Secondary ELA & Library Media News: February 2022

 

Dear Secondary ELA and Library Media Colleagues:

 

The month of February has me thinking about poetry. Maybe because it’s the month of love or because I’m in the middle of former National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s new poetry book or because we finally made it through January and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Regardless, a memory surfaced from my time as a student in AP English. We were reading and studying John Donne’s poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,” and I admittedly did not like poetry. It all felt too difficult, and I didn’t care enough to struggle through the challenge. But this time, things went differently. I saw how the symbolism added depth and meaning to Donne’s words. It clicked for me in that moment, opening my eyes to the wonder that language can hold, and I leaned into poetry after that moment. Do you have an experience like this one? And how do you cultivate similar experiences for students? 

 

My Current Reads: Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

My Current Music Listen: “Misty Morning” by Sol Rising

My Current Watch: Groundhog Day (how was this movie made almost 30 years ago?)

 

 Educator Spotlight

Gretchen Zaitzeff  - District Library Media Specialist, Canyons School District

 

How long have you been teaching? Education is my third career, and I have been working in school libraries for the last 13 years.  

Who/what inspired you to become a teacher? My inspiration for becoming a school librarian heralds back to my elementary librarian and fifth grade teacher at Layton Hall Elementary in Springfield, VA, and of course, there’s a story there. Also the amazing school librarians of District Unit 5 and University High School in Normal, IL who served my children were inspirational in my choosing school librarianship as my current career.    

What has been the most rewarding part of teaching? Handing a book to the student who requested it and for whom you bought it is the happiest part of my job. The way that they light up and the joy they express is extremely fulfilling. I received a lot of spontaneous hugs from the recipients.

What are your hobbies/interests when you are not teaching? I collect signed books, socks and Legos. When I am not working, I am enjoying my family and serving in my faith community. I like reading (no surprise), decorating, traveling and all the fandoms.

What do you think is the most important thing about teaching ELA to kids? Readers are leaders. Students who can read can learn anything, be anything and achieve anything.

What is your favorite book? Author? I am a HUGE Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fan. I read all of the P&P mash-ups, re-works and fan fic. I also consume all the Austen movies, plays and other media. As you can see from my photo, I am also a big Harry Potter fan.  My post COVID goal is to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in NYC.

PHOTO: Gretchen Zaitzeff, Virtual Storytime

 

 

Registration Open Now: Professional Learning Opportunity

Robert Austin, USBE Humanities Coordinator, and I are excited to offer the following virtual professional learning series to secondary ELA and social studies folks (classroom teachers, instructional/literacy coaches, district leaders) with Cornelius Minor called “Put The Oxygen Mask on Yourself First: What it Means To Learn Right Now.” This is a series on meeting the needs of a changing learning landscape by focusing on ENGAGEMENT, CRITICAL THINKING, and CREATIVITY.

Dates/Times:

*Please note that this is a 3-part series. Participants will need to attend at least 2 of the 3 sessions.

 Location: Zoom

Cost: FREE

Registration: MIDAS course ID: 60758 | Receive 1.0 USBE Credit for 3 sessions; 0.5 for 2 sessions

For the schedule, learning intentions, and success criteria, visit here.

 

UCTE 2022 Conference

Friday, Feb 11, 2022at Megaplex Theaters at Jordan Commons

Registration is closed.

The 2022 annual conference of the Utah Council of Teachers of English will feature exciting keynote speakers and inspiring teacher-led breakout sessions. Our keynotes this year will be about identity, inquiry, and identity led by Sara K. Ahmed and digital literacies led by Dr. Shelbie Witte and Dr. Sara Kajder. 

 

Our teacher-led breakout sessions will cover topics ranging from teaching literature to best writing practices to incorporating digital literacies into the classroom. Join us for what promises to be an energizing and inspiring day of professional development!

 

UELMA 2022 Conference

Registration for UELMA’s annual conference is now open. The UELMA conference is Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Weber State University. Register now to receive a discounted rate at https://sites.google.com/uelma.org/annual-conference-2022/home 

UELMA is in need of volunteers!  If you would be willing to help at the conference, please let us know. More information here. 

 

2022 Round-Up of Children’s & Young Adult Book Award Winners

School Library Journal provides an overview of all of the recent book award winners including:

§  2022 American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards

§  2022 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Charlotte Huck Award

§  2022 International Literacy Association (ILA) Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CLR SIG) Notable Books for a Global Society

§  2021 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Outstanding Science Trade Books

 

 

Black History Month

 

 

Standards Implementation Institute Summer 2022

 

See this flyer for information about this summer’s Standards Implementation Institute. Registration will open at the end of March. Secondary ELA topics include: 

 

Update on Acadience Reading Expansion

 

SB 145 sponsored by Sen. Stevenson was heard in the Senate Education Subcommittee this week and moves forward with full recommendation from the committee. This bill would expand LEA access to Acadience Reading (a reading diagnostic assessment) through grade 8.

 

2021-2022 Secondary Literacy Director Meeting Dates

 

Mark your calendars! Next Meeting: March 22, 2022 from 1-3pm

 

To receive a meeting invite, contact Brenda McMurtrey at brenda.mcmurtrey@schools.utah.gov

 

 

Join the Listserve

 

Want to stay in the loop of future newsletters? 

Join the Secondary ELA ListServ at https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/secondaryela or 

the Library Media ListServ at https://lists.uen.org/mailman/listinfo/library-media

 

Have an item for the monthly Secondary ELA & Library Media newsletter, a research or teaching tip, or an educator spotlight nomination? Email brenda.mcmurtrey@schools.utah.gov  by the first of the month.

 

**Please note: LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of these resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.

 

 

Naomi Watkins, Ph.D.

Secondary ELA and Library Media Specialist

Utah State Board of Education

801-538-7616