Secondary ELA & Library Media News: March 2022

 

Dear Secondary ELA and Library Media Colleagues:

 

The National Writing Project has shared two resources related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine: 1) in partnership with the News Literacy Project, “How to Teach News Literacy in the Midst of Unfolding Crises”, and 2) “How to Talk to Children about the Invasion of Ukraine” that may be useful to you. This is also a powerful time for collaboration amongst our social studies, library media, and ELA colleagues to provide students with tools for empathy and identifying misinformation.  

 

Two books that may be of interest:

  1. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman is set in Ukraine during the Chernobyl disaster with converging plot threads to WWII and how Jewish refugees came to Eastern Europe. It covers the disaster and the escape of two girls from Chernobyl, which the Russian military has taken over as of this writing, and shows that hatred, intolerance, and oppression are no match for the power of true friendship.
  2. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is set in the former Soviet Union during WWII and describes the Russian invasion, occupation, and destruction of many nations and could draw parallels to what is going on today.

 

I was also reminded of this poem by Warsan Shire (poetry has been on my mind/heart a lot lately):

 

what they did yesterday afternoon

by warsan shire

they set my aunts house on fire

i cried the way women on tv do

folding at the middle

like a five pound note.

i called the boy who use to love me

tried to ‘okay’ my voice

i said hello

he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

 

i’ve been praying,

and these are what my prayers look like;

dear god

i come from two countries

one is thirsty

the other is on fire

both need water.

 

later that night

i held an atlas in my lap

ran my fingers across the whole world

and whispered

where does it hurt?

 

it answered

everywhere

everywhere

everywhere.

 

I know Spring Break is happening now or coming up soon for most of you, and I hope that you have a moment to enjoy the spring weather, spend time with family and friends, and care for any hurt that needs tending . 

 

My Current Read: Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith

My Current Listen: What’s Her Name podcast

My Current Watch: Rutherford Falls 



 Educator Spotlight

Chris Thompson - English and ESL Teacher

Spanish Fork Jr. High

 

I have enjoyed teaching 7th and 8th grade English at Nebo’s Spanish Fork Junior High for fifteen years and feel lucky to have a job I love. Every day is full of new challenges and adventures that can only be appreciated by other middle grade teachers. Daily junior high life does not lack for entertainment, and just when I think I have seen and heard it all, a new trend or saying comes along giving me the opportunity to learn even more from my students. Last year they taught me what it means to “Hit the woah,” whereas this year I have mastered The Griddy and the proper use of the phrase, “That’s cap.” 

 

Learning from and connecting with my students is the most rewarding part of my career, so whether students are practicing reading or revision strategies with me, or I am learning the latest social constructs from them, my ELA classroom is a place to listen, learn, grow, and glow. Together. A place to put our phones away and connect through reading and writing. 

 

People who encouraged me as a young reader or writer all contributed to my becoming an English teacher. Whether it was Ron Galbreath wiping away tears as he finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows to our sixth grade class, or Jean Hawkins incorporating her literary knowledge into her weekly church lessons, I discovered a desire to read. Likewise, my parents and professors like Tom Romano celebrated my attempts at poetry and prose to the point where I not only wanted to develop that gift, but share it. Igniting that passion in my own students–to see themselves as lifelong readers and writers–is my number one goal in teaching ELA. 

 

When I am not teaching, grading, or preparing my next lesson, I enjoy decorating my home, refinishing furniture, spending time with my children, and listening to 80s and 90s country music. I can usually lure my adult children back into our home with the promise of a good meal or a Harry Potter marathon as we all share a love for J.K. Rowling’s storytelling. However, right now I am engrossed in Niel Shusterman’s Scythe series and recommend it to all my dystopian loving students. 

 

Teaching English/Language Arts has given me the opportunity to develop my passion as a reader and a writer while helping to instill that same enthusiasm in my students. I cannot think of a better way to connect with and influence future generations than by empowering them with the ability to navigate and express themselves through the written word. 

 

 

UEN PDTV: Information Literacy

 

In a new episode of UEN PDTV, Humanities Coordinator, Robert Austin, and I talk to UEN’s Katie Blunt about strategies for information literacy. It includes great features of Utah educators teaching kids about these skills. You can view the episode on the UEN website at uen.org/pdtv as well as the UEN YouTube channel.

 

March is Women’s History Month



 

 

NCTE Creates Book Rationale Database

 

NCTE’s Intellectual Freedom Center website will soon have a new feature: an active database of book rationales. While NCTE has long had rationales available to members, this is the first time rationales will be available digitally on our website. NCTE is pleased to recognize new support in the form of a $10,000 grant from Penguin Random House Education to support the digitization effort.

Book rationales are a strong way to document why a book is selected for use in the classroom and how it may help students master standards.

NCTE has hundreds of rationales created by teachers that will be made available to NCTE members later this spring in digitized, searchable versions. Over the last year, the NCTE Standing Committee on Censorship has been updating the common rationale formats. The database will allow members access to this form and allow them to submit new rationales to add to our database. Further details will be announced in the next 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: 

 

Intermountain AP Summer Institute

 

More info here. 




2021-2022 Secondary Literacy Director Meeting Dates

 

Mark your calendars! 

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



·        March 22, 2022 from 1-3pm, virtual

 

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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