and Rob. The four of them were involved in some sort of trouble that Tod eventually reveals. Besides doing what he needs to do to fend for himself, Tod looks out for Bernie, whose life is even messier than his own and does another good deed by providing the costumes for the school play. The novel ends with some twists that reaffirm Tod's Robin Hood status and the real "bad guys" finally get caught. 


Classroom application: Scrawl is my new favorite book to recommend to boys. Tod is funny and far from perfect, but still has a sense of what is truly right and wrong. There are some elements of crime in the book (theft, arson), but no other mature themes (nothing sexual or violent), so it would be appropriate for either a middle school or high school classroom library.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Scrawl 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.

October 29, 2017

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Narrative Writing

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about narrative writing.
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 week and we hope that you will join us again.




Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.


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 Tuesday, October 31, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about narrative writing in the English Language Arts classroom.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: When and how do you teach narrative writing? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What lesson, concept, or technique creates the most visible difference in student writing? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What stories do you use as mentor texts during narrative writing? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What unique ways do you share, publish, or read student narratives? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What advice would you give a teacher who wants to improve teaching or grading narratives? #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 “Latest.”
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 tinyurlbitlygoo.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.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

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:

October 27, 2017

Teaching Literary Elements: Point of View

In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch tells Scout that, "You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." As I teach point of view, I impress upon my students that to really understand a story, they must just as carefully consider the point of view. Whether you are teaching these as new concepts for your students, diving in deeper, or just reviewing the basics, read on to find activities and resources that will benefit all levels of students.
In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch tells Scout that, "You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." As I teach point of view, I impress upon my students that to really understand a story, they must just as carefully consider the point of view.

Whether you are teaching this as a new concept for your students, diving in deeper, or just reviewing the basics, you'll find activities and resources below that will benefit all levels of students.



October 23, 2017

On My Bookshelf: Girl, Stolen by April Henry

In Girl, Stolen by April Henry, Cheyenne's kidnapping is really an accident, but becomes a crime of greater opportunity when her kidnapper's father finds out who her father is, and more importantly, who he works for. Despite being sick with pneumonia and almost entirely blind, Cheyenne is quick thinking and never stops trying to outsmart her captors. The novel becomes more and more intense as Cheyenne's situation grows increasingly more dangerous and her likelihood of survival decreases. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others.

But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes―now there's a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn't know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

Prepare yourself for a fast-paced and hard-edged thriller full of nail-biting suspense.

Why I liked it: Girl, Stolen was the second book in a row I read about kidnapping (the first one was Taken by Edward Bloor). I found this one much more realistic and as a result, much more interesting. Cheyenne's kidnapping is really an accident, but becomes a crime of greater opportunity when her kidnapper's father finds out who her father is, and more importantly, who he works for. Despite being sick with pneumonia and almost entirely blind, Cheyenne is quick thinking and never stops trying to outsmart her captors. The novel becomes more and more intense as Cheyenne's situation grows increasingly more dangerous and her likelihood of survival decreases. 
In Girl, Stolen by April Henry, Cheyenne's kidnapping is really an accident, but becomes a crime of greater opportunity when her kidnapper's father finds out who her father is, and more importantly, who he works for. Despite being sick with pneumonia and almost entirely blind, Cheyenne is quick thinking and never stops trying to outsmart her captors. The novel becomes more and more intense as Cheyenne's situation grows increasingly more dangerous and her likelihood of survival decreases. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

The novel is told in third person limited point of view with chapters alternating their focus between Cheyenne and Griffin, the young man who accidentally kidnaps her. Griffin is a good kid in a bad situation with a terrible father. Griffin realizes the mess that he has brought Cheyenne into and struggles to come up with a plan to free her without putting them both in even greater danger.


Classroom application: Like Taken, the novel would be appropriate for upper middle school and high school students. There are instances of violence, as to be expected in a novel about kidnapping, and some almost instances of sexual violence. The novel would appeal to male and female readers alike because of the constant action and the alternating focus on Cheyenne and Griffin from chapter to chapter.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Girl, Stolen 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.

October 22, 2017

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Learning Stations & Centers

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about learning stations and centers.
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 week and we hope that you will join us again.




Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.


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 Tuesday, October 24, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about learning stations and centers.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: How do you use learning stations or centers in connection with reading? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: How do you use learning stations or centers in connection with writing? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: Are the activities in your learning stations or centers usually independent or collaborative? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Is there always a tangible product in your learning stations or centers? How do you hold students accountable for their work? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: How do you manage student behavior during learning stations or centers? #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 “Latest.”
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 tinyurlbitlygoo.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.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

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:

October 20, 2017

Teaching Close Reading & Text Annotation Skills

Though close reading may seem like a buzz word, it's not a fancy, newfangled strategy. If your students are rereading a text to gain better understand and deeper meaning, they are doing a close reading. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teaching close reading and text annotation. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they define close reading. Teachers also shared how they select the texts they use for close reading and annotation. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
It's nothing fancy. If your students are rereading a text to gain better understand and deeper meaning, they are doing a close reading. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teaching close reading and text annotation. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they define close reading. Teachers also shared how they select the texts they use for close reading and annotation.

Read through the chat below to find out how to teach your students to annotate a text. You'll get ideas about different annotation methods and symbols.

Hope you'll join us next week for another chat. 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, links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

October 16, 2017

On My Bookshelf: Taken by Edward Bloor

In Taken by Edward Bloor, as the divide between the rich and poor grows, cases of kidnapping also increase. The twists and turns in Charity's kidnapping will surprise you and you'll never suspect the true identify of her kidnappers. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Charity Meyers has only 12 hours to live.

By 2035 the rich have gotten richer, the poor have gotten poorer, and kidnapping has become a major growth industry in the United States. The children of privilege live in secure, gated communities and are escorted to and from school by armed guards.

But the security around Charity Meyers has broken down. On New Year’s morning she wakes and finds herself alone, strapped to a stretcher, in an ambulance that’s not moving. If this were a normal kidnapping, Charity would be fine. But as the hours of her imprisonment tick by, Charity realizes there is nothing normal about what’s going on. No training could prepare her for what her kidnappers really want . . . and worse, for who they turn out to be.

Why I liked it: The author of Taken, Edward Bloor wrote one of my favorite middle grades novels, Tangerine, which weaves together sports, natural disaster/weather, disabilities, and racial tensions seamlessly, so I was excited to see what Taken would be like. The premise was intriguing and realistic; as the divide between the rich and poor grows, it is likely that cases of kidnapping will also increase. I had a harder time connecting with the characters in Taken and found their living and schooling situations to be ridiculous, though it is possible that is what the author intended.
In Taken by Edward Bloor, as the divide between the rich and poor grows, cases of kidnapping also increase. The twists and turns in Charity's kidnapping will surprise you and you'll never suspect the true identify of her kidnappers. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

The twists and turns in Charity's kidnapping did surprise me and I never would have guessed the identity of her kidnappers, but the reason for the kidnapping and the events afterward seemed a bit of a stretch. 

What I found most interesting was not just the divide between the rich and the poor, but how the issues surrounding equal access to quality medical care, living conditions, education, etc. were magnified in the novel.


Classroom application: The novel would be appropriate for upper middle school and high school students. There are mild instances of violence, but as to be expected in a novel about kidnapping. Though the novel has a female narrator, because of the constant action, it would appeal to male and female students alike.

The novel would be a perfect lead in to research about the gap between the rich and the poor in America and how economic status impacts one's life. Students could also research how great this divide is in other countries and the measures taken worldwide to try to close the gap. It might also lead to a discussion or debate about the benefits of capitalism and socialism.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Taken 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.

October 15, 2017

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

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about close reading and 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 week and we hope that you will join us again.




Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.


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 Tuesday, October 17, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about close reading and text annotation.

The Format:
8:00 – 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 do 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 “Latest.”
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 tinyurlbitlygoo.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.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

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:

October 13, 2017

8 Fantasy & Dystopian Titles to Recommend to Your Secondary Students

Fantasy isn't my favorite genre, but it is currently the genre of choice for many students. If you are a reluctant fantasy reader like I am, here's 8 titles, many of them part of a series, that I've recently read and would recommend to middle and high school students.
Fantasy isn't many favorite genre, but it is currently the genre of choice for many students. If you are a reluctant fantasy reader like I am, here's 8 titles, many of them part of a series, that I've recently read and would recommend to middle and high school students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.


1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
In Book One of the Chaos Walking series, Todd is the only boy left in a town of men, all of whom hear the Noise, the thoughts of other men. When Todd unexpectedly finds a girl, the two must flee his home town and he discovers that the world is not the place he was raised to believe it was. The two other books in the series, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men, are great follow ups.

2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
In Book One of the Lunar Chronicles, the classic tale of Cinderella is set in a futuristic world of cyborgs and androids. The familiar plot is filled with surprises and twists that will keep you turning pages and eager to read the next books in the series: Scarlet, Cress, Fairest, and Winter. Stars Above is a short story collection that accompanies the series.

3. Ever by Gail Carson Levine
Kezi and Olus are young, playful, and in love. The only problem is that Kezi is mortal and fated to die while Olus, god of the winds, can't live among humans.

4. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Tana thinks she is infected with vampirism, so not wanting to pose a threat to her family, she heads to Coldtown, a quarantined city for vampires and the Cold, those infected by vampires. Tana is accompanied by her definitely infected ex-boyfriend, Aidan, and Gavriel, a centuries old vampire and adventures ensue.

5. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
If you liked The Hunger Games, you'll love this book, which is a mix of fantasy and dystopian young adult literature. Despite all of the odds being stacked against her, the main character is fearless even before she discovers her superhuman powers. I haven't finished the whole series yet, but Glass Sword, the second book, is just as entertaining.

6. The Light of the World by Ellen Simpson
This novel is a mix of The DaVinci Code meets The Golden Compass with a struggle between good and evil, the protector of "the light of the world" versus its seekers, possible conspiracy, and secrets that can't be revealed.

7. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Realistic fiction is infused with fantasy and the supernatural in this book. Mike is just an average senior trying to graduate high school and make it to college, but then there's the zombie-like creatures, explosions, and incidents in the past that adults won't speak of. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

8. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
Jacob must lead Miss Peregrine's peculiar children to safety while fending off zombie-like creatures with which only he can communicate. The mix of genres in this young adult novel will hook readers with varying interests. Don't miss the first book in this series, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

October 9, 2017

On My Bookshelf: Second Impact by David Klass and Perri Klass

Second Impact by David and Perri Klass follows senior football star Jerry Downing as he navigates his "second chance." His mistakes and his chances to do things differently were always on his mind, which I think sets a great example for less than perfect teens. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Kendall is football town, and Jerry Downing is the high school's star quarterback, working to redeem himself after he nearly killed a girl in a drunk driving accident last year. Carla Jenson, lead reporter for the school newspaper's sports section, has recruited Jerry to co-author a blog chronicling the season from each of their perspectives. When Jerry's best friend on the team takes a hit too hard and gets hurt, Carla wonders publicly if injury in the game comes at too high a cost in a player's life―but not everyone in Kendall wants to hear it. . . .

David Klass and Perri Klass's Second Impact is an action-packed story that will resonate with readers who have been following recent news stories about football injuries.

Why I liked it: What first drew me in to Second Impact is that Kendall is not unlike my hometown with a high school also focused in football. Friday nights in the fall were for football games, football players were a privileged class of students, and we usually had a winning team. They were the state champions my sophomore year of high school.
Second Impact by David and Perri Klass follows senior football star Jerry Downing as he navigates his "second chance." His mistakes and his chances to do things differently were always on his mind, which I think sets a great example for less than perfect teens. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

I loved Jerry Downing's character and his relationship with his best friend, Danny Rosewood. I was interested with how Jerry handled his "second chance." His mistakes and his chances to do things differently were always on his mind, which I think sets a great example for teens. I was less thrilled with Carla Jenson's character, the other narrator in the story, because at times she seemed self-centered and more focused on getting a "story" out of something than in doing what was right.

I was also interested in how the novel dealt with concussions and head trauma in sports. Jerry and Carla spend time with a doctor as he makes his rounds among patients who have all suffered some kind of head injury and trying to recover from a variety of issues. Without being too heavy handed, the scene definitely raises questions about what can be done to minimize the risk in youth sports.

Classroom application: This novel would be appropriate for upper middle school and high school students (there are mentions of underage drinking, but not drugs or sexual content). Because there is both a male and female narrator, the novel would appeal to students of both genders. For your sports-obsessed students who love authors like Chris Crutcher and Mike Lupica, this would be a great recommendation.

The novel would be a perfect lead in to research about head trauma in sports and the measures being taken to minimize the risks. The novel could be paired with Will Smith's recent film, Concussion.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Second Impact 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.

October 8, 2017

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Creative Writing

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about creative writing.
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 week and we hope that you will join us again.




Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.


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 Tuesday, October 10, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about creative writing in the English Language Arts classroom.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: What is the structure of your creative writing (CW) class or how do you incorporate CW into your ELA class? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: Do your CW students keep blogs? If so, on what platform? For what purpose? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: Has anyone incorporated graphic novels or movie storyboards into a CW class? Share your experiences. #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: In what ways do you provide an authentic audience for your creative writers? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What guidelines do you use for fairly assessing student creativity? Effort? #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 “Latest.”
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 tinyurlbitlygoo.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.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

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:

October 6, 2017

Using Young Adult Literature in the Secondary ELA Classroom

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about using young adult literature in the secondary classroom. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed if and how they include young adult literature in their classroom libraries and their Curriculum. Teachers also shared their students' favorite young adult titles.

Read through the chat below to find suggestions for diversifying your classroom library. You'll get ideas about how and where to find new books to use in your teaching.  You'll also find ways to share what you are reading with students.

Hope you'll join us next week for another chat. 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, links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

October 2, 2017

On My Bookshelf: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Hold Still by Nina LaCour is a heart breaking, ugly cry inducing kind of book so have your box of tissues ready. Caitlin is struggling with normalcy after the suicide of her best friend Ingrid. She finds Ingrid's journal, whose entries paint one of the most accurate depictions of depression that I've seen in literature. Every girl that has had that one best friend at one point in their lives, the kind of best friend that excludes the need for any other friends, will connect with the beauty of Caitlin's friendship with Ingrid while she was living. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: In the wake of her best friend Ingrid's suicide, Caitlin is left alone, struggling to find hope and answers. When she finds the journal Ingrid left behind for her, she begins a journey of understanding and broadening her horizons that leads her to new friendships and first love. Nina LaCour brings the changing seasons of Caitlin's first year without Ingrid to life with emotion, honesty, and captivating writing.

Why I liked it: Hold Still is a heart breaking, ugly cry inducing kind of book so have your box of tissues ready. Ingrid's journal entries paint one of the most accurate depictions of depression that I've seen in literature. She emphasizes that there is no way to explain or rationalize her sadness or her suicide (contrary to the message readers/viewers might have taken away from  13 Reasons Why).

I also found Caitlin's struggle with normalcy after the death of her best friend to be very realistic. Everyone is pushing her to move on, but she is overwhelmed with memories of Ingrid and the guilt that she could have and should have done something different. Each time Caitlin seems to making progress toward returning to normalcy, it's that guilt that drags her back down.
Hold Still by Nina LaCour is a heart breaking, ugly cry inducing kind of book so have your box of tissues ready. Caitlin is struggling with normalcy after the suicide of her best friend Ingrid. She finds Ingrid's journal, whose entries paint one of the most accurate depictions of depression that I've seen in literature. Every girl that has had that one best friend at one point in their lives, the kind of best friend that excludes the need for any other friends, will connect with the beauty of Caitlin's friendship with Ingrid while she was living. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

Every girl that has had that one best friend at one point in their lives, the kind of best friend that excludes the need for any other friends, will connect with the beauty of Caitlin's friendship with Ingrid while she was living: their shared interest in photography and film, their inside jokes, the ways that their personalities compliment each other. 


Classroom application: This young adult novel would a great addition to a high school classroom library. It's themes are a little too mature for middle school.


The novel would be a great addition to literature circles themed around mental health issues and paired with other young adult novels like Challenger Deep and Every Last Word.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Hold Still 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.

October 1, 2017

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Young Adult Literature in the ELA Classroom

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about young adult literature.
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 week and we hope that you will join us again.




Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.


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 Tuesday, October 3, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about young adult literature in the English Language Arts classroom.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: Do you include young adult literature in your curriculum or just your classroom library? Explain. #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What are your students’ favorite young adult titles? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What titles would you recommend to help diversify a classroom library? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Where/how do you find new books for your classroom library or to use in your teaching? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: Do you or your students do book talks? What other ways do you share what you are reading? #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 “Latest.”
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 tinyurlbitlygoo.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.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

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: