Mr. Jared Beadle
Your Story Matters-Part 2: Exploring Life Through Story Elements
Most of us have heard the question “When am I ever going to use this in life?” in reference to ELA. Searching for an answer? Look no further! Literature is a direct reflection of life, and life is a journey. Coming from the isolation of the last few years, our students need to explore what life has to offer and map their own journey. Attendees of this collaborative session will learn methods of bridging the gap between ELA and life through the elements of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution to help their students achieve their life goals.
Dr. Zack DePiero
Analyzing and Annotating Lyrics on Genius.com
This action research-oriented presentation examines the range of skills embedded within a research-based writing project – “Analyzing and Annotating Lyrics on Genius.com” – for an online Writing About Literature course at a community college. Students self-publish an original annotation that enhances a reader’s understanding or appreciation of the lyrics by identifying literary devices, interpreting authorial intent, making sociocultural connections, and/or detecting parallels across that artists’ work. Their work will be analyzed – including drafts, final submissions, and reflections – followed by a discussion of how this data inspired changes to the project design, including assigned readings, supplemental activities, and rubric criteria.
Dr. Michael W. Young
The Play’s, and the Film's, the Thing: Teaching Shakespeare and Cultural Currents
Shakespeare’s long popularity allows for a way to show changing cultural conditions and their impact on interpretations of the plays. Through comparing and contrasting different filmed adaptations of specific Shakespearian plays, such as Hamlet, Othello, and Midsummer Night’s Dream, we can show our students that the great works can always be contemporary. A prime example is Henry V and its two major versions Olivier's in 1943 - strongly influenced by its wartime situation - and Branagh's 1989 film - post Vietnam and the Falkland’s when war was a bloody not pristine and noble thing.
Ms. Ashlynn Wittchow, Ms. Meg Davis
Literary Apprenticeship: Exploring Literature as a Site for Creation
Watch this pre-recorded session to consider alternative ways to engage students in literary analysis. Drawing inspiration from transformative fiction, we will consider how literary works can be reframed as invitations for students to generate their own fiction. Building on Oscar Wilde’s insight that “to the critic the work of art is simply a suggestion for a new work of his own,” we will provide frameworks and prompts for teachers to create space for fictioning in their ELA classrooms.
Dr. Lou Ann Sears
What Civil Rights' Memoirs Can Teach Us about Surviving and Thriving in and out of the Classroom
Surviving the Pandemic and helping students to do the same requires us to act--specifically to re-acquaint, re-dedicate, revitalize, and recover. Fortunately we do not have to try to find the time to invent ways to do this. Instead, we can listen to the voices of history--specifically Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, and Melba Pattillo Beals who survived their 1950s journey as African American students integrating all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Following their lead, this session will remind us that we must increase our awareness of history and "use [it]as a starting point for making real change" (Roberts 145).
Dr. Christine Walsh, Dr. Hye Ryung Won
Reimagining Assessment Practices to Enact Culturally Relevant-Sustaining Pedagogy
A teacher’s mindset and cultural understanding heavily influence the presence of culturally responsive-sustaining (CR-S) teaching and the subsequent use of assessments. This session will focus on assessment practices that enable literacy learners to feel empowered while honoring their cultural and historical identities and backgrounds. Four authentic literacy activities that provide rich assessment data and maintain CR-S pedagogy will be shared. The activities involve actively incorporating students’ funds of knowledge into the classroom to strengthen their sense of identity. Participants will leave the session with practical artifacts and ideas that can be used as literacy assessment practices.
Dr. Alison McMonagle, Christy Chang, Dr. Felicia Brown
Improving Reading for Older Students at the School District of Philadelphia
This session will explore the steps the School District of Philadelphia has taken to address foundational skills gaps in older readers. Participants will explore the district, network and school level initiatives that have been launched and are in progress at SDP. Participants will join collaborative discussions with the presenters and peers about what steps are being taken in their schools and districts to support older readers.
Dr. Jennifer Toney
Writing Composition at the Elementary Level: Journeying Across Writing Wonderland
Writing is tough! This is especially true for young elementary level writers. This presentation shares ways to motivate and engage learners to become writers in a playful and purposeful way. This example offers one way educators can guide their students to believe in themselves, even when the task is challenging.
Mr. Nicholas A Emmanuele
Nurturing Self-Assessment: Growing Gradeless Classrooms
Points, grades, and compliance hinder our students' engagement with learning. By going gradeless and humanizing our assessment practices, we can cultivate student self-reflection and self-assessment so students can talk about learning rather than how many points they need to pass. In this presentation, you will hear about one high school classroom's shift to student "grade pitches" as we consider what grades mean and how we can empower our learners.
Mr. Darius Phelps and Mrs. Minh Le
Between the Pages: Young Men of Color & Connecting with Graphic Novels
This session is geared toward educators of all setting on how utilizing graphic novels rooted in diverse voices can be groundbreaking, especially with Young Men of Color. Presenters will discuss how to open the door for fostering meaingful discussions, and also encourage students to find solace, foster creative expression, and cultivate cultural experiences leading to healing and liberation.
Dr. Florian Feucht
Let's Talk about News: Students analyze and deliberate current issues using a non-biased process
In these times of change, conflict and oh-so-many controversies, teachers need tools that work to help students learn how to analyze and discuss important issues in a non-partisan way. This session will explore our technology-based media literacy unit that empowers students to critically evaluate the news, engage in deliberative discourse on current and contested topics, and take action in their communities.