March 31, 2019

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 4/2 Topic: Mentor Texts and Sentences

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about using mentor texts and sentences in the 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, April 2, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about using mentor texts and sentences in the classroom.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about using mentor texts and sentences in the 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:

March 29, 2019

Using Literature Circles to Bring Readers Together

Literature circles allow students to collaborate and share their ideas about a shared text of their choosing. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about literature circles. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how book selections are made, by theme or by genre. Teachers also shared the titles of their favorite books to use for literature circles. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about literature circles. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how book selections are made, by theme or by genre. Teachers also shared the titles of their favorite books to use for literature circles.

Read through the chat below to find out how to group students for literature circles. You'll get ideas about holding students accountable for their reading. You'll also find ways to assess students during and after reading.

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.




Literature circles allow students to collaborate and share their ideas about a shared text of their choosing. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about literature circles. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how book selections are made, by theme or by genre. Teachers also shared the titles of their favorite books to use for literature circles. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.

March 24, 2019

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 3/26 Topic: Literature Circles

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about literature circles.
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, March 26, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about literature circles.

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

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:

March 17, 2019

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 3/19 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, & 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, March 19, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about close reading and 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.

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:

March 15, 2019

Using Hyperdocs to Individualize Student Learning

What is a hyperdoc? A hyperdoc is a lesson or series of varied activities designed to encourage collaboration, communication, reflection, and creation. It's a blended learning roadmap! Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed hyperdocs and how they use them to individualize learning. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about using hyperdocs to individualize student learning. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed the definition and purpose of hyperdocs. Teachers also shared how they use them in their classroom.

Read through the chat below to find rips for using hyperdocs to individualize student learning. You'll get ideas about the teacher's role in a hyperdoc and monitoring student progress.  You'll also find resources for hyperdoc creation.

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.




What is a hyperdoc? A hyperdoc is a lesson or series of varied activities designed to encourage collaboration, communication, reflection, and creation. It's a blended learning roadmap! Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed hyperdocs and how they use them to individualize learning. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.

March 10, 2019

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 3/12 Topic: Hyperdocs

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about using Hyperdocs in the 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, March 12, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about using Hyperdocs in the classroom.

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about using Hyperdocs in the 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:

March 8, 2019

10 More Historical Fiction Novels to Recommend to Your Secondary Students

Historical fiction is the perfect blend of fiction and nonfiction. Parts of it are true and it could have all happened, but it didn't quite. It's a genre I love to recommend to students because as they are reading, they are also learning about an issue, event, or time period. Here's ten historical fiction titles, separated into middle school and high school, that I've recently read and would recommend.
Historical fiction is the perfect blend of fiction and nonfiction. Parts of it are true and it could have all happened, but it didn't quite. It's a genre I love to recommend to students because as they are reading, they are also learning about an issue, event, or time period. I recently wrote about 7 historical fiction titles for middle school students and 9 for high school students as well as 14 World War II and Holocaust novels. Here's ten more historical fiction titles, separated into middle school and high school, that I've recently read and would recommend. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.
Though she is only twelve, Gerta, the main character, and her brother Fritz, not much older, already have government files that will determine their fate in life. Their apartment is bugged and just looking at the wall on her way to school earns Gerta reprimand from the soldiers who guard it. Considering these conditions, it is amazing that Gerta and Fritz would even consider tunneling beneath the Berlin Wall to be reunited with their father and brother. Gerta isn't fearless, but nothing can stop her from reaching her goal once she starts.
The novel is narrated by Levi Battle, a teenage African American boy from Chicago who has little to no experience with racism and has never even heard of the "Jim Crow" of the South. His young age and innocence allow the reader to imagine the shock of coming into contact with experiences like being forced to sit in a blacks only section of a train or a storekeeper threatening one's life for entering through the front door of his shop.

Nadia must navigate through her war torn city in an attempt to reunite with her family. As bombs fall and shots are fired around her, she is filled with fear and the pain in her leg from a previous incident in the war in which she was struck by shrapnel. She, who has rarely left the house since her injury, must now rely on the kindness of complete strangers and think quickly in life or death situations. 
This 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). 

The main character Mattie is a plucky teenager who has a strained relationship with her mother and a crush on a local boy, both issues to which modern day teens can relate. As the novel progresses and yellow fever sweeps through the city, Mattie takes on greater responsibility for her family and their family business, a coffee shop. She is forced to make difficult decisions and is a mature young adult by the time disaster subsides.

High School
6. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
The novel is set during WWII and features young women in non-traditional roles. As a female pilot, Rose can only transport planes, not engage in combat, but when she goes astray on a mission, she is forced into enemy territory and eventually taken to a concentration camp.

7. The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
Set in Scotland before World War II begins, the book follows Julie on her misadventures the summer she returns to her grandparents' estate to help clear it out before it becomes a school. On the day she returns, Julie is knocked unconscious and spends most of the rest of the summer trying to piece together what happened to her.

8. Out of The Easy by Ruta Septys
Josie, the protagonist, is a fierce character. Because her mother thinks only of herself, Josie learns to fend for herself at a very young age. She has a passion for books and education, and is determined to create a better life for herself despite the many obstacles in her way.

9. The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
The story alternates between two first person narrators: Kyle, a teenage boy trying to make his way home from school on 9/11, and Hannah, the teenage girl he rescues on the way. Kyle and Hannah are both struggling with burdens that neither is fully prepared to disclose at first. In the midst of great tragedy, the two try to comfort each other, but also have moments of teenagers just being teenagers.

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

March 4, 2019

On My Bookshelf: When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer

When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer has a wonderful balance of action, drama, romance, and animals that kept me wanting to read more to see how things would turn out for both Lily and Swifty. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.
The basic plot from Amazon: T. Lily Decker is a high school senior with a twelve-year plan: avoid stress, drugs, alcohol and boyfriends, and take regular psych quizzes administered by her best friend, Sawyer, to make sure she’s not developing schizophrenia.

Genetics are not on Lily’s side. When she was seven, her mother, who had paranoid schizophrenia, tried to kill her. And a secret has revealed that Lily’s odds are even worse than she thought. Still, there’s a chance to avoid triggering the mental health condition, if Lily can live a careful life from ages eighteen to thirty, when schizophrenia most commonly manifests.

But when a newspaper internship results in Lily witnessing a mother elephant try to kill her three-week-old calf, Swifty, Lily can’t abandon the story or the calf. With Swifty in danger of dying from grief, Lily must choose whether to risk everything, including her sanity and a first love, on a desperate road trip to save the calf’s life, perhaps finding her own version of freedom along the way.

Why I liked it: When Elephants Fly has a wonderful balance of action, drama, romance, and animals that kept me wanting to read more to see how things would turn out for both Lily and Swifty. The novel begins with an introduction to Lily's traumatic past and her never wavering best friend Sawyer.  Things quickly escalate when Lily comes between a mother elephant and her baby. Her actions jeopardize the baby elephant's home at the zoo and create concerns for Lily about her own mental health. 

The novel struck a careful balance between raising awareness about mental health issues, educating readers about elephants' plight in captivity, and weaving an interesting plot line that encompasses the two issues. While I thought the romance plot was a little rushed, I was impressed by everything else the author undertook. The ending leaves readers hanging as to Swifty's fate, so if you are hoping for a happy ending, this one won't be a definitive one. 

Classroom application: I loved reading about the author's inspiration for the novel, which would be great to share with students. Your animal lovers will adore this book and it would also be an excellent addition to literature circles themed around mental health issues like these titles.

After reading, the novel lends itself to the opportunity for discussion about how to best raise awareness about and protect endangered large mammals. In recent years, I've seen the end of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus and the departure of the elephants from (my local) Philadelphia Zoo. My students may not have had the chance to experience either, which means their exposure to elephants is only through photograph and videos. It would be interesting to see how this affects students concern for these majestic creatures. Discussion could easily lead to a variety of topics for an argumentative essay: Are zoos ethical? Are circuses a form of animal abuse? Do mental health issues received proper attention and support in our country?

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of When Elephants Fly 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.

When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer has a wonderful balance of action, drama, romance, and animals that kept me wanting to read more to see how things would turn out for both Lily and Swifty. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application.

March 3, 2019

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 3/5 Topic: Supporting Students' Needs

Join secondary English Language Arts teachers Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST on Twitter. This week's chat will be about supporting students' needs in the 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, March 5, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about supporting students' needs.

Supporting Students' Needs can be a challenge.  Come to the #2ndaryELA chat to get new ideas how to do this more efficiently and effectively.

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:

March 1, 2019

Designing a Balanced English Survey Course

Before students tackle American Lit, Brit Lit, or World Lit, they are usually introduced to literature through a survey course. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about designing a balanced English survey course. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed objectives and mandatory elements for survey courses. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about designing a balanced English survey course. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed objectives for survey courses. Teachers also shared mandatory elements.

Read through the chat below to find out how other teachers balance the different elements of a survey course. You'll get ideas about how to combine concepts. You'll also find out what other teachers struggle with in teaching survey courses.

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.




Before students tackle American Lit, Brit Lit, or World Lit, they are usually introduced to literature through a survey course. This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about designing a balanced English survey course. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed objectives and mandatory elements for survey courses. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.