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Secondary English Newsletter-9
Volume Six, Issue Nine/May Issue 2023-24
Power of the Pen State Tournament Results
CCS STUDENTS SHINE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to Madeline Marsh (8th) from Indianola and Samarah Beatty (7th) from Ridgeview who advanced to the final round of writing at the Power of the Pen State Tournament on May 17th at Ashland University. Only 108 students (54 7th graders and 54 8th graders) across the state made the final round out of 500+ competitors.
Congratulations to Ridgeview’s Johnny Wulff (7th) and World Language’s Zakiya Obayuwana (7th) who received recognition for their PLATINUM PEN awards. At each District and Regional event, at least three 7th and three 8th grade papers are selected for Best of Round awards. These papers are then carefully evaluated against one another for a higher award – the “Platinum Pen.” Winners of the Platinum Pen awards are eligible to have their winning piece published in the Book of Winners.
Below are all of the students who advanced to states!
8TH GRADE
- Dominion's Jane Wootton-2nd Individual at Regionals
- Indianola's Madeline Marsh-8th Individual & Best of Round at Regionals, Final 4th Round at States
- Indianola's Darcy Hazzard
- Ridgeview's Samarah Beaty, Final 4th Round at States
- Ridgeview's Johnny Wulff-Best of Round at Regionals, Platinum Pen at States
- World Language's Zakiya Obayuwana-8th Individual & Best of Round at Regionals, Platinum Pen at States
Ridgeview's Johnny Wulff and Samarah Beaty with World Language's Zakiya Obayuwana at the Power of the Pen State Tournament representing 7th Grade!
JustWrite Ohio State Tournament Award
CCS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THEIR FIRST JUSTWRITE OHIO STATE TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to our very own Fennic Milner from CAHS who won a Director's Choice Award at the JustWrite Ohio State competition on May 9th (in picture, on left). Only three writers in each division (Grades 9-10 and Grades 11-12) were chosen for the award from all the stories that received a first in round from the five Regional competitions. Several other students from CCS who qualified for the JustWrite Ohio State Tournament were among 300 students from across the state who engaged in three rounds of creative writing to see which students and schools would be awarded with top prizes.
List of Students Who Qualified
Division One-Grades 9 & 10
Caren Adjei, Independence (creative writing)
Niciya Austin, Fort Hayes (creative writing)
Amaya Brown, Fort Hayes (creative writing)
Ryder Caudill, Fort Hayes (poetry and creative writing)
Cadence Hensel, Fort Hayes (poetry and creative writing)
Jayah Hunt, Fort Hayes (poetry and creative writing)
Shyla Nutt, Fort Hayes (creative writing)
Division Two-Grades 11 & 12
Saja Al-Hashemi, CAHS (poetry and creative writing)
Akilah Bayless-Sizemore, Eastmoor Academy (creative writing)
Kim'Mya Byrd-Green, Eastmoor Academy (creative writing)
Houley Koundourou , CAHS (creative writing)
Sloan Mercerhill, Fort Hayes (creative writing)
Lucie Miller, Fort Hayes (poetry and creative writing)
Fennic Milner, CAHS (creative writing) DIRECTOR'S CHOICE STATE AWARD
Brillyant Moore, Northland (poetry and creative writing)
Amaiya Moorer, Eastmoor Academy (creative writing)
CCS District Poetry Slam Winners
Middle School Slam Team & Individual Winners
High School Group Poem Winners & MS/HS Spirit of the Slam Winners
High School Slam Team & Individual Winners
2024 POETRY SLAM
WINNING HIGH SCHOOLS
- FIRST PLACE Eastmoor Academy
- SECOND PLACE Centennial
- THIRD PLACE Northland
- FIRST PLACE Houley Koundourou-CAHS
- SECOND PLACE Alexis Mitchell-Eastmoor Academy
- THIRD PLACE Sumaya Elmi-Centennial
WINNING HIGH SCHOOL GROUP POEM
- Centennial
SPIRIT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL SLAM: Quinn Abdallah-Northland
PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS/POETS:
Centennial (Jay Venable, Brianna Sheets, Chelsea Graham, Sumaya Elmi); Columbus Africentric (Dionna Hargrove, DeAngel Davenport, Arianna Stewart, Jaia Smith); CAHS (Khadija Yasin, Ava Luft, Saja Al-Hashemi, Houley Koundourou); Eastmoor Academy (Keisha Soleil, Akila Bayless-Sizemore, Nakya Bell-Smith, Alexis Mitchell); Northland (Tehya Holmes, Tyreek Lewis, Promise Achankeng, Quinn Abdallah); West (DeMon Burse-Wilborn, Laianna Pham, Maria Rodriguez Rodas)
--
WINNING MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- FIRST PLACE Ridgeview
- SECOND PLACE Columbus Gifted Academy
- THIRD PLACE Dominion
WINNING MIDDLE SCHOOL POETS
- FIRST PLACE Chase Charles-Columbus Gifted Academy
- SECOND PLACE Henry Warner-Columbus Gifted Academy
- THIRD PLACE Natalie Schaul-Dominion
SPIRIT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SLAM: Gabriel Santiago-Sayer-Columbus Gifted Academy
PARTICIPATING MIDDLE SCHOOLS/POETS:
Columbus Africentric (Ray'Anna Jones); Columbus Gifted Academy (Henry Warner, Gabriel Santiago-Sayer, Chase Charles); Dominion (Lillian Baker, Natalie Schaul); and Ridgeview (Alissa Prysock, Lilly Dobelle, Ella Easter, Asher Knotts, Jacob Meland, Mia Harrison, Samarah Beaty).
CJIT Celebration and Awards 2024
CJIT 2024
The culminating celebration and awards ceremony for Columbus Journalists in Training was held on Saturday, March 16th at Dennison Edge for the 32 CCS Students who completed the program, which involved eight weeks of training and mentorship with central Ohio journalists from The Columbus Dispatch, the Society of Professional Journalists, NBC 4, USA Today Network Ohio, ForeFront Web, CityScene Media Group, Columbus Business First, Spectrum News1, WOSU, Ohio University, Ohio State University, and Dennison University. You can check out several photos from the CJIT program here and see the student list below for the participants and winners.
Diamanni Anderson-South High School
Oscar Ball-Whetstone High School BEST CREATIVE WRITING
Apshana Biswa-Columbus Alternative High School BEST INTERVIEW
Caylah Buggs-Columbus Online Academy 9-12
LeVar Davis-South High School
Sumayo Elmi-Centennial High School
Trinity Forbes-Columbus Online Academy 9-12 BEST RESEARCH
Livinia Greenwald-Centennial High School
Da'John Hales-Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School
Antanique Hawkins-Walnut Ridge High School BEST NEWS STORY
Brenda Hill-Columbus International High School
Ryan Holmes-Centennial High School
Zaida Jenkins-Whetstone High School BEST MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION
Mamie Joe-Northland High School
Daniel Jones-Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School BEST PODCAST PERSONALITY
Jaiya Kelley-Columbus Online Academy 9-12
Lia McMillan-Columbus Alternative High School
Tiffany Mcvay-Briggs High School
Ja’laura Morris-Northland High School
Abbey Murphy-Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School
Julianna Price-Northland High School
Sophie Reeder-Whetstone High School BEST WATCHDOG
Araceli Shingler-Columbus International High School BEST COVERAGE OF A DIFFICULT TOPIC
Saniyah Smith-Centennial High School
Truth Turner-East High School
Ryan Vorvornator-Columbus Alternative High School BEST FEATURE
Avery Watkins-Columbus Alternative High School BEST VIDEO
Joi White-Independence High School
KeMah'jae Williams-Linden-McKinley STEM 7-12
Kai Witherspoon-Centennial High School
Riyanna Woods-Columbus Alternative High School
Newer Items & Events
MAY/JUNE JUSTWRITE OHIO CONTEST OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
JustWrite Ohio May/June Creative Writing Contest Rules & Regulations
This contest is open to all students in grades 9-12 in the State of Ohio. The writer of the winning entry will be awarded an Amazon Gift Card.
How to Enter
Write a twisted horror fairy tale short story, in no more than 1,000 words that matches the genre and prompt provided. (Only one entry per student.)
Fill out Entry Form.
Email PDFs of poems and entry form to contests@justwriteohio.org
Entry deadline 6-9-24 by 5 PM.
EIGHT YEARS OF OST ELA SCORES FOR CCS
ACHIEVE3000 STRIVE FOR 75 WINNERS
Congratulations to these schools and classrooms who came out on top in the Strive for 75% Contest. To win the contest, Students should complete eight or more lessons/articles between April 8, 2024, and May 8, 2024, with a first-try activity score of 75%. One class for each grade (three total) with the highest number of activities at 75% or higher were chosen as the winners and will get a pizza party to celebrate and encourage students to accelerate learning through Acheive3000 Literacy. The top 3 Schools with the highest number of activities at 75% or higher will get the Achieve3000 trophies.
3rd Place: Bronze
School: Walnut Ridge
Class: African American Studies – 2
Teacher: Daniels
2nd Place: Silver
School: Marion Franklin
Class: Modern World History – 1
Teacher: Pierce
1st Place: Gold
School: Northland
Class: Physical Science – 6
Teacher: Scythes
PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS 2024
Here are the Pulitzer Prize Winners for Books, Drama, and Music announced on May 6, 2024.
FICTION WINNER: Night Watch, by Jayne Anne Phillips (Knopf)
A beautifully rendered novel set in West Virginia’s Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in the aftermath of the Civil War where a severely wounded Union veteran, a 12-year-old girl and her mother, long abused by a Confederate soldier, struggle to heal.
FICTION FINALISTS
- Same Bed Different Dreams, by Ed Park (Random House)
- Wednesday’s Child, by Yiyun Li (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
DRAMA WINNER: Primary Trust, by Eboni Booth
A simple and elegantly crafted story of an emotionally damaged man who finds a new job, new friends and a new sense of worth, illustrating how small acts of kindness can change a person’s life and enrich an entire community.
DRAMA FINALISTS:
- Here There Are Blueberries, by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich
- Public Obscenities, by Shayok Misha Chowdhury
HISTORY WINNER: No Right to an Honest Living: The Struggles of Boston’s Black Workers in the Civil War Era, by Jacqueline Jones (Basic Books)
A breathtakingly original reconstruction of free Black life in Boston that profoundly reshapes our understanding of the city’s abolitionist legacy and the challenging reality for its Black residents.
HISTORY FINALISTS:
- American Anarchy: The Epic Struggle between Immigrant Radicals and the US Government at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century, by Michael Willrich (Basic Books)
- Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion, by Elliott West (University of Nebraska Press)
BIOGRAPHY WINNER: King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
A revelatory portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. that draws on new sources to enrich our understanding of each stage of the civil rights leader’s life, exploring his strengths and weaknesses, including the self-questioning and depression that accompanied his determination.
BIOGRAPHY WINNER: Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom, by Ilyon Woo (Simon & Schuster)
A rich narrative of the Crafts, an enslaved couple who escaped from Georgia in 1848, with light-skinned Ellen disguised as a disabled white gentleman and William as her manservant, exploiting assumptions about race, class and disability to hide in public on their journey to the North, where they became famous abolitionists while evading bounty hunters.
BIOGRAPHY FINALIST
MEMOIR OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY WINNER: Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice, by Cristina Rivera Garza (Hogarth)A genre-bending account of the author’s 20-year-old sister, murdered by a former boyfriend, that mixes memoir, feminist investigative journalism and poetic biography stitched together with a determination born of loss.
MEMOIR OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY WINNER
- The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions, by Jonathan Rosen (Penguin Press)
- The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, by Andrew Leland (Penguin Press)
POETRY WINNER: Tripas: Poems, by Brandon Som (Georgia Review Books)
A collection that deeply engages with the complexities of the poet’s dual Mexican and Chinese heritage, highlighting the dignity of his family’s working lives, creating community rather than conflict.
POETRY FINALISTS
- Information Desk: An Epic, by Robyn Schiff (Penguin Books)
- To 2040, by Jorie Graham (Copper Canyon Press)
GENERAL FICTION WINNER:A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy, by Nathan Thrall (Metropolitan Books)
A finely reported and intimate account of life under Israeli occupation of the West Bank, told through a portrait of a Palestinian father whose five-year-old son dies in a fiery school bus crash when Israeli and Palestinian rescue teams are delayed by security regulations.
GENERAL FICTION FINALISTS
- Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives, by Siddharth Kara (St. Martin’s Press)
- Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World, by John Vaillant (Knopf)
MUSIC WINNER: Adagio (For Wadada Leo Smith), by Tyshawn Sorey
Premiered on March 16, 2023 at Atlanta Symphony Hall, an introspective saxophone concerto with a wide range of textures presented in a slow tempo, a beautiful homage that’s quietly intense, treasuring intimacy rather than spectacle.
MUSIC FINALISTS
READOHIO LITERACY ACADEMY
The annual ReadOhio Literacy Academy will take place June 10 and June 11 in Columbus. The seventh annual Literacy Academy will provide professional learning to support the use of evidence-based language and literacy practices Birth-Grade 12. This event is intended for Ohio district, school and early childhood education professionals working toward raising literacy achievement. There are no registration fees to attend. Registration is open, and additional information, including a draft program for the event is available on the Literacy Academy website.
Direct questions to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov
SCHOOLED ON POETRY EVENT
SATURDAY, MAY 11 @ 7:00 PM, Lincoln Theater (EVENT FLYER)
This collaboration between CAPA, Thurber House, ESCCO, the Poetry Foundation, the Columbus Foundation and poet-educator Peter Kahn is the culminating celebration of a year-long Spoken Word poetry project at Dublin Scioto, Grandview Heights, Independence, KIPP and Northland high schools. There will be intra-school group pieces and individual original poems by slam champs from each school. They will be joined by local poets Hanif Abdurraqib and Cynthia Amoah, and Chicago-based poet/musical artist, Christian “Rich Robbins” Robinson and National Book Award finalist Tim Seibles, from Virginia. The hope is to showcase the power of poetry to the Columbus community in a diverse way so that writers of all ages and backgrounds can see poetry as an accessible form of expression. Learn more and get tickets here: https://www.capa.com/events/detail/schooled-on-poetry-1. Tickets for the general public are available here for $10 (and $5 for students). They are offering teachers up to five free tickets for your students/you. To reserve them, please go here: https://capamarqueeawards.formstack.com/forms/2024_schooled_on_poetry_school_ticket_registration_form.
SPRUCE RUN ART COMPETITION
Spruce Run Nature Center is turning 50!!!
To help celebrate we'd like to have students create artwork that may be used as stickers, posters, or yard signs.
- The competition will be open until May 24th.
- There will be 1 winner from each grade band: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. (more designs may be chosen for stickers, posters, or yard signs)
There are square and circular templates linked below. Students may also use a clean white paper 8.5"x11".
- Original artwork must be sent to Heather Allen in interoffice mail at Southland, 3700 S High Street and digital submissions may be emailed to hallen704@columbus.k12.oh.us by May 24th.
ESC PD OFFERINGS
Asynchronous Book Study - "Punished for Dreaming" By Dr. Bettina Love Starting May 20
In her groundbreaking new book award-winning educator Dr. Bettina Love serves up a blistering account of four decades of educational reform through the lens of people who lived it. In Punished for Dreaming (2023), Dr. Love examines the legacy of educational inequity ushered in by decades-old discriminatory policy-making. She explores how specific policies have exacerbated various forms of structural oppression that disproportionately harm Black children, and create the conditions for contemporary book bans and opposition to diversity, equity & inclusion work. Join K-12 educators interested in understanding how this historical context shapes the current educational landscape in this asynchronous book study, which will conclude with a keynote and exclusive conversation with Dr. Love herself!
Keynote: Punished for Dreaming with Dr. Bettina Love
June 12
In her groundbreaking new book, award-winning educator Dr. Bettina Love serves up a blistering account of four decades of educational reform through the lens of people who lived it. In Punished for Dreaming (2023), Dr. Love examines the legacy of educational inequity ushered in by decades-old discriminatory policy-making. She explores how specific policies have exacerbated various forms of structural oppression that disproportionately harm Black children, and create the conditions for contemporary book bans and opposition to diversity, equity & inclusion work. Join K-12 educators interested in understanding how this historical context shapes the current educational landscape in this keynote address.
SUMMER PD: Learn more about ESC summer offerings here
UPDATES FROM CCS & ODEW REGARDING MANDATED SCIENCE OF READING TRAINING & OPTIONAL DYSLEXIA COURSEWORK
SCIENCE OF READING PD REQUIREMENT UPDATE
Under Section 265.330(A)(2) of House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly, districts and schools shall require all teachers and administrators to complete a course provided by the Department not later than June 30, 2025, except that any teacher or administrator who has previously completed similar training, as determined by the Department, shall not be required to complete the course.
- The CCS Literacy Division is working with multiple departments to create a system to track the mandate requirements and stipend payments. They will communicate the plan as soon as it is finalized. Meanwhile, they encourage teachers to hold off on the training until this system for reporting is in place so that all CCS information has been communicated and payments (noted in stipend area below) will be available for those completing the training.
-The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has made available multiple professional development courses to meet the requirements in state law. Multiple course pathways, based on educators’ primary role, grade band served, and previously completed trainings, have been designed to fit individual educator needs.There are two pathways for Secondary English teachers and one for Secondary Content teachers currently open.
- Pathway C: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading, Grades 6-12 Course (Ready NOW)
- Pathway D: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Grades 6-12 [Abbreviated version for teachers who completed prior coursework (e.g. Dyslexia Modules)]
- Pathway E: Ohio’s Introduction to the Science of Reading Course, Grades 6-12 Content Areas Course
-Under state law, stipends are available for the coursework. ODEW aims to provide additional information on the distribution of available funds to districts and schools in the next few months.
- $1,200 for each of the following:
- An English language arts teacher of grades six through twelve;
- An intervention specialist, English learner teacher, reading specialist, or instructional coach who serves any of grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.
- $400 for each teacher who teaches a subject area other than English language arts in grades six through twelve.
-A guidance document for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s science of reading professional development requirements under House Bill 33 is available now.
-An FAQ document is available and a designated ODEW Webpage can keep you abreast of the latest information on this requirement from the state.
DYSLEXIA COURSEWORK UPDATE (Secondary)
Ohio's Introduction to Dyslexia, Grade 4-12 Course is now available through the Learning Management System. (Instructions for Accessing the Introduction to Dyslexia Course, Grade 4-12)
SOME ARTICLES
Some of Shanahan on Literacy's Latest (new):
- What is the Best Way to Organize a Classroom for Reading Instruction?
- Does Research Support “Guided Reading?” Practical Advice on Directing Reading
The Instructional Level Concept Revisited: Teaching with Complex Text
Encouraging Secondary Students to Read
The Importance of Knowledge Building in Literacy: A Conversation with Dr. Doug Fisher
How to Move from Main Idea to Background Knowledge
Lines on the Court, Lines in the Poem: Poetry Analysis and March Madness
What Can Teachers Subtract From Their Workloads?
Should we grade students on the individual reading standards?
Shakespeare's House: A Window Onto His Life and Legacy
Does the science of reading include middle school?
How Can We Take Advantage of the Reading-Writing Relationship?
How an AI-Powered Tool Accelerated Student Writing
Protocols That Get All Students Talking in Class Discussions
21 Reading & Writing Interventions for Your MTSS
30 MTSS Intervention Strategies for Your School Support Team
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.
- Achieve3000 (9-11) Achieve3000 Quick Link
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.
2023 OST Report with Recommended Actions
The CCS 2023 OST Report with Recommended Actions is available on the English 6-12 Webpage at the Standardized Testing Quick Link. Take a look at it to see how the district is performing on the ELA 6-8 & 10 Tests. Here are a few overall data points.
- When comparing the 2023 data to pre-pandemic numbers, it should be noted that students taking the ELA 7 & 8 tests matched or exceeded the 2018-19 proficiency results (7th-36%; 8th-30%) with the ELA 8 scores being the highest recorded on the OST at that grade level, and the students taking the ELA 10 test were only 1% behind the scores in 2018-19. This growth is exciting, but still does not mean our students are college and career ready. The writing scores for both the argument and information essays are bleak. Out of a possible 10 points on the essays, our students are averaging 3.45 points on both their Argument and Informational compositions.
- While the state scores in Grades 6-8 & 10 average at 59% proficiency, CCS averages at 30% (up slightly from 28% in 2022). This means that an average of 70% of our students at all grade levels (6th-75%, 7th-64%, 8th-70%, 10th-71%) are scoring at the Limited & Basic levels and only 9-13% of students (6th-13%, 7th-18%, 8th-10%, 10th-9%) are scoring Advanced or Accelerated.
- The percentage scored on single Reading questions on the OST ranged from 13% to 73% and averaged 46% for Literary Text and 40% for Informational Text on Released Questions.
- The weakest area in the writing section of the 2023 OST for all grade levels was EVIDENCE/ ELABORATION (worth 4 points on both the Argument and Informational Essay Rubrics).
Adopted Resources PD
STUDYSYNC WEBINARS
MAY
Wednesday May 1, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: The Reading Routine - Reading & Rigor in StudySync Register Now
Thursday May 2, 2024
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Summer Learning: Solutions for Summer Register Now
Tuesday May 7, 2024
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Project Based Learning with StudySync Register Now
Wednesday May 8, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: Create and Grade Assignments Register Now
Thursday May 9, 2024
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Exploring the Extended Writing Project Register Now
Friday May 10, 2024
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Assessment 101: End of Year Test Prep Register Now
Tuesday May 14, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Vocabulary Instruction with StudySync Register Now
Wednesday May 15, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: How to Navigate Your New StudySync Account Register Now
Thursday May 16, 202
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Differentiate for All Learners: Supporting Students with IEPs Register Now
Monday May 20, 2024
- 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Engagement: Increasing Student Engagement and Autonomy Register Now
Wednesday May 22, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: The Reading Routine - Reading & Rigor in StudySync Register Now
Thursday May 23, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Spark & Improve Collaborative Conversations in your StudySync Classroom Register Now
Tuesday May 28, 2024
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM The Coaching Cycle Tools: Pathways to StudySync Success Register Now
Wednesday May 29, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Basic Training: Create and Grade Assignments Register Now
Thursday May 30, 2024
- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Resources for Professional Development and Support Register Now
EAST & CENTRAL REGIONAL STUDYSYNC WEBINARS
You are invited to the StudySync East & Central Regional webinar series with your
dedicated StudySync Implementation Specialists! Register today for our sessions, designed for new and veteran teachers and administrators. These sessions provide an overview of curricular resources and tips on setting students up for success.
- Tuesday, May 14th: Basic Training, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET Register Here
- Wednesday, May 15th: Blended Learning, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET Register Here
- Thursday, May 16th: Planning for Student Engagement, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET Register Here
- Wednesday, June 19th: Basic Training, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET Register Here
STUDYSYNC COACHES' COMMUNITY
COACHING SUPPORT
Register for live webinar sessions with your dedicated StudySync implementation specialists:
- The Coaching Cycle on 5/28 & 6/20
- Resources for Professional Development on 5/30
- How Admin Can Use StudySync on 6/4
REVISIT THE PANEL DISCUSSION
Listen to this month's Coach Community panel discussion recording and review the Continuum of Implementation that was shared during the session. Provide your session feedback here. Watch the Recording
MAKING ASSESSMENTS MANAGEABLE
Guide teachers with Dr. Catlin Tucker's tips that recommend balancing teacher scoring of student work with having students self-assess their own work. Try Catlin's Strategies
DRIVE INTENTIONAL ASSESSMENT
Learn Dr. Catlin Tucker's tips for supporting teachers' efforts in assessing with intention and data-driven instruction. Watch Video
THE COACHING BASICS COURSE
Whether you’re new to the Coach Community or you want to dive deeper into StudySync's customized coaching resources, complete the Coaching Basics Course in the Help Center. Learn More
CONDUCTING IMPACTFUL STUDENT CONFERENCES
Guide teachers with Dr. Catlin Tucker's tips for student-led conferences using her 4 Ps conferencing framework. Try Catlin's Strategies
PURPOSEFUL REFLECTION
Using the Reflection Tool with your teachers, review the StudySync components or strategies implemented and reflect on “glows and grows.” Try the Reflection Tool
TEACHER RESOURCES-ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Read about StudySync's new AI Literacy Lessons and Blasts. Point teachers to these resources to help guide classroom conversations and build AI literacy. Learn More
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS-DATA ANALYSIS
Guide your teachers with our ready-made Data Analysis Professional Development designed to help them use StudySync data to drive their instruction. Preview the Training Guide
TEACHINGBOOKS WEBINARS & MORE
Keep Smiling in the Library with TeachingBooks (Wednesday, May 22, 2024 1:00pm)
Celebrate reading joy with silly stories that keep readers smiling. Find humorous titles, giggle along with author recordings, and laugh out loud together with Reader's Theater scripts. Register Now
May is a great month to tap into fun on TeachingBooks! Specifically, try the book-related games that engage readers, reinforce memory, and hopefully excite students of all ages. These can played by individuals or small groups in libraries or at home when students have some down time.
Book Cover Jigsaw Puzzle
Book Description Word Search
Concentration Game
Author/Illustrator Name Game
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/RESOURCES
2023 StudySync Library Additions
STUDYSYNC'S STUDENT HELP CENTER
Mid-Year Reflection Coaches' Tool
StudySync Continuum of Practice
Spotlight Skills in a Workshop Model
Getting Started with Foundational Skills
Digital Literacy Units: Watch this video to learn how to deliver these mini-units.
StudySync Supports the Science of Reading Video
Exploring the Role of StudySync Vocabulary in the Science of Reading
Blast + Texts Pairings: Thrilling Tales
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.
Some Teacher Opportunities
OHIO TEACHER LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Registration open for 2024 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit
Educators are invited to attend the 2024 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit to participate in professional learning on the innovative work to develop teacher leaders. The summit takes place in Columbus on June 5. Summit attendees will share successes, lessons learned, and strategies for overcoming challenges around teacher leadership implementation. It offers an opportunity for participants to become engaged in a statewide network of teacher leaders and administrators to promote and strengthen teacher leadership.
Registration is free, and attendees will receive contact hour certificates.
Register using this form.
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION SUMMER WORKSHOP
Join Echoes & Reflections for a free two-day seminar hosted by Congregation Beth Tikvah and Jewish Columbus to support your classroom instruction on the Holocaust. Earn a certificate for 1.2 CEUs, come away with ready made lesson plans and resource materials for use in classrooms, and network with fellow teachers. Lunch is provided. REGISTER/LEARN MORE HERE.
EDUCATOR AGENDA
June 4th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Foundations of Holocaust Education: Focus on PreWar Jewish life
June 4th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Women in Resistance
June 5th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | It Starts with Words: Teaching the Holocaust to combat Hate.
June 5th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Antisemitism: Understanding and Countering Hatred today
BIAS AND ANTISEMITISM SEMINAR FOR SCHOOL LEADERS/ADMINISTRATORS
There will be a FREE one-day seminar for school district leaders, school administrators, school counselors, and DEI professionals focused on Understanding and Responding to Antisemitism on Thursday, June 6th from 9:30am-3:30pm. The seminar is sponsored by Congregation Beth Tikvah, Jewish Columbus, and the Jewish Community Relations Council and will take place at Congregation Beth Tikvah at 6121 Olentangy River Road in Worthington. The seminar will focus on identifying signs of antisemitism, hear local stories of bias, and learn best practices to respond. Free lunch and CEU's available. Register Here: https://bit.ly/rdytorespnd. See flyer here.
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.
MCGRAW HILL INTRODUCES SCIENCE OF LITERACY HUB
Achievement for Every Student, Resources for Every Educator
The Science of Literacy Hub, McGraw Hill’s exciting new literacy resource, is filled with the latest information about the Science of Reading, the Science of Writing, and Knowledge Building, all in one convenient location. At the Science of Literacy Hub, you’ll discover valuable professional resources designed to support you in your classroom and help all your students achieve today and succeed every day.
The Science of Literacy Hub will be continuously updated to bring you the latest information about the Science of Reading, the Science of Writing, and Knowledge Building. Read insightful articles, watch thought-provoking videos, and learn from helpful blogs, all available for free and on-demand!
SUMMER LITERACY INSTITUTE-ESC OF CENTRAL OHIO
Literacy lovers unite at our 2024 Summer Literacy Institute!
Join the ESC of Central Ohio as educational stakeholders unite for joyful conversation and learning on June 11th, 2024 at Grandview Heights Middle and High School. National experts and keynote speakers Zaretta Hammond and American Cartoonist Jamar Nicholas lead our collaborative learning on Cultivating a Love of Learning. Register here.
ONE DAY SEMINAR
Catching Up English/Language Arts Students Who Have Fallen Behind: Strategies that Work! (Grades 6-12) Presented by Rebecca Gault July 24 – 10 AM OR July 31 – 9 AM (Live Online)
Specifically Designed for Middle and High School English/Language Arts (ELA) Teachers, Interventionists, Reading Specialists, Title I Staff, Special Education Staff, Instructional Aides, and Administrators
- The best, most current strategies to strengthen the learning of your students who have fallen behind in English/Language Arts
- Proven approaches designed to catch up your struggling middle and high school readers and writers
- Receive an extensive digital resource handbook packed with instructional tools and resources you can use right away to increase the ELA growth of your most struggling students
Learn More. View Brochure PDF. Can't Attend? Order the recorded version and take this seminar online at your convenience.
INFOHIO PD
Check out professional learning options from INFOhio. This year, INFOhio has selected recorded webinars and self-paced classes that will equip educators for the upcoming school year. Explore these professional learning opportunities and choose your path for professional development this summer.
In addition to self-paced classes and recorded webinars, there will also be a live webinar option. Register and mark your calendars for June 18 to attend a live webinar featuring the News Literacy Project. Watch all webinars and complete all classes to earn 12.5 contact hours. Contact INFOhio at support.infohio.org with any questions or for additional support.
UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS
- Luncheon with the bestselling author of The Paris Library! Friday, May 3rd, 12pm Join New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the “captivating, richly drawn” The Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles, for a delicious lunch at Giuseppe’s Ritrovo and hear about her brilliant new novel Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France during World War I. A limited number of tickets at $55 available through Eventbrite will include lunch, the author talk, and Charles’ book (including tax), which she will sign after the program. Register Now!
- Bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns to share new novel! Wednesday, May 8th, 7pm Join New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini who returns with her beloved Elm Creek Quilts series in a new novel! The Museum of Lost Quilts is the first Elm Creek quilt novel since 2019’s The Christmas Boutique. Jennifer will be in conversation with Ohioana Library Executive Director David Weaver. Registration is on Eventbrite. The purchase of The Museum of Lost Quilts waives the $10 registration fee. Register Now!
- Award-winning poet Wendy Chen in conversation with Thao Thai! Tuesday, May 14th, 7pm Join award-winning poet, translator, and editor Wendy Chen who launches her debut novel, Their Divine Fires, a captivating and intimate novel that tells the story of the love affairs of three generations of Chinese women across one hundred years of revolution, both political and personal. Chen will be in conversation with acclaimed novelist Thao Thai. Registration is on Eventbrite. The purchase of Their Divine Fires waives the $5 registration fee. Register Now!
- Book Signing with Maggie Smith! Monday, June 3rd, 4pm-5:30pm Meet and chat with noted poet and essayist Maggie Smith for an intimate book signing of the paperback release for You Could Make This Place Beautiful, an unflinching look at what it means to live and write our own lives. This is a first-come first-served open signing with store capacity limited to 70 people in the store at a time. More Information!
- Join Gramercy Book Club in June! Tuesday, June 11th, 6:30pm From the New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle, Jessica Shattuck's Last House is the sweeping story of a nation on the rise, and one family’s deeply complicated relationship to the resource that built their fortune and fueled their greatest tragedy. Longtime WOSU Public Media host Christopher Purdy will facilitate the group discussion. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet author Jessica Shattuck, who will join via Zoom in the latter portion of the evening. Registration is on Eventbrite. A ticket to this program includes a signed copy of Last House. Register Now!
2024 CARNEGIE AUTHOR SERIES ANNOUNCED
The Columbsu Metropolitan Library announced their 2024 Carnegie Author Series. Join them for talks with engaging national authors, free and open to all.
- May 19, 2pm: Lisa Scottoline The Truth about the Devlins
- September 8, 2pm Abby Jimenez Just for the Summer
- October 6, 2pm: Stephen Graham Jones The Angel of Indian Lake
- December 8, 2pm: Dr. Matthew Desmond Poverty, By America
Register and Check Out More Info Here: https://ow.ly/psBe50QpeN6.
AMLE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration Ends May 1! Don't miss your opportunity to save $100 when registering for the AMLE Institute for Middle Level Leadership. For more than 20 years, the Institute for Middle Level Leadership has served as the marquee event for aspiring and current middle grades leaders and teams. Attend as a team or individually and join us for a one-of-a-kind, personalized, and engaging learning retreat that will leave you ready and energized to transform your school. Two Options: San Diego June 23-26 & New Orleans July 7-10. Register Online; Registration Form; View Schedule; Book Hotel Room
ONE-DAY SEMINAR: USING AI TOOLS TO INCREASE ELA LEARNING
Using AI Tools to Increase ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS Learning and Enhance Teacher Productivity (Grades 6-12), Presented by Angela Stockman Live Online Event
May 10 – 9 AM
- How to make best use of AI technologies to enhance student engagement and learning in secondary English/Language Arts (ELA)
- Pitfalls to avoid and solutions to ethical concerns with the use of AI-powered tools and resources in the ELA classroom
- Receive an extensive digital resource handbook packed with practical ideas, strategies, and tools specifically designed to help you increase your ELA students’ learning and enhance your own productivity … Receive special online access to Angela’s Google Drive full of additional AI resources for ELA
Expedite Your Registration: Use PRIORITY ID CODE: 932972 when you register online at https://www.ber.org/.
STANDARDS INSTITUTE OPPORTUNITIES
Educators will leave Standards Institute with:
- A shared understanding and language for fostering grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM™ — instruction.
- The mindsets, planning, skills, tools, and actions to deliver GLEAM instruction.
- A personalized action plan with context-specific opportunities to ensure GLEAM instruction.
- A national community of equity champions committed to growth and change.
Register for Standards Institute today!
Standards Institute, Denver, CO June 10–13, 2024 LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Standards Institute, Washington, DC July 15–18, 2024 LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
OHIO WRITERS' CONFERENCE 2024
Learn more or Register for the Ohio Writers' Association Conference happening on May 4th at the OSU Fawcett Center HERE. Presenters and Keynotes include Danika Bloom, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Danielle D. Smith.
ONLINE PD FOR DYSLEXIA, LITERACY, AND SECONDARY ENGLISH
The Bureau of Education & Research has On-Demand Online PD courses just for Secondary E/LA educators, each led by a veteran instructor. BER has a variety of courses including vocabulary, writing, and more! Here is their newest one:
- Dyslexia: Best Strategies to Increase Student Success (Grades 6-12) View Course
For a limited time, pick from any of their over 100 courses and receive a special discount for each additional course you buy. Use the special discount codes below at check-out to receive the discount. BER Online PD Courses are video-based, on-demand & offer CEUs.
DISCOUNT CODES View All Courses
2 Courses MY2HD2 $10 off each course
3 Courses MY3HD3 $15 off each course
4 Courses MY4HD4 $20 off each course
5 Courses MY5HD5 $25 off each course
FOLGER BOOK CLUB
The East Indian
Thursday, May 2, 6:30 pm ET; Free, Live on Zoom
Registration opens April 9 for our May session. In Brinda Charry's novel, Tony is kidnapped and indentured on a tobacco plantation in the early days of the English colonization of Virginia. More
Some Student Opportunities
STUDYSYNC'S 11TH ANNUAL MEDIA CONTEST
Get ready for StudySync's Student Media Contest. To enter, students can record and submit their own StudySyncTV video, podcast episode, preview video, concept definition video, novel poster, short graphic novel, or DailySync lesson about their favorite book outside the StudySync library. The grand prize for the top entry will be a $500 Amazon gift card (awarded to the submitting teacher) for classroom materials and a classroom Zoom chat with StudySync CEO Robert Romano. A $100 Amazon gift card will also be awarded to the submitting teacher for top middle and high school entries in each category listed below! Teachers have until May 1st, 2024, to send in submissions on behalf of their students, along with parent/guardian permission, and submit via this Google form.. Winners will be notified via email by Wednesday, May 15th. Be sure to email any questions to MySyncTV@studysync.com. They can't wait to see your submissions!
CONTEST CATEGORIES AND DETAILS
StudySyncTV
Student-created StudySyncTV episodes are the “most popular” of our annual contest. Students can collaborate to produce a 5-minute-or-less StudySyncTV-style or SkillsTV-style episode for any text or skill in the StudySync Library that currently does not include a video. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content and check the StudySync Library to ensure their choice does NOT already have a StudySyncTV video.
Podcast
Develop and record an original podcast about any text in the StudySync Library. Students can offer their perspectives on a theme or pertinent topic surrounding the text. Have your students listen to the podcasts embedded in some of our Blasts for inspiration, or even have them listen to one of their choice from Apple or Spotify! Have students take notes about what makes a good podcast to help them plan and script their own. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and/or content.
Preview Video
Produce a video mirroring the Preview videos in StudySync's Intro tab of a text. Students can highlight details about the title’s time period and theme. Please select a novel or text in the StudySync Library that does NOT currently have a Preview video or choose a favorite novel that is not yet in the StudySync Library and develop an audio-visual representation of what is typically found on a book's jacket. Create an introduction that entices fellow students to read the selection. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content.
Concept Definition Video
Produce a video mirroring the Concept Definition or SkillsTV videos! While it is ok to submit a concept definition that is already in the StudySync program, please advise students to rewrite their own script and new conversation between students. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and content. To get started, download a Concept Definition sample script!
Novel Poster
Students develop a digital poster image from an original photo, digital image, or artwork as a backdrop clearly identifying the author and title of the book, for one of their favorite titles from the StudySync Library. Students should use only original images, artwork, and content.
Graphic Novel
Let your writing shine! Students can create a graphic novel based on a favorite title of theirs that isn’t part of the StudySync Library. Text and imagery should be original and concise as well as 10 pages or less in length. Students' words should be their own! Students should use only original images, artwork, and content.
Daily Sync
Learn, create, and connect with your own Daily Sync lesson! Imagine you're a teacher preparing a lesson for your students using a favorite title in the StudySync Library. Students should use only original images, artwork, music, and/or content.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
- If you’re considering having students enter the contest, take a look at last year’s winners to get an idea of what they will need to produce.
- Assign the MyStudySyncTV Unit using the Contests filter in the Units tab within the StudySync Library. The MyStudySyncTV Unit engages students in the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills that are necessary to develop a multimedia project. Completion of the MyStudySyncTV Unit or assignments are NOT required to enter the contest.
- Have students watch several StudySync® TV, SkillsTV, and Preview videos in the Library to provide students with a framework for the project. Also, using the Blasts filter feature, locate podcasts in the Blasts Library by selecting Blasts with ‘audio’ to provide a model for podcast entries.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Submissions are limited to five (5) entries per category per teacher. Consider having students peer review videos, podcasts, and posters to select the five (5) per category to be submitted. A parent or guardian permission slip must be included for each student participating. Submit each entry via this Google form by 5pm PST on May 1st, 2024. Email any questions to MySyncTV@studysync.com.
BUCKEYE CHILDREN'S & TEENS BOOK AWARDS 2024 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The Buckeyes are one of the few reader’s choice awards in which students get to nominate the titles as well as vote on the final winners. The only adults who may submit nominations or votes are teachers and librarians who are representing a group of students from their school or library. This allows the Buckeyes to be truly a student-chosen award in all aspects. Students can vote on their top choice in each grade-band category in September. So, encourage some summer reading:)
The 2024 nominees are:
For Grades 6-8
- Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza (Graphix, 2023)
- Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown (Scholastic Press, 2022)
- The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, illus. by Brett Helquist (Random House Studio, 2023)
- Skyriders by Polly Holyoke (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2023)
- Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2023)
The Teen Buckeye Book Award nominees (for grades 9-12)
- Four Found Dead by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks Fire, 2023)
- The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere. by James Spooner (Harper, 2022)
- I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (Wednesday Books, 2022)
- Made of Stars by Jenna Voris (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2023)
- One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (Delacorte Press, 2023)
YOUNG WRITERS' STUDIO SPRING SEMESTER
"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 $150 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, May 14th from 6:30–8:30 pm ET
"Lesson #8" A Song for Those of Us Who Struggle with Work/Life Balance
Sondheim's musical "Sunday in the Park with George" details how painter Georges Suerat puts career over family as he creates his masterpiece painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The song "Finishing the Hat" from the musical is referenced in this song to equate any work (not just finishing the hat in a painting) that overtakes your time and holds you apart from others. Other allusions to the musical include "color and light" and the title itself, "Lesson #8." I feel like this could be the theme song of anyone in education whose tasks such as grading or planning take them away from family or social events. Hope the song resonates with you, does not make you too sad, and entices you to restore a work/life balance. (Lyrics Here)
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