News ELA

My NCTE-presenting buddy just reminded me of this cool web site:

http://newsela.com/

It's current events for kids, and you can change each article to reflect multiple Lexile levels.  Amazing!  I just registered and haven't used it with my students yet, but I plan to.

I'm continuing to plan for NCTE, but it's getting harder with report cards looming.  Hoping to see many of you there!

Session Code:	D.20
Title:	(Re)Inventing Non-Fiction in the Secondary ELA Classroom
Sponsored By:	New England Association of Teachers of English
Level:	Secondary, College
Topic of Interest:	21st-Century Literacy
Add to Planner:	Add Item to Planner
Description:	Teachers need to use more non-fiction to meet the Common Core and PARCC, but many are not sure how to use informational text to promote critical thinking. This session will discuss finding more informational texts; teaching rhetorical analysis; writing with non-fiction; and using blogs, Twitter, and infographics to engage students.
Participant(s):	Speaker: Abbey Dick Massachusetts Dept. of Elem. and Sec. Education - (Re)Inventing Non-Fiction in the Secondary ELA Classroom Speaker: Elizabeth Gonsalves Abington High School / NEATE - (Re)Inventing Non-Fiction in the Secondary ELA Classroom
Location:	Sheraton, Sheraton/Beacon E Room, Third Floor
Time:	Friday 11/22 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Event in March

A weekend of moose spotting, outlet shopping, and a full day of PD with Kelly Gallagher?  Sounds like fun to me.  I already signed up:

http://www.khsmwv.com/news/writenow14.pdf

If you need something to look forward to to get through quarter one, this is it!

Red Flags/Green Flags for the Common Core

Hi, all.  Crazy week.  I am starting on Teaching with Poverty in Mind, and I'm already finding it a helpful and enlightening resource.

My professional practice goal this year (my first time in the Ed. Eval. system!) is about student-led discussion.  I really need to expand my skills on teaching discussion.  If you can lead me to sources, let me know!

The following is a link I shared at TeachPlus, but it wasn't in my list of sources:
http://misiciowa.org/uploads/BHK8-Literacy_Green_Flag_Red_Flag.pdf

It was an ASCD document when I originally saw it a few months ago.  It is a T-Chart checklist that gives teachers and administrators some suggestions for what the Common Core should actually look like in ELA classrooms.  I have found it enlightening.