Register Now for Back-to-School Tech Webinar with Katie Nieves 8/26

Join us and technology guru and NJCTE board member Katie Nieves on Monday, August 26th, at 6:30 PM for our first professional development webinar! We will focus on technology to use as we head into the new school year.

Come discover some technology tools that you could immediately integrate into your classroom! Register using this Google Form to receive the webinar URL. Following the webinar, all attendees will receive a certificate for 1 hour of PD for their participation.


Also, don’t forget to register for the NJCTE Fall ConferenceEARLY REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 4!

Mark your calendar for A Vision for the Future – Practices Designed for Success: September 21, 2019, at Kenneth R. Olson Middle School in Tabernacle, NJ. As usual, we will have 3 dynamic sessions with presentations from a wide range of teacher educators sharing best practices. You will also hear from keynote speaker, Dr. Kristen Turner.

And new this year: Join us for an authors’ breakfast (extra fee required). Start the day off right with breakfast with over 20 authors!

Register Now for Back-to-School Tech Webinar with Katie Nieves 8/26

NJCTE Wins NCTE Affiliate Membership and Website Excellence Awards

The New Jersey Council of Teachers of English has been named one of eighteen recipients of the 2019 Kent D. Williamson Affiliate Membership Recruitment Award given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Established in 1987, this award recognizes NCTE affiliates that have increased their memberships over the past year. Awards are calculated as a percentage of increase based on membership lists submitted by the affiliates in both the year of and the year prior to the award.

The New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, https://www.njcte.org/, edited by Sarah Gross, High Technology High School, has also been named as a recipient of the 2019 NCTE Affiliate Website of Excellence Award, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Established in 2000, this award recognizes outstanding websites with high-quality content, easy navigation, size, speed, privacy, links, and interactive abilities (message boards, live chats, forums, blogs, mailing lists, etc.).

The winners for both awards will be announced at the 2019 NCTE Annual Convention in Baltimore, during the Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast on Sunday, November 24.


Attention NJ ELA teachers: Would you like to write for the NJCTE blog? We would be happy to publish your ideas and insights about your practice or resources you’ve had success with, etc. We welcome original pieces or those that have been posted elsewhere. Please send queries and contributions to njcteblog@gmail.com.

NJCTE Wins NCTE Affiliate Membership and Website Excellence Awards

Remembering Toni Morrison

Toni Morrisonby Susan Reese

The National Council of Teachers of English brought me face to face with Toni Morrison.

NCTE had partnered with the Norman Mailer Foundation and Larry Schiller, Norman Mailer’s friend, to set in place a national writing contest for teachers and students. I was involved in curating the community college submissions. The genre was creative non-fiction. Mailer had been a pioneer in this genre writing about the execution of Gary Gilmore in the Executioner’s SongThe project culminated with an event filled with literary “Who’s Who.” These celebrities came together to honor the powerful influence of language in the lives of all of us.

When I saw Toni Morrison sitting by herself at one of the round tables for eight, I approached her. “Good evening, we are so excited to have you here.” I greeted her.

She looked at me somewhat puzzled. She was swathed in shades of gray with many wraps. Her gray hair in long twists around her head seemed to have provided the inspiration for the entire outfit. She was the eye of a hurricane.

“Oh, I am early, I know, but my feet are killing me. I just had to come in and sit down. I am not much for grand entrances.” She stopped speaking, rubbed her left foot with her right hand, and then coming back to the reality of the evening asked, “Did you know Norman well?”

Caught off guard, I stuttered, “Well, I have been to his house in Cape Cod, but…no, not well. I could not bring myself to tell her that I knew Norman about as well as I knew Stanley Kunitz; I had waved to both at their residences when I was in Provincetown studying poetry at The Fine Arts Center.

“He and I did not see eye to eye on many things, but there was something intriguing about the rascal. There was a soft spot in his heart, beyond all of the bravado. But, what about you? What are you working on? Don’t answer that. I hate when people ask me that question and want a one-word answer.”

“Well, actually, I am working on you,” I said in a word. “I just bought A Mercy on Amazon.”

“Oh, yes, I think that the book purveyors could ruin the publishing business. One ambitious scheme is offering all of the best sellers for only ten dollars. This may help them, but it will be disastrous for the writers. We’ll be getting $.67 a copy.”

I opened my purse to show her the book. “I was reading A Mercy on the train here and thinking of my friend Peggy. She is in the hospital with a very serious illness.”

“Is she a fighter? We need fighters in this world.”

I nodded in the affirmative. “I’ll be giving her this book when I next see her,” I said.

“May I sign that for her? I hope that it will be a message to her and to you of the good in the world.” With that, she took the book, produced her own pen and wrote.

“I am sure that she will be thrilled,” I said. “You are an inspiration.”

“What’s the world for you if you can’t make it up the way you want it? Everything I’ve ever done, in the writing world, has been to expand articulation, rather than to close it, to open doors, sometimes, not even closing the book – leaving the endings open for reinterpretation, re-visitation, a little ambiguity.” Later, I found this sentiment expressed in an interview in a different context, but in this time and space, her words were for me and for Peggy.

You must be wondering about my tenacious embrace of the bliss of ignorance in not initially putting a name to multiple myeloma, Peggy Morgan’s serious illness. You must also be wondering about Peggy. What message did Toni Morrison send her? Did this message provide solace? Although it could have, more likely it was the team of doctors and the determination of Peggy herself that made her continue on her journey opening doors and leaving the endings open for interpretation, re-visitation, and a little ambiguity in this story of imagined realism.

However, the story would not be complete without a word from Peggy more than ten years after the event.

“Toni wrote ‘Blessings’ in my book—so much in one word. Now I know that she was actually encouraging us all to recognize, deal with, survive, triumph over evil.”

I cannot help thinking that Toni Morrison was also sending a message to NJCTE, asking members to consider her approach to difficulty and conflict: Everything I’ve ever done, in the writing world, has been to expand articulation, rather than to close it, to open doors, sometimes, not even closing the book – leaving the endings open for reinterpretation, re-visitation, a little ambiguity.

Thus, it seems strangely fitting that I should end my remembrance of Toni Morrison with the words of Norman Mailer in his observations about the key traits of a writer:

The writer can grow as a person or he can shrink. … His curiosity, his reaction to life must not diminish. The fatal thing is to shrink, to be interested in less, sympathetic to less, desiccating to the point where life itself loses its flavor, and one’s passion for human understanding changes to weariness and distaste.”

Remembering Toni Morrison

NJCTE Honored with 2019 NCTE Affiliate Newsletter of Excellence Award

newsletter of excellenceNJCTE News, co-edited by Audrey Fisch, New Jersey City University and Susan Chenelle of University Academy Charter High School, published by the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, has been named as a recipient of the 2019 NCTE Affiliate Newsletter of Excellence Award, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Established in 1992, this award recognizes outstanding newsletters of affiliates of NCTE that have published a minimum of three newsletters from May 2018 through the program deadline on May 1, 2019.

Newsletter submissions are judged on: content (particularly the inclusion of current, pertinent information with a good balance between theory, practice, and professional growth information), quality of writing, a clear and accurately defined purpose for the publication, a format which aids the reader in locating information and is easy to read, and the use of graphics to aid the overall effectiveness of the newsletter.

The award winners will be announced at the 2019 NCTE Annual Convention in Baltimore, during the Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast on Sunday, November 24.


Attention NJ ELA teachers: Would you like to write for the NJCTE blog? We would be happy to publish your ideas and insights about your practice or resources you’ve had success with, etc. We welcome original pieces or those that have been posted elsewhere. Please send queries and contributions to njcteblog@gmail.com.

NJCTE Honored with 2019 NCTE Affiliate Newsletter of Excellence Award

It may be August, but it’s not too late for summer PD!

by Emily Meixner

In some states around the country, students and teachers are already heading back to school.  Luckily, in New Jersey, we still have a few more weeks before our official, usually post-Labor Day start date. If you’re like me, the last few weeks in August can get lost in a haze of school shopping, panicked planning, and attempts to squeeze out a few more minutes with family and friends.  August doesn’t always seem like the perfect time to pack in some personal professional development. And yet…

There are still ways to make use of these last few weeks that can contribute to our professional growth as teachers as well as our students’ learning during the next school year.  Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Put together a list of the first 10 books you want to book talk or (if you love and use picture books) read aloud to your students. These could be books you read over the summer or books your students loved last year. Sometimes having books pre-selected takes the pressure off. It’s one less thing you have to think about during those first few weeks of school, and knowing which books you want to book talk will help you establish a culture of reading with your students. 
  2. Find a new professional blog or teaching resource website that you enjoy.  Maybe you’re addicted to children’s and YA literature. If so, check out The Nerdy Book Club blog.  Maybe you love current events. If that’s the case, you might enjoy The Learning Network from The New York Times. Other possibilities include Edutopia, Cult of Pedagogy, Disrupt Texts, Moving Writers, Teaching for Change, Welcoming Schools, Teaching Tolerance, The Educator Collaborative, and many many more. All of these sites are thoughtfully curated and can support the teaching you want to do or are already doing. 
  3. Seek out and follow a new hashtag on Twitter. You could decide to follow something local like #njcte, #nerdcampnj, #njamle, #njliteracy, or #njela. Or, maybe you want to try a larger organization like #ncte, #NCTEVillage, #CELchat, #TheEdCollab or #ProjectLitBookClub. Or, maybe you want to follow the conversations that are happening with #DisruptTexts, #BuildYourStack, #ClearTheAir, #educolor, or #futurereadylibs Whatever you choose, you’ll find yourself meeting educators from all over the country who are excited about their work, asking important questions, and sharing ideas.
  4. Stalk or (better yet) participate in a Twitter Chat.  Some chats only last 30 minutes; others last an hour. Many of the hashtags listed above host regular (either weekly or monthly chats) as do groups like #mgbookchat or #titletalk This is another great way to meet other like-minded, like-spirited teachers. And, these chats can provide inspiration and new resources when the teacher well starts to run dry later in the year.
  5. Learn how to use a new digital tool. Maybe this is the year you’re finally going to give FlipGrid a go, or maybe you want to try your hand at screencasting (if you have Chromebooks, Screencastify is super easy).  Or, maybe like me, you’re curious about voice recording as a way to generate or give feedback on student writing. Whatever your interest might be, pick a tool and try it. If you hate it, your students will never know.  If you love it, you’ll know how to use it when school begins!
  6. Commit yourself to finishing one more book.  This could be fiction, non-fiction, YA, or a professional book you’ve been meaning to get to. It really doesn’t matter if you read this book or listen to it. Both count. What matters is the act of engaging in the exact literacy practices you want to cultivate in your students. 
  7. Organize a book club for the fall with friends or colleagues. Sometimes it’s hard to keep reading once the school year starts because life gets crazy. Organizing or hosting a book club can help and provide some much needed time to learn while also unwinding with friends or colleagues (food and fun are a must!). Maybe there’s a book you and some of your colleagues are thinking about teaching, or maybe there’s something you’ve been dying to read. Or, maybe there’s a problem at school that a professional development book can help you and other teachers start to solve. Pick a book, invite some people, and go for it!
  8. Finally…before this list gets too long…Find a local or national conference or PD institute you’d like to attend and put it on your calendar. Think big and ask for help from your school. Particularly if you want to attend something like the annual NCTE convention or a summer institute of some sort, asking administrators months in advance can be advantageous. If they can’t or won’t commit the resources, then look locally.  NJCTE offers two inexpensive conference every year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Both are great. 

So, even though it’s already August, it’s not too late!  There’s still time to get inspired and grow professionally.  

Here’s to a great school year!

Emily Meixner is an Associate Professor of English at The College of New Jersey where she serves as the coordinator of the Secondary English Education Program.


Attention NJ ELA teachers: Would you like to write for the NJCTE blog? We would be happy to publish your ideas and insights about your practice or resources you’ve had success with, etc. We welcome original pieces or those that have been posted elsewhere. Please send queries and contributions to njcteblog@gmail.com.

 

It may be August, but it’s not too late for summer PD!

NJCTE Welcomes New Board Member Lynn M. Love-Kelly

Please join us in welcoming new NJCTE board member, Lynn M. Love-Kelly!

Lynn M. Love-Kelly is a secondary English teacher at Newark Tech in Newark, New Jersey. Lynn enjoys reading mystery novels and helping students find their voice when writing. Mrs. Love-Kelly has taught developmental college writing and reading courses, and presented workshops on infusing technology into urban literacy classrooms. She earned a BA in English from Douglass College, MS in Education with a specialization in Literacy Learning and Ed.S in Teacher Leadership from Walden University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Teacher Leadership from Walden University.   She often assists NJCTE as a writing contest judge and curator.  In 2018 NJCTE honored Lynn with the Teachers for the Dream Award.


Attention NJ ELA teachers: Would you like to write for the NJCTE blog? We would be happy to publish your ideas and insights about your practice or resources you’ve had success with, etc. We welcome original pieces or those that have been posted elsewhere. Please send queries and contributions to njcteblog@gmail.com.

NJCTE Welcomes New Board Member Lynn M. Love-Kelly

NJCTE Summer Book Club Slow Chat Starts Today — Join us!

connectedreading coverConnected Reading by Troy Hicks and Kristen Hawley Turner

Weekdays August 5th-16th on Twitter

In anticipation of Kristen Hawley Turner’s keynote address at the 2019 Fall Conference: Practices Designed for Success and in recognition of the importance of summer professional development for teachers, we have designed the first annual NJCTE Summer Book Club Slow Chat on Twitter. Join us and earn six professional development credits while connecting with fellow literacy educators in New Jersey.

Have you purchased your copy of Connected Reading yet? If not, there is still plenty of time! You can purchase the print version or the e-book from the NCTE Store until August 16th. NJCTE and NCTE members can use the code READ19 to receive a 15% discount. Mark your calendar, buy your copy of the book, and get ready to join our conversation on Twitter! 

Read a chapter a day or read the entire book before the chat dates — whatever works for you! Below are the chat questions for those of you who like to prepare in advance. Most will appear in an abbreviated form in tweets, so reference this for more details:

Monday, August 5th: Introduction

Slow Chat Q1: Welcome! Before we begin discussing the book, please introduce yourself, and share which digital texts you most enjoy reading. If possible, share a link to the text itself or a summary of the text. #NJCTE

Tuesday, August 6th: Chapter One

Slow Chat Q2: Why might some literacy educators marginalize digital texts in their instructional choices? What actions might we take in our classrooms and schools to “move beyond these hesitancies” (14)? #NJCTE

Wednesday, August 7th: Chapter Two

Slow Chat Q3: In Chapter Two, Turner and Hicks focus on the recursive processes of connected reading: ENCOUNTERING, ENGAGING and EVALUATING texts. In what ways do you enter into this process yourself as you read digital texts? #NJCTE

Thursday, August 8th: Chapter Three

Slow Chat Q4: In Chapter Three, the authors share a number of anecdotes and experiences to illustrate what mindfulness about digital reading looks like. How are you more mindful of your digital reading practices after reading this chapter? #NJCTE

Friday, August 9th: Chapter Four

Slow Chat Q5: In Chapter Four, Turner and Hicks show how students “move fluidly between print and digital texts” (58). Nonetheless, “they may not realize that digital tools can help them to curate in a way that keeps them focused” (67). How might we help students articulate and discover their intentions and purposes as they navigate both print and digital texts? #NJCTE

Monday, August 12th: Chapter Five

Slow Chat Q6: In Chapter Five, the authors unpack a variety of approaches and rationales for creating shared digital annotations as they read print texts. What might shared annotation look like in your classroom and school? #NJCTE

Tuesday, August 13th: Chapter Six

Slow Chat Q7: Throughout Chapter Six, Turner and Hicks offer abundant examples of “intentional instruction surrounding digital texts” (124). What practices were you rethinking as you read this chapter? #NJCTE

Wednesday, August 14th: Chapter Seven

Slow Chat Q8: In Chapter Seven, the authors underscore the value of offering students “micro-bursts of short- and mid-form reading that can fuel their learning” (127). What unit of instruction or area of required curriculum might be notably improved through the introduction of digital texts — short-, mid-, and long-form? #NJCTE

Thursday, August 15th: Chapter Eight

Slow Chat Q9: In their final chapter, Turner and Hicks reference Will Richardson’s claim that “teachers must be users before they ask their students to engage with technologies” (142). Today, take some time to tinker with several of the many resources the authors have mentioned in this chapter or in previous ones. Share your learning as a user of the technology. How might it inform your future practices this year? #NJCTE

Friday, August 16th: Closing Reflections

Slow Chat Q10: Please share how you plan to implement strategies shared by the authors this coming school year. In the spirit of the book’s intent, please include screenshots and/or digitally annotated passages from this book or another one you are reading to share your learning with this network. #NJCTE

NJCTE Summer Book Club Slow Chat Starts Today — Join us!