tengrrl’s thoughts & news on teaching writing, literacy, and literature
November 11, 2008
From my entry this week for the NCTE Inbox Blog:
Unsure if you can use a music video in class legally? The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education can help answer all these questions. Read the review for tips on additional resources you can use in the classroom.
November 6, 2008
From my entry this week for the NCTE Inbox Blog:
Trying to plan a time to meet friends at the Annual Convention in San Antonio? Doodle is a free online polling tool that makes it easy to gather preferences–for setting up events or anything else! And there are many ways you can use Doodle for professional development and in the classroom.
October 28, 2008
From the NCTE Inbox Blog (you know, my other blog):
The 2008 NCTE Annual Convention is only 3 weeks away. Before you know it, you’ll be in San Antonio attending sessions, giving presentations, and connecting with friends and colleagues.
But why wait till you’re in San Antonio? Here are ten reasons to post information about your convention session today.
April 24, 2007
Literature can provide powerful support for us in times of trauma and sadness. In the Teaching English in the Two-Year College article “Literature of Survival: A Literature Class as a Place for Healing,” Kate Dailey explains how literature can provide models and guides for readers searching for ways to make sense of traumatic experiences. When Nikki Giovanni was asked to speak at the Convocation at Virginia Tech (audio of poem , transcript of poem , convocation video) a week ago, she could never have predicted the way that her poetry would prove a healing salve for the community.
Overnight, words from Giovanni’s poem appeared on handwritten posters, on professionally-made banners, on tshirts, on full-page newspaper tributes, and on car windows. When I visited the Virginia Tech Department of English yesterday, a colleague confessed that Giovanni was amazed by the way the poem has been adopted by the community. As an English teacher, I too am amazed. It’s rare to see a poet’s words splashed across an entire community, but Giovanni’s reading at the Convocation has become the rallying moment for students, faculty, staff, alumni, related families, and the greater community. When Giovanni said, “We will prevail,” we all believed her.
Dailey’s Teaching English in the Two-Year College article emphasizes why literature can have such a powerful effect: it provides a model for healing, guiding readers through the process of remembrance, mourning, and reconnection. English teachers know that literature touches lives. In this last week, we’ve gained powerful evidence of just how deeply literature can touch us all.
This entry was originally posted on the NCTE Inbox blog on April 24, 2007.
November 7, 2006
As the number of English language learners in our classrooms increases, teachers are challenged to find meaningful ways to teach language in context. These resources suggest ways to discuss language issues in the context of literary discussions, giving teachers the chance to connect with these students in pedagogically useful ways.
October 31, 2006
National American Indian Heritage Month is recognized each November as a time to learn more about the history and heritage of Native American peoples. These resources provide strategies to explore Native American literature and heritage in your own classroom.
October 25, 2006
With Halloween and DÃa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in the next week, these resources provide seasonal activities that focus on language arts, literature, and writing.
October 18, 2006
NCTE and the International Reading Association have created a Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse to build a professional learning community of literacy coaches and to provide the education community with information on literacy coaching.
October 10, 2006
Next week is Teen Read Week! This year’s theme, “Get Active!” encourages teens to use the resources at their library to lead an active life. Students at any grade level can get active with these resources.
October 3, 2006
October 11 is National Coming Out Day, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This year’s theme, “Talk About It,” focuses on the importance of discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues openly and honestly. These NCTE resources explain how language arts and composition teachers can “Talk About It” in the classroom.