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High School English Teachers Chatboard

Sounds like I'll be 80% next year

by curiositycat

May 21, 2011

I've heard so many people say that when they went down to 80%, they still ended up putting in the time of someone working 100%. Anyone here have experience with this? Thanks!

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marjoryt The best advice I got from a retiring professor, who was known for his ability to juggle multiple activities, was to plan the semester, and to stick with the plan.

For instance, during I last summer I realized my fall 7 classes were going to be jammed with students, which meant I'd be managing vast amounts of data. It took a really hard l...See More

May 22, 2011

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Advice on a block schedule

by calif english teacher

May 22, 2011

Our new principal is moving us to a block schedule in the fall. We'll have 100-minute classes that meet M-W or T-Th with a regular 50-minute period on Friday.

Does anyone have advice on how to revise lessons? How do you keep sophomoress engaged for a long period? What kinds of activities do you advise?

Our school is an Early Colle...See More

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Teri The key is to break up lessons into different activities--mini- lessons, small group, partners, individual work, whole group.

Typically, I start with a bell ringer activity--I've used Grammar with a Giggle before or a combination word of the day/journal writing. Each involved elements of individual work, followed by partners, and then who...See More

May 22, 2011

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Is tutoring college students legal in your state?

by not in mine

May 25, 2011

I just found out that in my state it is illegal to help a college student write a paper. I've been tutoring for years at every level including college students. Elementary age students more often come for general skills remediation but by Middle School or high school for sure, families are looking for help specific to the writing assignments. I don...See More

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Which state? NFM On 5/25/11, not in mine wrote: > I just found out that in my state it is illegal to help a > college student write a paper. I've been tutoring for years > at every level including college students. Elementary age > students more often come for general skills remediation but > by Middle School or high school for sure, families are &g...See More

May 26, 2011

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still not in mine On 5/26/11, Which state? NFM wrote: > On 5/25/11, not in mine wrote: >> I just found out that in my state it is illegal to help a >> college student write a paper. I've been tutoring for years >> at every level including college students. Elementary age >> students more often come for general skills remediation but >&...See More

May 27, 2011

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Visual Arts in the Literary Study of Where the Red Fern Grow

by Amy Whitaker

May 25, 2011

I am a senior English Teaching student at Brigham Young University, and I am currently taking a class that focuses on writing about literature in the digital age. This class have given me the opportunity to research aspects of an independently chosen novel that are relevant to me. As a future teacher of language arts, I wanted to focus on an old ch...See More

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Mae in Texas Visual imagery and the use of artifacts is an excellent way to introduce and support new ideas, concepts, and texts across the curriculum in all subject areas. The cover of the book (as well as picture books) is the artist's interpretation of the text. Visual aids are particularly helpful to ESL & SPED students who struggle with language and re...See More

May 29, 2011

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Long Term Sub Question

by Martin

May 25, 2011

I was offered a long-term sub position, teaching high school Language Arts at a high school in Denver, CO. My question is, does anyone have experience doing this and what happened? I'm very curious to hear what others may have experienced. I haven't made my decision yet, because I"m worried that it might only be for a few weeks--but I'd still be ex...See More

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Martin These are great questions, and I really appreciate your help.

This long term sub position does state in the advertisement that they also want someone to coach the school debate team.

Obviously, my concern is that I'll be expected to perform a full-time, regular teacher's job for much less pay and no benefits or union support--so...See MoreThese are great questions, and I really appreciate your help.

This long term sub position does state in the advertisement that they also want someone to coach the school debate team.

Obviously, my concern is that I'll be expected to perform a full-time, regular teacher's job for much less pay and no benefits or union support--so the school is getting the better deal and it's a toss up as to whether I'm better off or not since I won't be able to sub any longer. And then there's the question of how long is the sub slot for, just a few weeks, a few months, or what? It's also interesting that this same school is hiring for two other full-time, regular staff Language Arts positions as well. I'm tired of school administrations treating teachers like garbage, providing zero support, and then trying to find more ways to eliminate unions and reduce pay.

Although the job market is horrible and does not appear to be improving any time soon, there seem to be more negative aspects to this than positive.

On 5/30/11, marjoryt wrote: > Here's what I'd consider > 1) Am I on the short list to be hired for the next available > position for which I'm qualified to teach? > 2) If I sign the part time contact and then am offered a full > time job somewhere else, am I contractually obligated to stay > in the part time position or will I be released? > 3) Does the school system clearly understand that I want a > full time job and will be searching for one? > 4) Will I be expected to develop a semester calendar and > lesson plans for this period? > 5) Will I be expected to run extracurricular activities adn > take students on trips off campus? Will I be covered on > insurance and compensated for those? > 6) Am I obligated to do the "extra responsibilities" of a > teacher such as lunch room duties or after school tutoring? > > In one long term sub position, I didn't get any pay, but I > did none of the extra responsibilities - simply came in and > taught to the lesson plan. > > In another position, I was able to negociate just a little > better pay and promise of referrals and recommendations > because I stepped completely into the teacher's job. I > wasn't hired as the replacement, but the recommendations led > directly into my first and second full time jobs.

May 30, 2011

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Sam J My first job was as a long-term substitute. (This was 15 years ago and in another state.) I was hired just a couple days before school started, and it was a two-week position with the possibility of longer. I ended up working the entire school year, doing extra-curriculars and duties. I made my own lesson plans.

After 90 days in that posit...See More

May 31, 2011

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persmission to use student names/photo?

by Vico . . . Joyce . . . Goulding

May 31, 2011

How does your school handle use of student names and pictures in school and professional media?

Do the kids sign a form? Does your school honor these requests?

My place having some problems with folks who want to keep their kids' names out of everything.

Could they complain (or worse) about being in the yearbook? (I rea...See More

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Cory On 5/31/11, Vico . . . Joyce . . . Goulding wrote: > > Could they complain (or worse) about being in the > yearbook? (I really hope not!)

In some states local police departments are given annual copies of yearbooks to use in identifying those (of high school age) that commit crimes. Most parents don't know about this

May 31, 2011

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Teri I'd say the obvious--if they had their school picture taken, they are agreeing to be in the yearbook.

The police also use yearbooks to identify accident victims (morbid, but necessary).

On 5/31/11, Cory wrote: > On 5/31/11, Vico . . . Joyce . . . Goulding wrote: >> >> Could they complain (or worse) about being in th...See More

Jun 1, 2011

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High School writing adoption

by texas

Jun 2, 2011

Which writing curriculum are you adopting?

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grammar errors

by Renee

Jun 6, 2011

I am a junior high English teacher. What are your thoughts on holding students accountable for grammar errors in their writing. All of the English teachers at the 7th & 8th grade level in my school deduct points for any mistakes in an assignment. One of our high school English teachers does not believe in this practice. She doesn't think the gr...See More

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ugh - grammar On 6/07/11, Teach wrote: > I'd also like to add that if your state has adopted Common > Core, instruction in specific grammar skills will definitely > be a focus. I agree with the previous posters that the > piecemeal DOL/editing papers approach does absolutely > nothing. When students' errors are corrected and they have > no idea...See More

Jun 8, 2011

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yayforsummer I think students should be held accountable on only the grammar and mechanics they have been taught.

Errors are fine...in rough drafts only. Who wants to read a newspaper or Internet article full of errors. Not me!

My students complete Daily Oral Language exercises every day. I don't just spend 5 min. a day on them then that's t...See MoreI think students should be held accountable on only the grammar and mechanics they have been taught.

Errors are fine...in rough drafts only. Who wants to read a newspaper or Internet article full of errors. Not me!

My students complete Daily Oral Language exercises every day. I don't just spend 5 min. a day on them then that's the end of it. I spend 10-15 min. a day on it, sometimes more. We label why we put a comma in a certain place, why we capitalized the word, etc. I use it as a teaching tool. My students keep these DOL's in their binder and use them to refer to when they write. I still teach grammar and other language arts' skills, so I do not use DOL as a stand alone program.

When students write, we take it through the writing process where we check for capitalization, usage, punctuation, and usage. I expect that when I grade their final drafts of their compositions, and they have used a comma after an intro. prep. phrase (which was taught in a DOL lesson), then I expect that it should be punctuated correctly.

I tell them up front that I will not only be grading their compositions for ideas, voice, organization, and etc, but I'm going to grade it like a DOL. Each sentence is worth 5 points. If ONE comma is in the wrong place, that whole sentence just lost 5 points. Yes, students have failed miserably...but, they only only fail a composition once. They understand I mean business. No one wants to read a paper full of grammar/mechanic/usage errors, especially if it considered a final copy! My grading policy makes them read with a reader's eye and more aware of their mistakes. As a result, my students write great papers with little to no grammatical errors. And although I'm tough, I have students tell me how much they love my class. Crazy!

By the way, I teach 8th grade English.

Your high school teacher needs to rethink her idea of grammar importance. She is about to release students into the real world where they will write for professors and/or their careers. I don't think they would appreciate a paper full of errors. They don't give a hoot about the process they went through. All they care about is the finished product, which should be error-free.

Good luck!

On 6/06/11, Renee wrote: > I am a junior high English teacher. What are your thoughts > on holding students accountable for grammar errors in their > writing. All of the English teachers at the 7th & 8th > grade level in my school deduct points for any mistakes in > an assignment. One of our high school English teachers > does not believe in this practice. She doesn't think the > grammar is as important as the process the students go > through to write. I agree that the process is important, > but I also think that grammar is important too, and > students should be held accountable. Should I not put so > much emphasis on the grammatical errors?

Jun 9, 2011

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Reading/Writing workshop in High School

by Former elem teacher

Jun 9, 2011

Hi! I will teach 10th grade English II in the fall. This will be an adventure to say the least because I have taught 4th grade for the past eight years. I am accustomed to the reading and writing workshop format for language arts. Will this be too elementary?

I will have three 94 minute periods. We are on a block schedule meaning I will t...See More

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curiositycat Read all of Carol Jago's books!

On 6/10/11, Teri wrote: > On 6/09/11, Former elem teacher wrote: >> Hi! I will teach 10th grade English II in the fall. This >> will be an adventure to say the least because I have taught >> 4th grade for the past eight years. I am accustomed to the >> reading and writing workshop ...See More

Jun 10, 2011

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calif english teacher We're going to the block in the fall, and I've heard that a reading/writing workshop approach is helpful. What does that mean, exactly? I'm picturing breaking up 100-minute periods into three blocks split between grammar/punctuation, writing, and discussing what we're reading.

Suggestions? Warnings?

Jun 10, 2011

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fig. lang. idea wanted

by yayforsummer

Jun 9, 2011

I teach 7th grade reading/8th grade English. I'm looking for a fun craft-based activity for figurative language that isn't too elementary that my students can use as a tool for their reading/writing.

Any ideas? Thanks.

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yayforsummer Love, love, love this idea! Thank you. I will definitely put it into place next year. Thanks again!

On 6/10/11, LindsayWoodard wrote: > I have a figurative language project on TeachersPayTeachers > that works great. It can be adapted to most levels of > instruction (I teach seventh-grade English but my husband uses > it with h...See More

Jun 13, 2011

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LindsayWoodard Glad I was able to help! If you continually point out literary and rhetorical devices in the items you read together as a class after they do the figurative language projects, you should find that they really stick in the kids' brains! You'll get some pretty creative projects, too. This year one girls used lines from Forrest Gump that demonstrated ...See More

Jun 13, 2011

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