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Secondary English Newsletter-2
Volume Six, Issue Two/October Issue 2023-24
November 7th PD Day for English 6-12 Teachers
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR NOVEMBER 7TH DISTRICT PD DAY FOR ENGISH 6-12 TEACHERS
Tuesday, November 7th, is the second District Professional Development Day of the school year. All English 6-12 teachers will have their sessions at the Fort Hayes Campus in Buildings 110 and 101. Please Register Here: #58591 English 6-12, November 7, 2023 PD Day for this in PD Planner as soon as you can prior to the end of the day on Sunday, November 5th. This will make the sign in/sign out process smoother because once registered your name will be on a sign-in sheet. Sign-in/out will be in Building 110. SEE THIS PD DAY FLYER FOR MORE INFORMATION.
NOTE: ATTENDEES MUST BRING THEIR OWN ELECTRONIC DEVICES!!
Sessions from internal, community, and vendor facilitators will be offered, as well as independent- and team-led learning via on-demand and planning sessions. This PD Day will feature:
- an opening orientation session to tour through the choices for the day and be introduced to items from Academic Services and SEL
- the first part of a four-part Literacy Chat series focusing on Comprehension
- Honors English 9 & 10 and AP English Lang & Lit sessions-one for each course
- Snippets sessions for StudySync and Canvas
- Creating Comics in the Classroom sessions facilitated by a former student
- Live and on-demand sessions for building capacity around curriculum resources & literacy tools from CCS, StudySync, and the Ohio Department of Education
- Some working rooms for building-based content teams to collaborate and plan for student learning
- Opportunities to check out and play classroom board games with English themes
- Tarp team-building activities
- History Quest Wellness Walk
- and more!
New Titles on Lit Charts A+
LITCHARTS A+ HAS 28 NEW TITLES
At the March 8th PD Day last year, attendees received a year's access to LitCharts A+ (https://www.litcharts.com/). Since then, several more teachers have been given subscriptions via lists from English chairs, new teacher orientation, teacher appreciation week, etc. If you are an English teacher and do not have a subscription, but would like one, please fill out this LITCHARTS A+ REQUEST FORM. I have a few more that can be used.
Here are the newest guides added to the site. These bring the total items available to 1797 Literature Guides, 930 Poetry Guides, 136 Terms/Devices Guides, and 41 Shakespeare Translations.
All the Literature Guides we published in September
- Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
- The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
- The Cay by Theodore Taylor
- The Chinese Statue by Jeffrey Archer
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
- Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
- Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian
- If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino
- Lullaby by Leslie Marmon Silko
- On Beauty by Zadie Smith
- Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
- The Third Level by Jack Finney
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
All the Poetry Guides we published in September
- At Castle Boterel by Thomas Hardy
- Death in Leamington by John Betjeman
- The Definition of Love by Andrew Marvell
- Epilogue by Robert Browning
- Havisham by Carol Ann Duffy
- In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz by William Butler Yeats
- In the Round Tower at Jhansi by Christina Rossetti
- Lycidas by John Milton
- nobody loses all the time by E. E. Cummings
- Pygmalion's Bride by Carol Ann Duffy
- Queen Herod by Carol Ann Duffy
- Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde by Christina Rossetti
- Up-Hill by Christina Rossetti
- Where the Picnic Was by Thomas Hardy
OCTELA Dates, Location, Featured Speakers
OCTELA 24: Raising Our Voices: How Place and Space Shape Us as Writers and Thinkers
Saturday, March 2, 2024 with an evening event on March 1; Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center
- Tom Romano, Friday Evening Speaker
- Kelly Gallagher, Saturday Morning Speaker
- Robin Echols Cooper, Saturday Luncheon Speaker
- Dave Lucas, Saturday Afternoon Speaker
40% OFF! CCS Teachers can attend ThurberCon at a huge discount!
THURBERCON 2023
Thurber House is offering CCS teachers and staff a 40% discount in honor of Thurber House's 40th anniversary (next year). On October 13-15, Thurber House is hosting ThurberCon, a multi-day writing conference that's jam-packed with workshops, panels/ask-me-anythings, networking opportunities, an open mic, and more. Spots are limited, so grab your seat today!
- Program: ThurberCon Writing Conference
- Dates: October 13-15, 2023
- Location: Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215) OR virtual on Zoom
- Schedule and registration link: https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurbercon-2023
To get your 40% off discount pass:
- Visit https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurbercon-2023
- Click the "Register" button to reach the Eventbrite page
- Click "Get tickets"
- Enter the promo code TEACH40
- Select your desired format (in person or virtual) and complete the registration form
This offer is valid only for teachers, and you must register using your school email address. If you have any questions or if spots fill and you'd like to be placed on the waiting list, don't hesitate to contact Thurber House at thurberhouse@thurberhouse.org.
Banned Books Week-Oct. 1-7
Have you been thinking about how to celebrate or recognize Banned Books Week in your classroom? Check out these sites with resources and promotional materials.
ALA Banned and Challenged Books
Featured TeachingBooks Booklist: Most Challenged Books of 2022
JustWrite Ohio October Contest: Open to All 9-12th Graders
Spooky Story Contest: Open to all 9-12th Graders in OHIO! (Your school does not have to be registered for the JustWrite Ohio contest to compete.)
Genre: Horror Prompt: A group of friends embark on a daring expedition to explore an abandoned ________. Tell their story.
- How to Enter: A student writes an original story, no more than 750 words in length, that matches the genre and prompt provided here: A group of friends embark on a daring expedition to explore an abandoned ________. Tell their story.
- PDFs of stories and entry forms must be emailed to contests@justwriteohio.org
- The contest begins 10-1-23. Entry deadline 11-3-23 by 5 PM.
- Prizes: The writer of the winning entry will be awarded an Amazon Gift Card. There will be one 9-12th grade winning recipient. The winning entry will be posted to the JustWrite Ohio website.
National Day on Writing-October 20th
Are you thinking about how you can celebrate writing in your classrooms on Friday, October 20th. Here are some sites with ideas.
Halloween Event
THURBER HOUSE BONFIRE & BOOS
Bonfire & Boos (Adult Halloween Event)
OCT 28, 2023 6-8pm
-For adult Halloween fans, Thurber House is hosting an adult-only bonfire night with drinks and spooky storytelling with award-winning author John Kachuba. Tours of the haunted Thurber House will also be available during the event. Tours will detail the real life historical events that some say have contributed to decades of ghostly activity at 77 Jefferson Avenue, as well as Thurber House’s most intriguing ghost stories from staff and visiting authors.
-Enter the Ghost Investigation Raffle for the chance to win a private ghost investigation at Thurber House on Friday, November 17, the anniversary of James Thurber’s infamous ghostly encounter on “The Night the Ghost Got In.” One lucky winner and their guest will be chosen for this rare, one-of-a-kind experience to accompany a professionally equipped paranormal investigation team. Will the ghost decide to make an appearance? That’s for you to find out . . . if you dare!
JustWrite Ohio: Openings for Additional Schools & Registration Information
JUSTWRITE OHIO--High School Creative Writing Tournament
ATTENTION NEEDED AND ADDITIONAL OPENINGS!!
1-As of publication Whetstone has been paid for, has a coach listed (Zach Hamer), but has not yet registered on the JustWrite Ohio. Please do so ASAP! JustWrite Ohio Registration Information Form for Coach Handbook and Welcome Email.
2-Due to some changes over the summer, two schools that have paid registrations (Centennial and South) have not yet been able to secure a coach and register. Thus, these spots can be taken by other high schools who have interest in this competition. IF YOU ARE AT A HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS NOT ALREADY REGISTERED (LIST BELOW) AND WANT TO BRING STUDENTS TO THIS CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION, LET ME KNOW ASAP! EMAIL cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us to let me know of your school's interest in competing. You can learn more about JustWrite Ohio from this recording of their session at the September 20th PD Day or at their site: https://justwriteus.org/ohio-home/.
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JustWrite Ohio is a high school narrative/creative writing competition. Columbus City Schools is hosting a tournament for this competition on Saturday, December 2nd at Eastmoor Academy. Each registered high school can send two teams (6 students for a 9-10 team and 6 students for an 11-12 team) with their coach/coaches to the competition. At the tournament each student will write in response to three different prompts in one or more of these genres: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Classic Horror/Gothic, Fantasy, and Narrative Nonfiction. Students who do well in local tournaments advance to regional and state competitions. The nine schools listed below have been paid for and have registered with JustWrite Ohio for the December 2nd Tournament. Good Luck with preparation and the competition!!
Columbus Africentric HS, Coach: Sidney Jones, Jr./Alexa Crider/Chiquita Toure
CAHS, Coach: Evan Spooner
East, Coach: Olivia Lenkei/Amanda Zakelj
Eastmoor Academy, Coach: Wyk McGowan/Chloe Heins
Fort Hayes, Coach: Courtney Johnson/Linda Key
Independence, Coach: Lizz Birkhoff
Mifflin, Coach: Linda Gorelova
Northland, Coach: Christopher Monteiro/Elizabeth Kronenwetter
West, Coach: Sean Gentry/Carlee Beatty
Power of the Pen: Openings for Additional Schools & Registration Information
POWER OF THE PEN-Middle School Creative Writing Tournament
ATTENTION NEEDED AND ADDITIONAL OPENINGS!!
Due to some changes over the summer, five schools that have paid registrations (AIMS, CCPSG, Hilltonia, Westmoor, and Yorktown) have either not yet been able to secure a coach and register or have simply not registered yet. Thus, their are some spots can be taken by other middle schools who have interest in this competition. IF YOU ARE AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT IS NOT ALREADY REGISTERED (LIST BELOW) AND WANT TO BRING STUDENTS TO THIS CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION, LET ME KNOW ASAP! EMAIL cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us to let me know of your school's interest in competing. You can learn more about Power of the Pen from this coaching manual and the Power of the Pen site: https://powerofthepen.org/Central-Region. Here is the POWER OF THE PEN REGISTRATION. Remember to register for the Circleville Tournament and ignore the payment items-you have been paid via a PO. You do not have to enter your student names.
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Power of the Pen Ohio is a middle school narrative/creative writing competition. Columbus City Schools is hosting a tournament for this competition at Dominion Middle School on a date to be determined soon. Each registered middle school can send two teams (6 students for a 7th-grade team and 6 students for an 8th-grade team) with their coach/coaches to a competition. At the tournament, each student will response to one or more prompts. Students who do well in regional tournaments advance to state competitions. The schools listed below have been registered. Good Luck with preparation and the competition!!
Berwick, Coach: Amy Huber
Champion, Coach: Elizabeth Stanley/Kerry Carter
Columbus Africentric MS, Coach: Chiquita Toure/Laura Henry
Columbus Online Academy, Coach: Traci Cottrell/Jennifer Harvey
Dominion, Coach: Tara Cooper/Pattie Niese
Indianola, Coach: Gina McGowan
Medina, Coach: Nicole Askew/Maria Romero/Aleicia McCullough
Ridgeview, Coach: Donella Braddix/Betty Maxwell
Woodward Park, Coach: Nicole Fontaine
World Language, Coach: Sam Leopold
Curriculum for Secondary English Courses
Overview Video
- This ENGLISH 6-12 CURRICULUM OVERVIEW VIDEO gives you an overview for Secondary English Curriculum.
Curriculum Maps & Folders
Every District English course has a Curriculum Map with a Scope and Sequence detailing a pathway through the course using adopted resources, and each course has a Course Folder with standard, novel, language, and strategy resources. You can find the Curriculum Maps and Course Folders in the places listed below.
1-Linked in these Google Docs:
2-On the English 6-12 Webpage: Use the Curriculum/Instructional Resources Quick Links on the ELA 6-12 Webpage for easy navigation to English Curriculum Maps and Folders.
NOTE: The ELA 6-12 Webpage Quick Links offer much more than the Google Doc with Links for your curriculum needs. They offer teaching strategies, guiding docs, and help with standards, testing, and more. To access many curricular and district items, you must be logged into Google using your CCS credentials and not a personal account.
Secondary Literacy Plan
- The CCS Secondary Literacy Plan provides teaching strategies/PD (how to teach) that can be used with the texts/lessons from your adopted resources (what to teach) to address these components of the plan: Academic Language, Reading Comprehension, Writing Competency, and Classroom Discussion. It is rooted in Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement and guided by the Adolescent Simple View of Reading. The plan spans from intermediate literacy that crosses curricular areas to disciplinary literacy that reflects the demands of specific disciplines while allowing for individualized intensive interventions, as needed. Inherent in the plan is that students are reading, writing, and discussing every day in classrooms.
- CCS Secondary Literacy Plan Info Page
Adopted, Intervention, and Supplemental Resources for Secondary English Courses
Course Descriptions and Adopted Curriculum Resources Lists
- Course Resource Spreadsheet with Visuals
- CCS Adopted, Supplemental, and Intervention Resources List
- Course Descriptions Quick Link
Adopted and Intervention Resources
The TIER 1 Instructional Resources
StudySync: English 6-12, Alternate English courses, and some Electives
- StudySync Info Page (access, tutorials, trainings, and more)
- StudySync Webinars (register for live Webinars)
Bedford Texts/Launchpad: Honors and AP English
- Bedford/Launchpad Info Page (access, tutorials, trainings, and more)
- Some Elective Courses will have single resource adoptions.
The TIER II/Tier III Intervention Resources and Courses
Resources
- iReady Pathways (6-8) These are below grade level and based upon BOY and MOY. They should not be used for Core instruction.
- Progress to Success (9-12) You can request copies by emailing Carla Mae Phillips.
- Coming Soon (9-11) The RFP Process is almost concluded for this resource. Announcement will be made after boarding.
Courses
- Core Enrichment (6-8) This course can be used for Tiers II/III Intervention.
- College/Career Ready Literacy (6-12) This course can be used for Tiers II/III Intervention.
- OST Test Prep-English (9-12) This course uses Springboard's Reading and Writing Workshop books. You can request copies by emailing Carla Mae Phillips.
Supplemental Resource
TeachingBooks is the site where the lists of novels available for teacher use from the warehouse, the curriculum office, in StudySync, and in Course Folders, are found.
- TeachingBooks Info Page (access, tutorials, trainings, and more)
- Accessing Novels (Digital and Hard Copy)
Canvas Integration
If you teach English 6-12 or an alternate English credit-bearing course (e.g. Humanities English 9 or 10, Humanities Language Arts 8, Major British Writers Seminar, African American Literature, Women's Literature, Shakespeare's Literature, etc.), you will need to pair your Canvas courses with your StudySync courses. This will give you access to the Curriculum Map divided into Modules and allow for StudySync to sync assignments and grades. Use the orientation video and document below to learn how to integrate Canvas and StudySync.
TeachingBooks Highlights (Two-Minute Takeaways)
TeachingBooks Connections
Here are four two-minute takeaway videos being highlighted this month.
- Standards Connections (all content areas)
StudySync/Literacy PD & Professional Articles
STUDYSYNC WEBINARS
OCTOBER
Tuesday October 3, 2023
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Vocabulary Best Practices Register Now
Wednesday October 4, 2023
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Basic Training: How to Navigate Your New StudySync Account Register Now
Thursday October 5, 2023
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Differentiate for All Learners: EL/ELL Development Resources Register Now
Tuesday October 10, 2023
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Fluency Lessons Register Now
Wednesday October 11, 2023
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Word Study Lessons Register Now
Thursday October 12, 2023
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Basic Training: The Reading Routine - Reading & Rigor in StudySync Register Now
Monday October 16, 2023
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM The Coaching Cycle Register Now
Tuesday October 17, 2023
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Explore the Power of WritePrecise Register Now
Wednesday October 18, 2023
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Classroom Rebound: Making Learning Leaps Register Now
Friday October 20, 2023
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Vocabulary Best Practices Register Now
Tuesday October 24, 2023
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Social Studies and Science Educators: Discover SyncBlasts Register Now
Wednesday October 25, 2023
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: Create and Grade Assignments Register Now
Thursday October 26, 2023
- 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Ongoing Progress Monitoring with StudySync Assessments Register Now
Monday October 30, 2023
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Explore the StudySync Library Register Now
STUDYSYNC ASK-AN-EXPERT SESSIONS
STUDYSYNC COACHING & TEACHING VIDEOS (OCTOBER HIGHLIGHT & SEPTEMBER RECAP)
-IMPLEMENTATION ESSENTIALS: STATION ROTATION
Guide teachers with Station Rotation tips from Dr. Catlin Tucker. Explore her StudySync Station Rotation Guide and coaching video. Explore Station Rotation
-SEPTEMBER SESSION RECAP: ENHANCING LITERACY CONVERSATIONS
Revisit Dr. Michelle H. Martin's session on how crafting questions can boost your classroom's literary conversations. Watch the Recording
RECORDED STUDYSYNC PD & ARTICLES
StudySync for New Users (1:58:28)
- Target Audience: English 6-12 Teachers who are new to StudySync (Adopted Resource)
The Reading Routine: Reading and Rigor in StudySync (54:50) Passcode: +p5mbg.M
- Target Audience: English 6-12 Teachers
From Tweets to Tomes: How Students Write in StudySync (60:00)
- Session Resources: Extended Writing Project; Data-driven Decision Making + EWP; Conducting Impactful Student Conferences; Student Generated Questions; Metacognitive Skill Building; Ongoing Self-Assessment Document; Tips for writing every day
- Target Audience: English 6-12 Teachers
Spark Collaborative Conversations Using StudySync (61:00)
- Slides Link and Resources: Slide Deck; StudySync TV; SyncTV 2 Column Chart
- Target Audience: English 6-12 Teachers
Scaffolding in StudySync (63:36) Passcode: kE#d9G6J
- Target Audience: English 6-12 Teachers
STUDYSYNC ARTICLES
Exploring the Role of StudySync Vocabulary in the Science of Reading New
Blast + Texts Pairings: Thrilling Tales New
Close Reading: StudySync's Routine
Writing Every Day with StudySync: 3 Tips for the New School Year,
Interpreting StudySync in the Classroom
About the AI Series AI Literacy Lessons and ELA Blasts are coming soon, and will explore its history and explain what it means for your classroom.
Visit the StudySync Blog for articles on curriculum resources, program authors' tips, StudySync's pedagogy, and more.
OHIO LITERACY ACADEMY ON DEMAND
Literacy Academy on Demand from the Ohio Department of Education offers easily accessible professional learning about literacy for grades K-12. In each short course, educators will find:
- A short video from a nationally recognized expert on literacy instruction;
- Resources and tools to use in the classroom, coaching sessions or team meetings;
- Reflection questions to help review current practices and implement new learning; and
- Additional resource recommendations to expand educator learning.
Courses should take 30-60 minutes to complete. Users can take one or two courses to learn about a specific topic or multiple courses to get a more comprehensive understanding of literacy instruction and concepts.
Grades 6-12 Courses: All educators in middle and high school, including content area teachers, can play a significant role in improving students' reading, writing and communication. These courses can benefit teachers, coaches, directors and administrators who support classroom instruction, and any educator who wants to learn more about adolescent literacy.
RECENT PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES/VIDEOS
- Guiding Students to Overcome the ‘Cringe’ of Reading Aloud Many students dislike reading aloud because they lack confidence in their abilities, but it’s never too late to improve fluency.
- Pam Munoz Ryan Face-off Video This month's TeachingBooks Face-off features mega-fan Aundrea and Pam Muñoz Ryan answering questions about Esperanza Rising (Scholastic, 2000). In this historical fiction novel, a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to leave their home in Mexico and move to California, settling in a Mexican farm labor camp during the Great Depression. Explore Esperanza Rising on TeachingBooks.
- How teacher's G.R.O.W. routine supports student literacy (Middle Web) A routine of students focusing on one of four components during daily activities has been a positive in the classroom while improving literacy of students, writes Katie Durkin, a middle-school English teacher in Connecticut. In this article, Durkin details the four-day G.R.O.W. (Grammar, Reading, Open Writing, and Word Work) rotation process and explains how students make use of composition notebooks for learning.
- Everyday Shakespeare Blog Post Ben and David Crystal share how they created their new collection of Shakespeare quotes for each day of the year, along with context, trivia, and commentary.
Some Teacher Opportunities
NCTE23 IS IN COLUMBUS THIS NOVEMBER!
Registration is OPEN for NCTE23 which happens on November 16-19th at the Columbus Convention Center. It is recommended that you register by October 11th to get the early bird pricing. Be sure to check into any opportunities throughout the district to get fees paid to attend the conference or arrange to volunteer during the convention (see image below) to go for free!! Check out the NCTE23 Conference Webpage HERE for information about speakers, sessions, etc.
VIRTUAL POETRY EVENTS FROM FOLGER
The 2023 | 2024 O.B. Hardison Poetry Series
Jorie Graham, October 3, 2023 | 7:30pm (ET)
Virtual on Zoom
Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Jorie Graham opens the season reading from her new work. Congressman Jamie Raskin moderates the post-reading conversation. Get tickets
Fill Your Cauldron: Spooky Treats from MacBeth on Thursday, October 25th at 8Pm. Zoom in! Teaching Shakespeare’s Scottish play can be scary. Thank goodness! You + the Folger Method will enchant your students with practical magic and . . . learning! Your learners will meaningfully engage with Shakespeare’s language. Activities that are easily scaffolded to meet your instructional needs. Tools that you can use with any author and every text! Register Here
New Folger T-shirt in honor of teachers! CONTEST! Folger wants to produce a new Folger t-shirt in honor of teachers. Several years ago, they produced one that boldly said, “The Fiercest People On Earth TEACH.” They want to produce another “teacher praise” shirt, especially for teachers, and especially NOW when the world needs to be reminded how wildly important teachers are.
- What should this t-shirt say? You know best!
- Send them your ideas, please. Send an email to Auriel Haack at ahaack@folger.edu. Subject line: T-SHIRT. Include your idea(s) and also who you are, your contact info (name, best email, cell number), and where you teach.
- If they use your idea on the new shirt: A celebration for you at the Folger! Main event: a special insiders tour—all the Folger’s nooks and crannies, including some very old books and a play--for you and 3 fam/friends.
- Deadline for entries: Friday, November 10th
Book Club on Zoom: Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit
Virtual on Zoom
Registration opens October 10. We'll discuss TaraShea Nesbit's riveting novel about the first recorded murder in the fledgling colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The discussion will happen on November 9th at 6:30pm. Learn more and register here.
Evie Shockley,The Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute, December 5, 2023 | 7:30pm (ET)
Virtual on Zoom
Poet and literary scholar Evie Shockley will read from her writing and the poems of Emily Dickinson in this annual birthday tribute. Get tickets
Camille T. Dungy, BLOOM: A Virtual Poetry Workshop, February 26, 2024 | 6:30pm (ET)
Virtual on Zoom
In this virtual workshop acclaimed poet and essayist Camille T. Dungy, along with a horticulturalist, will present a generative poetry workshop with a botanical theme. Sign up
SOME UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS
- Monday, November 6th, 7pm Attention all film lovers! Award-winning editor and film critic and vice-chair of the New York Film Critics Circle Matt Singer shares his recounting of the powerful partnership of two unlikely film critics in his book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever. Matt will be in conversation with Drexel Theatre Director Jeremy Henthorn. Register Now!
- Monday, November 13th, 5-7pm An author, a literary thriller, and an event you won’t want to miss! Join New York Times bestselling author of Descent and The Current, Tim Johnston, as he shares Distant Sons, an intricate, haunting novel sure to resonate with readers of Dennis Lehane, James Lee Burke, and Cormac McCarthy. This special ticketed early evening literary reception brings back Gramercy’s “Prosecco and Prose” series! Tickets are $50 and include an author talk and meet ‘n greet, a glass of Prosecco and hors d’oeuvres, plus a copy of Johnston’s novel which he will sign at the event. Get tickets!
- Tuesday, December 5th, 7pm Between Two Worlds. Join noted historian and author Robin Judd as she launches her book, Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides After the Holocaust. Dr. Judd will be in conversation with Birgitte Søland, an expert in European and women’s gender history. Get tickets!
COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY AUTHOR TALKS
The Sesquicentennial Author Series: Author Talks at Main Library
- Saeed Jones, Sunday, Oct. 8 | 2 p.m. Saeed Jones is an award-winning poet and author of the memoir How We Fight For Our Lives. Read more about the author here. REGISTER NOW
- Malcolm Jenkins, Monday, Oct. 9 | 6:30 p.m. Malcolm Jenkins played for The Ohio State University, the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles. Read more about the author here. REGISTER NOW
- Jason Mott, Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m. Jason Mott is a poet and a National Book Award-winning novelist. Read more about the author here. REGISTER NOW
RHYMING STORY CHALLENGE
The Rhyming Story Challenge is a creative writing competition open to writers worldwide. When the competition begins on October 20th, writers are placed in groups where they will be judged against other writers within their same group. Each group will receive a unique genre, theme, and emotion assignment, and writers will have eight days to write an original 600-word story that rhymes. Learn More & Register.
OHIO AUTHORS KICKBACK EVENT
Ohio's 4th Annual Authors Kickback hosted by National Best Selling Author Chanique J. is happening on October 21st from 1-4pm. This event will feature various authors & vendors from all over the world. With past events hosting over 200 guests, we are looking for 2023 to be even bigger. Be sure to come out and enjoy! Food will be provided by Columbus' very own "Netty's Kitchen", Live DJ, photographer, door prizes, giveaways, raffles, and much more. The event Is FREE to the public and plenty of fun. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet/greet with amazing authors, shop various vendors, but you too have access to nine different selfies booths all in one building. Great fun and tons of entertainment, this will be an event you DON'T want to miss!
AMLE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OPEN
AMLE is 50! You can attend their annual conference from November 1-4 in National Harbor, Maryland. See all the details here: AMLE Conference 2023.
MICROFICTION CHALLENGE
The 250-word Microfiction Challenge is Open for Registration! The 5th annual 250-word Microfiction Challenge kicks off on Friday, December 8th, and will challenge writers worldwide to create very short stories based on genre, action, and word assignments in 24 hours. Feedback from the judges is provided for every submission, writers keep all the rights to the stories they create, and there are thousands in cash prizes for the winners. Learn more, register, and read previous winning stories at the link below. Good luck, writers! Learn More & Register.
LIT CON: COLUMBUS
LitCon, the largest K-8 literacy conference in North America—now in its 39th year, is being held in Columbus on January 27-30! The conference is brought to you by the Reading Recovery Council of North America (RRCNA) for the broader literacy education community. Attendees will be among the first to know about current research findings, critical news, and leading practices in K-8 literacy education that go beyond theory to actual practice. Engage in LitCon to tap exclusive resources and build special bonds to move childhood literacy and Reading Recovery forward. Jason Reynolds is the Keynote Speaker. Check out the LitCon Conference Site for information about other speakers, sessions, registration, etc.
Some Student Opportunities
THURBER HOUSE YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO
"DON'T GET IT RIGHT, JUST GET IT WRITTEN." - JAMES THURBER
Every other week, local teens gather to write, create, and explore ways to get their stories on paper. Whether it's a passion, or just a hobby, any student in grades 9-12 is invited to gather for an opportunity to spend time with others who also like to write. Sessions take place on select Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm. Young Writers' Studio is held at Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Ave, and simultaneously Zoomed for virtual participants. Each session is $17, or $115 for the season, and can be paid in advance by registering online. There are also have a limited number of scholarships available for students who would like to attend. For more information or to inquire about a scholarship, please email Meg Brown at megbrown@thurberhouse.org.
Tuesday, October 3rd from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
Tuesday, October 17th from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
Tuesday, October 31st from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
Tuesday, November 14th from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
Tuesday, November 28th from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
WELLSPRING OF IMAGINATION POETRY OPPORTUNITY
Wellspring of Imagination 2023
Wellspring of Imagination is an extensive poetry program for high school students. It consists of an intensive three days with prominent poets, working on writing and presentation of poetry in a spectacular natural setting. The workshop culminates with a recital for family, teachers and friends. The writing activities will be supplemented with hikes, music and presentations from visual artists. The teacher/poets will then mentor the students for the next calendar year. At the conclusion of the program, a book of their poetry will be produced.
The three day high school poetry intensive will be held on October 5, 6 and 7 in the Hocking Hills. Any high school student interested in joining Wellspring of Imagination should complete use this Contact Form to let the organizers know of your interest. This year’s performance will take place at the revitalized Logan Theater at 7 P.M. on Saturday October 7. Email owl111@frontier.com with any questions.
MADLAB SHORT PLAY CONTEST
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES FOR YOUNG WRITERS 2024!
Each playwright may submit only one play.
Plays must run approximately 10 minutes.
All plays should include a cover sheet that includes play name, playwright's name, your teacher's name, and your high school's name; a list of characters; set and prop needs.
For complete Young Writers Short Play Festival 24 play submission guidelines and for details on how to submit your play, click this link.
Any questions? See the MadLab site or E-mail MadLab Artistic Director James Blackmon directly at JamesB@MadLab.net.
NCTE STUDENT WRITING AWARDS
Student Writing Awards
**NEW** National Writing Award: The Humanities and a Freer Tomorrow
NCTE, in partnership with the National Humanities Alliance, is proud to bring forth a new opportunity for student writers based on the National Endowment for the Humanities’ 2023 Jefferson Lecture.
Deadline October 28
Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th and 11th grade students)
This school-based writing program encourages high school students in their writing and publicly recognizes some of the best student writers in the nation.
Deadline February 15
Promising Young Writers (for 8th grade students)
This school-based writing program stimulates and recognizes student’s writing talents and emphasizes the importance of writing skills among eighth-grade students.
Deadline February 15
POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION
The registration is now open for the 2024 POETRY OUT LOUD NATIONAL RECITATION CONTEST!
- Here is the Poetry Out Loud Ohio site.
- Here is the School Registration Form.
- The Deadline to Register is November 15. See all deadlines here.
- This POL teacher resource page is full of information about selecting poems and organizing school competitions. It also has lesson plans and judging tools.
-Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national arts education program for high school students that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for students across the country. Columbus City Schools has the unique distinction of being the first district to have a school enter POL in its inaugural year in Ohio, 19 years ago, and of producing the first national winner. We have sent many students to the state contest and a few to the national contest.
BUCKEYE CHILDREN'S AND TEEN BOOK AWARDS VOTING
The Buckeye Children’s and Teen Book Awards is Ohio’s readers’ choice book award program is one of the few readers’ choice awards in which students make all the nominations and vote for the winners. The 2023 voting period continues through Nov. 10 at www.bcbookaward.info. There is a button for students to vote directly and a button for teachers and librarians who collect student votes to send them in bulk.
6-8 Nominees- Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
- Hooky (Vol. 1) by Míriam Bonastre Tur
- Play Like a Girl by Misty and David Wilson
- The Messengers (Greystone Secrets vol. 3) by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Worser by Jennifer Ziegler
- Heartstopper (Vol. 4) by Alice Oseman
- Lore by Alexandra Bracken
- The Promised Neverland (Vol. 20) by Kaui Shirai, illus. by Posuka Demizu
- Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry
Song for October
Contact Information
Carla Mae Phillips
Southland Center, Suite 125
Previous Newsletters are available on the CCS ELA 6-12 Webpage.
Email: cphillips3865@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/English6-12
Location: 3700 South High Street, Columbus, OH, 43207, USA
Phone: (380) 997-0463