December 31, 2018

On My Bookshelf: How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation by Maureen Johnson

How I Resist is a collection that challenges the idea of resistance. Protests, marches, and sit-ins are all very visible forms of protest and resistance, but this collection reminds the reader that a song, a podcast, a poem, our day to day choices can all be forms of resistance too. The collection brings attention to all sorts of interesting individuals and projects and the variety of voices and types of pieces in the collection makes it appealing to people of ages (teens are the target audience) and backgrounds. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: An all-star collection of essays about activism and hope, edited by bestselling YA author Maureen Johnson.

Now, more than ever, young people are motivated to make a difference in a world they're bound to inherit. They're ready to stand up and be heard - but with much to shout about, where they do they begin? What can I do? How can I help?

How I Resist is the response, and a way to start the conversation. To show readers that they are not helpless, and that anyone can be the change. A collection of essays, songs, illustrations, and interviews about activism and hope, How I Resist features an all-star group of contributors, including, John Paul Brammer, Libba Bray, Lauren Duca, Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita, Alex Gino, Hebh Jamal, Malinda Lo, Dylan Marron, Hamilton star Javier Muñoz, Rosie O'Donnell, Junauda Petrus, Jodi Picoult, Jason Reynolds, Karuna Riazi, Maya Rupert, Dana Schwartz, Dan Sinker, Ali Stroker, Jonny Sun (aka @jonnysun), Sabaa Tahir, Shaina Taub, Daniel Watts, Jennifer Weiner, Jacqueline Woodson, and more, all edited and compiled by New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

In How I Resist, readers will find hope and support through voices that are at turns personal, funny, irreverent, and instructive. Not just for a young adult audience, this incredibly impactful collection will appeal to readers of all ages who are feeling adrift and looking for guidance.

How I Resist
is the kind of book people will be discussing for years to come and a staple on bookshelves for generations.

Why I liked it: How I Resist is a collection that challenges the idea of resistance. Protests, marches, and sit-ins are all very visible forms of protest and resistance, but this collection reminds the reader that a song, a podcast, a poem, our day to day choices can all be forms of resistance too. The collection brings attention to all sorts of interesting individuals and projects I never knew existed. The variety of voices and types of pieces in the collection makes it appealing to people of ages (teens are the target audience) and backgrounds, and if you are active on Twitter, you'll have quite a few new accounts to follow.

Classroom application: The collection could be read in its entirety in an English or Social Studies class, especially one focused on current events. The variety of pieces could also be used individually as examples of different types of nonfiction texts. I'll share a few of my favorites.

"Could We Please Give the Police Departments to the Grandmothers?" by Junauda Petrus is an essay that, much as the title suggests, describes what police departments would be like if they were run by grandmothers. The essay would be a great pairing with popular fiction titles like The Hate U Give, All American Boys, and Dear Martin. The essay could lead to research about how police are trained and function in other parts of the world. It is full of allusions and could be a mentor text for students to write about other things that would be better run by grandmothers (or any other age/gender group).

In the essay "The Lucky Ones," Jennifer Winner tackles the issues of privilege and equality. Because it is focused on her daughters, it is less likely to be perceived as preachy or threatening than other pieces I've read on the topics. I think it would open up good dialogue in the classroom about what has changed in America in the past 50-100 years and what hasn't. Further, it would help students begin to realize that all change has positive and negative effects, even if that change is "for the good."

John Paul Brammer recounts a formative childhood experience in "Letter to a Sensitive Brown Queer" in which he is confronted with gender stereotypes. The essay could be part of a unit on identity and imparts the message to students that it is okay to be different. I particularly like that the essay is written in second person to draw the reader in to the drama of the event.

Finally, "Media-Consciousness As Part of Resistance!" by Jonny Sun has a list of ten things to think about when consuming media and six ways to react to media. The list of things to think about would be a great starting point for a lesson on unit on digital literacy in either a Language Arts class or Social Studies class. Students could select a piece of media (the author points out that the same ideas apply to social media) and process it using this list of things to think about.

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

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 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.

How I Resist is a collection that challenges the idea of resistance. Protests, marches, and sit-ins are all very visible forms of protest and resistance, but this collection reminds the reader that a song, a podcast, a poem, our day to day choices can all be forms of resistance too. The collection brings attention to all sorts of interesting individuals and projects and the variety of voices and types of pieces in the collection makes it appealing to people of ages (teens are the target audience) and backgrounds. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

December 14, 2018

6 Suspenseful Page Turners to Recommend to Your Secondary Students

Nothing hooks you as a reader like well done suspense and a series of plot twists you never saw coming. Putting these types of page turners in the hands of students means they'll want to keep reading and won't want to put their book down.  They are ideal books for students who are often disengaged readers. Here's 6 suspenseful novels that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students.
Nothing hooks you as a reader like well done suspense and a series of plot twists you never saw coming. Putting these types of page turners in the hands of students means they'll want to keep reading and won't want to put their book down.  They are ideal books for students who are often disengaged readers. Here's 6 suspenseful novels that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.

1. One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
This is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive, is accurately described as “Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club.” The four survivors of detention narrate the book and each has something to hide, a secret only the outcast knew, which means each of them has a possible motive for murder. 
in this interesting mix of fantasy and thriller, fairy tale and magical realism, the main character, Alice, is no doubt a nod to Alice of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. Similar to Carroll's Alice, this Alice is far from perfect. She can be impulsive and is willing to use others to get what she wants. However, her mission is not a selfish one; she is trying to save her mother from whatever forces of evil have captured her. 
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. 
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. 
Sixteen near strangers are named as heirs to millionaire Sam Westing, but in order to claim their inheritance, they must solve the mystery of who killed Sam Westing. The players are paired up and only one pair can win. Clues are stolen, three bombs explode, and family members are keeping secrets from one another as each pair desperately hopes to win. 
This novel falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, and the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. Maddie's ability to see peoples "death dates" seems like a gift until she become involved in a murder investigation. A number of believable red herrings and realistic character development make the novel a hit. 

November 16, 2018

6 Humorous Novels to Make Your Secondary Students Laugh Out Loud

Not all students are looking for an emotionally heavy book when they are reading for pleasure. Think about your students who loved (or may still love) The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or the Captain Underpants series. These students want to laugh, not cry, at their books. Here's 6 humorous novels that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students.
Not all students are looking for an emotionally heavy book when they are reading for pleasure. Think about your students who loved (or may still love) The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or the Captain Underpants series. These students want to laugh, not cry, at their books. Here's 6 humorous novels that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.

1. Scrawl by by Mark Shulman
This novel 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.

2. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Roy is the new kid at school barely surviving the efforts of the school bus bully to crush him, until he spots a boy his age running barefoot one day. Roy is determined to find the boy and find out what he's running from. When he does find out, Roy becomes involved in a battle to preserve the habitat of burrowing owls.

3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Greg thinks suffering the trials of being an outcast in high school is bad. Then his mom promises that he will befriend a classmate and former girlfriend who has been diagnosed with leukemia. Somehow Greg is able to infuse both situations with laughter for the other characters as well as the reader.

4. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation is also an outsider determined to make his own path in life. The novel also provides opportunities for teens to reflect on the loved ones they've lost.

5. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The novel alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far.

6. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This book is so much more than historical fiction. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. There's romance in the plot, but also some mystery. The author even tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality.

November 13, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 11/13 Topic: Grit 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 a grit in the ELA classroom.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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, November 13, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about grit 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 a grit in the ELA classroom.

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:

November 9, 2018

Acting Like A Professional (Even When Your Colleagues Don't)

Keeping it professional can be challenging when balancing the demands of students, parents, admin, and other staff members.  This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teachers' professional lives. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the structure of the ELA department at their schools. Teachers also shared what planning time looks like and how it is used effectively. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teachers' professional lives. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the structure of the ELA department at their schools. Teachers also shared what planning time looks like and how it is used effectively.

Read through the chat below to find out how to handle colleagues who don't pull their weight or are constantly negative. You'll also find out how others teachers support each other.

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.




Keeping it professional can be challenging when balancing the demands of students, parents, admin, and other staff members.  This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teachers' professional lives. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the structure of the ELA department at their schools. Teachers also shared what planning time looks like and how it is used effectively. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.

November 4, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 11/6 Topic: A Teacher’s Professional Life

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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, November 6, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about a teacher's professional life.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about a teacher's professional life.

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 28, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 10/30 Topic: Note-Taking 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 note-taking in the ELA classroom.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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 30, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about note-taking 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 note-taking in the ELA classroom.

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 26, 2018

Adding Voices of Color: Diversifying the Literary Canon

Don't let old, dead, and white be the definition of reading in your classroom. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about including diverse literature in our courses. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the importance of teaching diverse literature. Teachers also shared how to help students connect with experiences distant from their own.Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about including diverse literature in our classrooms. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the importance of teaching diverse literature. Teachers also shared how to help students connect with experiences distant from their own.

Read through the chat below to find titles of novels by diverse authors. You'll get ideas about nonfiction texts to use to address diverse issues. You'll also find titles of poems and plays to diversify your curriculum.

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.



Don't let old, dead, and white be the definition of reading in your classroom. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about including diverse literature in our courses. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the importance of teaching diverse literature. Teachers also shared how to help students connect with experiences distant from their own.Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.

October 21, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 10/23 Topic: Diversifying the Literary Canon

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about diversifying the literary canon.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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 23, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about diversifying the literary canon.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about diversifying the literary canon.

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 19, 2018

5 Young Adult Novels to Help You Teach Magical Realism

Magic realism, the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction, has its origins in Latin American literature, but has also made its way into young adult literature. If your students are struggling with the concept as you read Toni Morrison's Beloved, Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, or another classic in this genre, here five young adult novels featuring magical realism to recommend to secondary students.
Magic realism, the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction, has its origins in Latin American literature, but has also made its way into young adult literature. If your students are struggling with the concept as you read Toni Morrison's Beloved, Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, or another classic in this genre, here five young adult novels featuring magical realism that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.

1. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
This novel is an interesting mix of fantasy and thriller, fairy tale and magical realism. The main character, Alice, is no doubt a nod to Alice of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. Similar to Carroll's Alice, this Alice is far from perfect. She can be impulsive and is willing to use others to get what she wants. However, her mission is not a selfish one; she is trying to save her mother from whatever forces of evil have captured her.

2. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
Mim hops on a bus to see her ailing mother without her father's permission. This teen girl's journey from Mississippi to Ohio, is filled with adventure, misadventure, and a cast of colorful characters.

3. Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black
Blue's mother is deceased, her father was just a sperm donor, her sister Cass took off two year ago, her former best friend doesn't understand her and her old boyfriend is no longer of interest to her. When Blue hasn't heard from Cass in far too long, she makes a deal with the devil, trading her voice for the ability to track down her sister, a journey that will take her across the country and into contact with an array of characters, some good, some evil, and some somewhere in between.

4. Swamplandia by Karen Russell
The Bigtree family own an alligator park, but after Hiola Bigtree, the mother and star of the alligator show dies, things start to fall apart. Ava, the youngest Bigtree, is determined to save the park with a red skinned baby alligator and by replacing her mother in the show.

5. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
In this novel, realistic fiction is infused with fantasy and the supernatural. 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. 

October 14, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 10/16 Topic: Grading

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about grading.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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 16, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about grading.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about grading.

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 12, 2018

Engaging Students in Independent Reading with Young Adult Literature

Giving students time to read novels of their own choosing is crucial to building a love of reading. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about engaging students in independent reading with young adult literature. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they incorporate independent reading into their class time. Teachers also shared how students select their books and where they get recommendations from. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about engaging students in independent reading with young adult literature. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they incorporate independent reading into their class time. Teachers also shared how students select their books and where they get recommendations from.

Read through the chat below to find out where teachers purchase books for their classrooms. You'll get ideas about how to stay up to date on new YA releases. You'll also find favorite recent titles to add to your classroom library.

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.




Giving students time to read novels of their own choosing is crucial to building a love of reading. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about engaging students in independent reading with young adult literature. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they incorporate independent reading into their class time. Teachers also shared how students select their books and where they get recommendations from. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.

October 7, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 10/9 Topic: Independent Reading & YA Literature

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about independent reading and young adult literature.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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 9, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about independent reading and young adult literature.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about independent reading and young adult literature.

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 1, 2018

On My Bookshelf: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dear Martin by Nic Stone is focused on police brutality and shootings targeting African American males, and a natural follow up to All American Boys and The Hate U Give. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.

Why I liked it: Dear Martin is the third young adult novel I've read recently focused on police brutality and shootings targeting African American males, a natural follow up to All American Boys and The Hate U Give. Like those two novels, Dear Martin touches on topics that have been largely ignored in young adult literature in the past: racism, racial profiling, gangs, drugs, code switching, interracial relationships, urban decline, black on black violence, police brutality, and witness intimidation. While the writing in Dear Martin was not as polished as the other two novels, I still very much enjoyed it and the issues it raises.

Justyce, the character at the center of the novel is extremely likable. He is a "good kid" who sometimes makes bad choices and he's smart and good looking. His struggles to fit in at school, please his mother, and understand girls are issues most teen boys can relate to, and his struggle to decide what type of black man he wants to be is one that I imagine many young black men share. My favorite parts were his direct addresses to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who Justyce affectionately calls "Martin," hence the title of the book.

Classroom application: The novel could be used in literature circles along with the obvious choices: The Hate U Give and All American Boys, but also with After by Marita Golden, a lesser known title, which also focuses on the shooting of an unarmed young black man, but is told from the perspective of the black police officer responsible for the shooting. The 2004 film Crash could also be used as a pairing.

The novel could also be paired with a study of Dr. Martin Luther King's life, ending with an essay questioning, like Justyce does, how relevant his teachings still are in today's world. Other possible research options would be the recourse for officers involved in a shooting, the support for officers who lose their partners in the line of duty, and the history of the KuKlux Klan.

The Halloween costumes sported by Justyce, Manny, and his friends would make for a great discussion about stereotypes, when is it okay to poke fun and when is it crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed?

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Dear Martin 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.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone is focused on police brutality and shootings targeting African American males, and a natural follow up to All American Boys and The Hate U Give. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

September 30, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 10/2 Topic: Struggling Readers & Writers

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about struggling readers and writers.
Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven, & Lisa Spangler, Mrs. Spangler in the Middle, 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.

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 2, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about struggling readers and writers.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about struggling readers and writers.

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: