I was puzzling over my fondness for an occasional use of the word "ain't," because I'm a logophile geek who does stuff like this. It occurred to me that I use it solely to add emphasis. There's a decisive connotative difference between, "I won't catch that bat," and "I ain't catching that bat," even if spoken in the same manner. I make a motion to be brought before the Grammar Gods Tribunal that the phrase "hillbilly emphatic" be added to grammar discussions.

And yes, ain't is a word. You can say it, spell it, and derive meaning from it; ergo, it's a word.

I have a feeling that this might be a smaller population of ELA teachers; but has anyone tried to teach Read 180 at an Alternative High School where attendance isn't always guaranteed?

I am struggling to get my students to engage in the class and their inconsistent attendance makes it impossible to do class group work.

I also only have 1 quarter at a time rather than most teachers who have 3.

Can anyone think of a way to most effectively teacher Read 180/Reading Intervention with a small time frame like that? Maybe I need to build more robust content online?

Basically just hear to vent. Do I have any fellow Louisiana teachers in here by chance? 😅 At our last faculty meeting, we received word and a link to our new curriculum that they want us to incorporate next school year (2023-2024). I teach 12th grade General & Enriched. Next school year will only be my 2nd so I’m still very new at this, and what I taught this year really doesn’t fall into any of the new developments they have outlined for next year. Granted we are given a lot of flexibility with what we teach the seniors. But I’m just stressing I guess about having “another first year” again with all new brand new material AGAIN. I started this year like 7-8 weeks in so I’ve already had a rough go with it primarily with classroom management and I just want next year to be easier! 🙃

Hello! I'm a 3rd year teacher in SC. I have been teaching "The Great Gatsby", "The Crucible", and "The Nickel Boys" consistently. I also have a bunch of short stories. The point I'm getting at is what does everyone else teach for 11th grade? I just like getting an idea of how different things are and what else I could bring in.

I've got classes with a variety of abilities. Some feeling like they never have enough time and some that would have read the novel awhile ago had it not been for others in their group.

Anyone have ideas for good extension activities to keep students engaged, even if they finish their reading or their discussions have ended?

So my Creative Writing is moving into a unit on script/screenplay writing and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations. I have done short units on screenplays in the past but I'm trying to do a fulfilled unit this year that will culminate in them producing a short film.

-I'm a university student and I'm doing a project on grading in k-12, If you have been in or taught ELA before please feel free to fill out my google forum.

-Thanks, CZ

-UNCC

https://forms.gle/b86xbmPVqAMNmoE17

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please let me know if the forum still doesn't work

If finding Robert Duvall as Boo Radley attractive is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

A cohort of almost entirely female 11th and 12 graders in my AP level urban student population (who tend not to otherwise read on their own, even at the AP level, due to a complex combination of cultural, economic, and generational issues) have started showing up so determined to finish the Alex Michaelides book listed above that I cannot get them to refocus on class.

I want, as always, to find books they care about, but have not heard of anyone teaching or book-clubbing this one. Any thoughts, team?

Hello! I am trying to plan out my final unit for my 8th ELA class and I’m stuck on what final project to do.

I am using the Commonlit 360 “Us and Them” unit, and their final project is an essay focused around comparing two articles we read in class. However, our last unit culminated in an essay, and it’s the last unit of the year so I really want something more hands on and interesting than an essay.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

-I'm a university student and I'm doing a project on grading in k-12, If you have been in or taught ELA before please feel free to fill out my google forum.

-Thanks, CZ

-UNCC

https://forms.gle/b86xbmPVqAMNmoE17

​

Going back into teaching?

I'm 67 years old and I've fallen back in love with my old job. I taught for many years before finally retiring few years ago. I was somewhat relieved to go but as time went on I found myself missing the kids and the other staff members.

My husband passed away very shortly after I retired and it's been very lonely and empty without him. I've substitute taught a lot the past few years and done maternity leave for a handful of teachers ever since.

I just want to do more honeslty. I just gone done with a maternity assignment and I miss the kiddos and the job so much already. I really want to get back into teaching, it's truly my passion and joy.

So do you know anyone else who has done this? If so how did they go about it? Any advice you might have for me? Thank you!

Does anyone have suggestions on some good books, Online writing programs, authors tips or other resources to revamp my writing instruction! TIA!

What is a question you pose to your students for their final English writing assignment?

For example, based off the novels/plays we have read during the school year, they would choose 2 and answer the following question in an essay:

How do people's experiences affect the decisions they make?

Feel free to post your resources that are self-created, found, used, etc. You may link your resource, tie-in to your TPT website, or connect to your personal website...

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Please note that these resources, links, pages, etc. MUST BE related to English Language Arts. Don't infringe on copyright, don't claim something is yours if it is not - provide where it is from and who it is by...

Feel free to look at r/TeachersPromote or r/teachingresources.

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Stolen from r/teachingresources...

Policy on self promotion ... We defer to r/reddiquette:

"Feel free to post links to your own content (within reason). But if that's all you ever post, or it always seems to get voted down, take a good hard look in the mirror — you just might be a spammer. A widely used rule of thumb is the 9:1 ratio, i.e. only 1 out of every 10 of your submissions should be your own content."

It's okay to self promote your resources, but you are encouraged to contribute other great resources that are not your own so that is not all that you are doing.

Hi! I am a researcher from the University of Manchester and I want to explore student views on GCSE assessment. I am looking for help from Teachers who work with Year 11 pupils to share my survey.

Although students are one of the main stakeholders in examinations, they are almost never consulted on their views around exams. We hope this research will give students the opportunity to voice to their views. I'm sure as teachers, you have many opinions on the UK assessment system and I feel giving students the opportunity to talk about their experience of assessments would be invaluable.

If any teachers working with Year 11 GCSE students could share my questionnaire link www.mygcses.co.uk with their pupils, it would be greatly appreciated!

The online questionnaire can be accessed at any time by the students and should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

This project is led by Aletia Daly, Prof. Kevin Woods and Dr Tee McCaldin at the University of Manchester.

Thanks in advance! :)

Survey link - www.mygcses.co.uk

Hey everyone! I’m looking for a murder mystery short story appropriate for my low-level 12th grade Multicultural Lit class. I’m looking for something similar to Knives Out, in that it is a murder mystery that comments on the wealth gap. I would love for the message to be related to a social issue currently happening in the world, or for the mystery to revolve around a culture my southern American students may be unfamiliar with. Thanks!

I am currently using the ACT Coach: English, Reading, and Writing workbook from Tripumph Learning. I love it, and use it with my Juniors for warmups in class. It reviews concepts, not just test-taking strategies. I can usually get through the reading comprehension, reading informational/literature texts, and grammar sections in right at a semester.

I'm at a new school this year where I teach Juniors English 3 in the fall, and then teach those same juniors English 4 in the spring. I'm looking for a second workbook like it that I can use in the spring. I'm looking for another workbook that reviews concepts and subjects, not just test-taking strategies, that I can use for class warmups next spring. I'm looking to reteach/review the same ACT-related topics but with new texts or in a new workbook. Right now I have them taking practice ACT tests, but I'm seeing a definite need for reteaching and I don't want to give them the same exact lessons again.

Does anyone have a good workbook that they enjoy? It doesn't have to have any online components. I'm good with paper as well. Thanks.

Hi! Back again to see if people have created project for Homegoing in the past, and what has worked for you in working through Homegoing.

Hi, I need to create vocab/spelling tests for 6-8. Anyone has a quick and easy online resource for this? I only use hard copy (printed worksheets), nothing online or with computers. I just need a simple online generator to create pdfs or similar. Anyone? Thanks!

To clarify, the title (not online) means we don’t work online in class. But I need an online generator

Do you allow students to use Grammarly on their essays? I’ve been on the fence about it and am wondering what other people do. We recently realized that the spell check for students in Google Docs is only flagging about 30% of errors.

I've just created this quiz. It would be great to get your feedback and also please feel free to use it :) https://resources.quizalize.com/view/quiz/analogies-test-b535acd7-74f6-4979-b568-f5946c0579c7

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https://i.redd.it/sts2umqvkapa1.gif

Use this post to recommend ELA resources that you have found beneficial for you personally or in your classroom.

Has anyone done literature circles with self-help/motivational/life skills type books? If so, did you pair it with any activities (writing unit of some kind or teaching how to read information texts maybe) outside the normal lit circle ones?

Hello,

My school district is considering changing out The Jungle by Upton Sinclair in our curriculum. Any recommendations? The theme for the 1st marking period is Shaping Horizons. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone!

My name is Kayla. I am a student at Slippery Rock University and I am doing a project on the impact that the novel, The Outsiders (SE Hinton), has had on students with disabilities, difficulties, home/school troubles, etc.

If you're interested in sharing any information with me, I'd love to send you a couple of questions. Of course, student identity will be protected!

"Good teachers are the ones who can challenge young minds without losing their own." –Unknown

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Feel free to post moments that have inspired you over the past few days or weeks, a quote that has helped you in your classroom, or something that could help others out.

Has anyone done the International TEFL Academy's 60-Hour Foundation of English Grammar Course?

https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/grammar-specialty-course

I'm sure I need to do one, and likely I will do one of their in-person TEFAL courses. But I just want to hear from anyone who has done it before I part with my hard earned $400.