January 29, 2018

On My Bookshelf: Emerson Page and Where The Light Enters by Christa Avampato

Emerson Page and Where The Light Enters by Christa Avampato is filled with beautifully descriptive language that conjures up images of magical places and its references to other works of literature make a reading nerd like me feel right at home. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: Thirteen-year-old Emerson Page wants to know what happened to her mother, Nora, a world-renowned anthropologist well-known for her research on ancient cultures and languages. Five years ago, Nora was found on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"We've never seen anything like it," said the NYPD. "It's as if she just fell asleep on the steps of the museum and never woke up." Eventually, the police gave up their search for answers. But Emerson didn't.

Her journey to discover the answers about her mother's mysterious death takes her deep below the streets of New York City on a dangerous adventure into a magical world of books. There, she learns the stunning truth about her mother and her own destiny to continue her mother's legacy.

Time is running out. An alarming threat looms large and too close to home. With the very existence of human imagination at stake, can Emerson find the strength to fulfill her mother's final wish before it's too late?
Emerson Page and Where The Light Enters by Christa Avampato is filled with beautifully descriptive language that conjures up images of magical places and its references to other works of literature make a reading nerd like me feel right at home. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.


Why I liked it: Emerson Page and Where The Light Enters is filled with beautifully descriptive language that conjures up images of magical places and its references to other works of literature make a reading nerd like me feel right at home. I loved the scene with Alice from Through the Looking Glass. There are also some great quotes about books and reading sprinkled in.

Rarely do I feel like a book is too short, but I think a bit more character development at the start of the book and slowing down the plot wouldn't hurt in this one. I didn't feel a strong connection with the main character and major events happened one right after another.


Classroom application: This book is definitely appropriate for middle school (no questionable or mature content here) and up. It can be difficult to find books that are truly appropriate for the middle grades within the fantasy genre. The novel's connections to the nine Muses and other elements of Greek mythology would make it a good pairing with a unit on ancient Greece and also a great recommendations for students who love the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. The book could also serve as a mentor text for student writing; just a page or even a paragraph could be used to model descriptive and figurative language.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Emerson Page and Where The Light Enters 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.

January 28, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Reading Strategies

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about reading strategies.
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, January 30, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about reading strategies 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: How often do you use whole class reading in your class? For what purpose? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What strategies do you use to keep students engaged in whole class reading? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: Do you have students read in groups or with partners? How do you ensure that they stay on task? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What type of independent reading occurs in your classroom? Teacher or student selected? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: How do you hold students accountable for their independent 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:

January 26, 2018

Teaching Literary Elements: Symbolism

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so it's no wonder so many authors incorporate symbolism into their writing. The visual nature of symbolism also makes it a fun concept to teach to students.

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.

Terms to Teach
At the start of my teaching career, I taught primarily ninth grade students at an urban, Title 1 high school. My students came from a variety of K-8 schools, which meant they came with varying English Language Arts experiences. To ensure that all of my students started high school with a strong foundation in the literary elements, I found it best to give direct instruction followed by ample opportunities to apply terms and practice skills.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so it's no wonder so many authors incorporate symbolism into their writing. Th

During my direct instruction, I introduced students to the following terms: personal symbols, public symbols, symbolism, and allegory. Under the category of public symbols, I show students that symbols can have multiple meanings and they can represent people, events, concrete things, and abstract ideas. Many of my students were unaccustomed to taking notes so I provided them with a guided note taking template. This three column sheet provided a structured space for the term, definition, and examples.

Activities for Reinforcement
Before applying these newly learned terms to a short story or novel, I like to give my students opportunities to practice using shorter texts or media. For symbolism, using short video clips provides great visual reinforcement. In this playlist, I have collected a variety of videos "exposing" the origins of different symbols, how some symbols have changed their meaning over time, symbols hidden in well known logos, etc. I may only use one of two of these videos each time I teach symbolism, but they definitely help to spark student interest and open their eyes up to how prevalently symbols are used.

Another way I reinforce symbolism is by using a menu of activities based on Bloom's Taxonomy. Students choose activities from four different section of the menu: knowledge and comprehension, application and analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Students examine examples of public symbols and can use their knowledge to complete tasks such as designing a flag with a new symbol for their school.

If I'm in the midst of a novel or short story, an activity that is fun to use with any text is creating word art. It's a great activity for any grade level and can be used to reinforce the ideas of character and symbolism. This activity can be done during or after reading with any short story or novel. Students brainstorm words to describe and associated with a character of choice, select an object to represent the character or his/her traits, and then create that object using the words they brainstormed. You can read more about the activity and see examples here.

Incorporating Movement and Hands-on Activities
A fun introductory lesson to symbolism is creating a personal crest. I provide students with a crest template as well as the meanings of common symbols and colors. I ask students to select colors and symbols that represent them and then show students a sample crest to help them brainstorm additional ideas. I usually make students do a rough sketch or at least brainstorm a list of the symbols and colors they are going to use before handing out the crest template for their final product. After designing their crests, students write a short paragraph of explaining their choice of symbols and colors. If time allows, I'll have students present their crests to their peers. This activity could also be used as a beginning of the year activity for students to express who they are and decorate their new classroom. Students could also create crests to represent characters or individuals in a novel, short story, or nonfiction text.

To demonstrate to students how powerful symbols can be, I incorporate a lesson on some of the propaganda posters used by Nazi Germany during World War II and the Holocaust. I select ten posters to print and hang around my classroom so that students can walk around and examine them. To begin, students infer the meaning of each poster by matching each poster with its correct English translation using the visual clues in the posters. After students have correctly matched the posters to their translations, they begin to identify patterns in the portrayals of the German people versus the Jews. Finally, students analyze symbols and color symbolism used in the posters. By the end of the lesson, students are able to see how the Nazi party to spread and preserve the basic ideas of Nazism and to dehumanize “inferior" groups.

Texts to Read
My favorite short story, "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst, is a perfect choice for teaching symbolism as the author’s use of symbolism is clear, yet multi-layered. The story is also full of beautiful imagery that contrasts the heartbreaking end to the relationship between the two brothers. I remember reading it as a ninth grade student and was delighted to find it in the literature anthology I used as a ninth grade teacher. It’s a great text for examining foreshadowing and can also be used to introduce allegory by discussing the author’s attitude toward war.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so it's no wonder so many authors incorporate symbolism into their writing. The visual nature of symbolism also makes it a fun concept to teach to students. Whether you are teaching symbolism as a new concept 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.

 
If you don't want to run the risk of crying in front or (or with) your students, "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing, is another great choice. The main character struggles against himself, his mother, other boys, and forces of nature. Like most young people, the main character wrestles with being viewed as a child when he wants to be treated like a young adult. This coming of age story is full of imagery and symbolism, and also great for teaching the different types of conflict.

Creative Application
Once students seem comfortable with the terms or if students need a challenge, I introduce students to a digital break out, "Symbols of a Well-Read Student" for additional practice. A digital break out is an online scavenger hunt-like game where players use teamwork and critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to open a series of locks.

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words, so it's no wonder so many authors incorporate symbolism into their writing. The visual nature of symbolism also makes it a fun concept to teach to students. Whether you are teaching symbolism as a new concept 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 this break out, students are hoping their current English teacher will recommend them for the advanced course next year, but she will only recommend students she considers to be "well-read" and has a list of five book titles students must read before she'll recommend them. Here's the catch; she won't directly tell students what the five book titles are. Instead, since they've just finished up a unit on symbolism, they'll have to use their knowledge of symbols and interact with a variety of text and media to figure out the titles of the books on the list.

In addition to needing content knowledge to successfully complete the game, break outs require students to think critically, communicate, collaborate, and use creativity. I also love break outs because they provide students with many opportunities to fail and try again. Every unsuccessful attempt to open a lock forces them to reexamine their information and their thinking.

Assessment
While many of the activities described above allow students to show their understanding of skills and terms, as a summative assessment I use a set of text-based assessments, each with a reading passage and 10 multiple choice questions or 7 multiple choice questions and a short written response, to assess my students’ knowledge of symbolism. 

As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000

The variety of passages and text complexity levels allows me to retest students as needed and make accommodations for struggling readers. The variety was also helpful in the years that I had classes whose eyes tended to wander during quizzes or tests.

You can find all of my resources for teaching symbolism here.

January 22, 2018

On My Bookshelf: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

The basic plot from Amazon: The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.


Why I liked it: Orbiting Jupiter is the first young adult book in a while that really made me say wow. It is short and has a simple plot, but has such great messages about love, loss, trust, family (not just the one you are born into), and sacrifice. Jack and Joseph are still more boys than young men, and are feeling their way into young adulthood. Jack has been blessed with two loving parents and a peaceful life in a rural small town, while Joseph's journey has been more of a struggle.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is short and has a simple plot, but has such great messages about love, loss, trust, family (not just the one you are born into), and sacrifice. Jack and Joseph are still more boys than young men, and are feeling their way into young adulthood. Jack has been blessed with two loving parents and a peaceful life in a rural small town, while Joseph's journey has been more of a struggle. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

Both characters are extremely relatable and could be the boy next store or the boy sitting next to you in class. As a teacher, I was particularly interested in how the adults at Joseph's new school reacted to him and his troubled history. I cheered for the teachers who saw past his flaws and recognized his talents.


Classroom application: This book is a must add to your middle school or high school classroom library. It would hook reluctant readers, especially boys, and would also make a great whole class read aloud. While Joseph is a father at the age of 13, there are no sex scenes, though there is some mild violence.

The novel would lead to rich discussions about the consequences of our choices, the ways in which young people are judged, and whether second chances are deserved. The novel could also lead to research about abuse, children's rights, and the foster system.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Orbiting Jupiter 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.

January 21, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Supporting IEP & ESL Students

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about supporting IEP and ESL students.
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, January 23, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about supporting IEP & ESL students.

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 are ESL and IEP students integrated in your school? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: How does your school communicate a student’s possible needs? Or do you do a needs assessment on your own? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What have been your biggest challenges with creating successful lessons for all students? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What extra support does your school provide for students beyond what you have in the classroom? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What's the best activity, project, or method of differentiation you've found works with your ESL or IEP students? #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:

January 19, 2018

Teaching Poetry: Favorite Poems & Creative Assignments

"Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things, and hence its importance," Matthew Arnold once sad and I think most English teachers would agree. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teaching poetry. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed when they teach poetry and how, as a unit or interspersed throughout their curriculum. Teachers also shared the skills they focus on when teaching poetry. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
"Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things, and hence its importance," Matthew Arnold once sad and I think most English teachers would agree. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about teaching poetry. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed when they teach poetry and how, as a unit or interspersed throughout their curriculum. Teachers also shared the skills they focus on when teaching poetry.

Read through the chat below to find out teachers' and students' favorite poems to read. You'll get ideas about creative poetry writing assignments.  You'll also find ways to engage those students who say they hate poetry or that they don't understand it.

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.

January 15, 2018

On My Bookshelf: Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father by Jonathan Hennessey

The basic plot from Amazon: Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential figures in United States history—he fought in the Revolutionary War, helped develop the Constitution, and as the first Secretary of the Treasury established landmark economic policy that we still use today. Cut down by a bullet from political rival Aaron Burr, Hamilton has since been immortalized alongside other Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—his likeness even appears on the ten-dollar bill. In this fully-illustrated and impeccably researched graphic novel-style history, author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood bring Alexander Hamilton’s world to life, telling the story of this improbable hero who helped shape the United States of America.
Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father by Jonathan Hennessey is as detailed in narration as it is in illustration. Every moment of Hamilton's life from birth to death is meticulously recorded in this graphic novel of a biography. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.


Why I liked it: Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father is as detailed in narration as it is in illustration. Every moment of Hamilton's life from birth to death is meticulously recorded in this graphic novel of a biography. Besides being an overwhelming source of information on Hamilton's life, the graphic novel also provides interesting insight (and some facts previously unknown to me) into some other key figures in American history such as George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, etc.


Classroom application: Hamilton, the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is all the rage right now (though I have yet to see it), so this book would be a great recommendation for fans or any of your students who are history buffs. The higher level vocabulary (much of it a bit old-fashioned and/or political jargon) makes this graphic novel more appropriate for high school than middle school.

The graphic novel or excerpts of it could be paired with a unit in an American history course focused on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and the decisions made afterward that shaped our government and economy (Hamilton lived from 1755 or 57 until 1804). Hamilton played a pivotal role in convincing colonists to join the fight for freedom, and was an active participant in the Revolutionary War, instrumental in the promotion of the Constitution, and key in establishing national financial stability.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: I received this book from Blogging for Books 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.

January 14, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Poetry

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about teaching poetry.
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, January 16, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about teaching poetry.

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 teach a poetry unit? When? Or do you incorporate it all year long? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What skills are most important for you to cover when teaching poetry? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What are your favorite poems to teach? What are students’ favorites to read? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Share your favorite poetry writing assignments. #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: How do you get creative when teaching poetry to appeal to those students who “hate” or don’t “get” poetry? #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:

January 12, 2018

5 Novels Dealing with Mental Health Issues to Recommend to Your High School Students

Mental health issues may not be more prevalent in today's society, but they are certainly more visible. It is just as important for students to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders as it is for students to have compassion for the people suffering from them. A novel is a great starting point for discussions about and further research into mental health issues. Here's 5 novels dealing with mental health issues that I've recently read and would recommend to high school students.
Mental health issues may not be more prevalent in today's society, but they are certainly more visible. It is just as important for students to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders as it is for students to have compassion for the people suffering from them. A novel is a great starting point for discussions about and further research into mental health issues. Here's 5 novels dealing with mental health issues that I've recently read and would recommend to high school students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.

1. Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
The novel portrays the terrible reality of a teenager suffering from mental health issues. In his head, Caden is aboard a ship headed for the deepest part of the sea; in reality, his behavior is growing increasingly concerning to family and friends.

2. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
Tamara Ireland Stone, Samantha can't stop thinking about boys, her friends, or anything that worries her because she suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. A new friendship seems to have a positive impact on her life and her control over her obsessions, but can it last?

3. 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.

4. I Don't Want to Be Crazy by Samantha Schutz
In this memoir, author Samantha Schultz recounts her struggles with anxiety disorder while trying to navigate the newly found freedoms of college life. Written in verse, this memoir makes the experience of having a panic attack almost tangible for the reader.

5. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Finch and Violet's paths intersect in a most unusual way: on the ledge of the school's bell tower as each contemplates jumping. Neither does and their ensuing relationship brings the light back into Violet's life, but will it be enough to save Finch from his own darkness? 

January 8, 2018

On My Bookshelf: The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith

The basic plot from Amazon: Born the runt of his litter and gambled away to a rusty old riverman, the Newfoundland pup Seaman doesn’t imagine his life will be marked by any kind of glory--beyond chasing down rats. But when he meets Captain Meriwether Lewis, Seaman finds himself on a path that will make history. Lewis is just setting off on his landmark search for the Northwest Passage, and he takes Seaman along. Sharing the curiosity and strength of spirit of his new master, Seaman proves himself a valuable companion at every turn. Part history, part science--and adventure through and through--The Captain’s Dog is the carefully researched, thrilling tale of America’s greatest journey of discovery, as seen through the keen, compassionate eyes of a remarkable dog.
The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith is a fun twist on historical fiction as it recounts a major event in American history, Lewis and Clark's journey, but from an animal's perspective. The narrator, Seaman, is just as adventurous as the men he accompanies and repeatedly proves himself to be a loyal companion. He is a keen observer and has an excellent read on the character of men (and women). Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

Why I liked it: The Captain's Dog is a fun twist on historical fiction as it recounts a major event in American history, Lewis and Clark's journey, but from an animal's perspective. The narrator, Seaman, is just as adventurous as the men he accompanies and repeatedly proves himself to be a loyal companion. He is a keen observer and has an excellent read on the character of men (and women). Each chapter of the novel begins with an entry from Captain Meriwether Lewis's journal and then continues from Seaman's perspective. Both reveal much about the famed pair, Lewis and Clark, their personalities, their hopes for the journey westward, and the struggles they faced.


Classroom application: The novel would be a great pairing with a unit in an American history course, either middle school or high school, or a choice in literatures focused on the genre of historical fiction. 

The novel could also be used as a mentor text. Students could choose a famous animal to research and write from the perspective of, or even better, an animal connected to a famous historical event. My students recently took a trip to the zoo and completed a similar assignment. Beforehand, they selected an animal to research. While at the zoo, they spent about an hour observing the animal, taking notes, and beginning to write from its point of view. After the visit, students did additional research, if necessary, before writing a realistic fiction piece that had to weave in real facts about the animal's appearance, diet, habits, habitat, etc. This type of assignment is a great way to weave in research skills with narrative writing.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the Captain's Dog 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.

January 7, 2018

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: New Ideas for the New Year

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about new ideas for the new year.
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, January 9, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about new ideas for the new year.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: Where do you find creative, new ideas? What structures do you have to set up in your classroom to make these ideas successful? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2. Share your most interesting fiction and nonfiction pairing. #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: What text (novel, short story, poem, non-fiction) would you recommend to other teachers that they've likely never heard of? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: Share a creative activity or project you've had success with in your classroom that is also rigorous and focused on standards. #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What's your most unusual method of getting students out of their seats while still engaged in learning? #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:

January 1, 2018

On My Bookshelf: Ghost by Jason Reynolds

The basic plot from Amazon: Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel in a new series from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award–winning author Jason Reynolds.

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?
Ghost by Jason Reynolds quickly grabs your attention. The narrator, Castle, reveals a traumatic incident involving his father in the first few pages and a chapter later strolls into a track practice and challenges the fastest runner, despite having never running track before. Castle doesn't claim to be fearless, but he is bold and unwilling to let others define him. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.


Why I liked it: Ghost quickly grabs your attention. The narrator, Castle (nickname Ghost), reveals a traumatic incident involving his father in the first few pages and a chapter later strolls into a track practice and challenges the fastest runner, despite having never running track before. Castle doesn't claim to be fearless, but he is bold and unwilling to let others define him. His stunt catches the attention of the coach and he becomes one of four newbies on the team. Castle is far from perfect as he navigates these new relationships, tries to manage his anger and issues at school, and struggles with the limitations of living in poverty.   

Classroom application: This book, appropriate for middle school and up, is definitely one to recommend to your reluctant readers, especially boys. As the author Jason Reynolds proclaims on his website, "I know there are a lot — A LOT — of young people who hate reading. I know that many of these book haters are boys. I know that many of these book-hating boys, don't actually hate books, they hate boredom. If you are reading this, and you happen to be one of these boys, first of all, you're reading this so my master plan is already working (muahahahahahaha) and second of all, know that I feel you. I REALLY do. Because even though I'm a writer, I hate reading boring books too. Here's what I plan to do: NOT WRITE BORING BOOKS." If that alone doesn't make you an instant fan, Ghost is also the first book in a series about the new members of the track team with the third installment coming out this spring.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Ghost 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.