The Read-Aloud Handbook - Jim Trelease

How is it that I made it through post-secondary (English-major, Special Ed minor) and then 4 years of teaching and I NEVER heard of this book?

If you're a teacher, READ IT. If you're a parent, READ IT. If you have any contact with any young person(s), READ IT.

It is too important not to.

Join ELAC!

ELAC 2013 Conference

Awesome PD Opportunity! Fantastic speakers, networking & more!

Not an ELAC member yet? Visit our Specialist Table (especially to enter for some GREAT prizes!) and check out the ELAC website!

QR code for this site...

Scan this for a quick link to the website on your mobile device!

Beginning Teachers' Conference 2012

Welcome new teachers!

Some of the best advice I received when I was a beginning teacher was stick with it for 3 years...I'm now in my 4th year :)


Shakespeare

• Survivor Macbeth! (ELA 20-1) - link to unit resources & suggestions

• The Tempest (ELA 30-1)
• Act I, scene i - "the boat" scene with modern translation - set up the illusion and magic of the theatre
• Vocabulary based on videos from Vocabahead
• 4-colour flags/highlighting
• The Tempest 2010 film (Dir: Julie Taymor)
• Act II & III Radio Plays (GarageBand on Macs or Audacity on PC) - 25 lines or so per pair
• Act Quizzes based on characterization/theme/symbolism & key quotations
• "Socratic Seminar"/Discussion - questions tweaked from this study guide
• Essay question: Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creator in your chosen text about the impact of an individual’s ambition on self and others.

Strategies to help students & keep me sane!

• Goodbye chapter questions...
• 4-colour flags/highlighting
• Characterization, Setting/Tone/Mood, Themes, Essential Figurative Language/Literary Devices
• "Sticky Note Questions"
• Essay Breakdown

Competencies (Strategies - Reading & Viewing - Writing - Speaking & Representing)

• Bias, Character, Figurative Language/Literacy Devices, Film Techniques & Visuals, Genre & Form, Mood/Atmosphere, Plot, POV & Perspective, Purpose & Audience, Setting, Theme/Controlling Idea/Statement of Belief, Tone

CEATCA

Welcome to those of you from CEATCA today! Thank you for coming to our presentation and for your great comments and feedback. 


If you have any questions about what we presented today, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information!  mrsleschert@gmail.com

QR Codes

You may have noticed these funny 'barcode' type symbols cropping up everywhere - from real estate ads to application forms to our shirts!


These are called QR codes (Quick-response Codes) - and they're quite easy to make and fun to use! Basically, a QR code stores a variety of information. 


How to make one:

Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere

Tired of students using their cellphones for texting? Give them a specific use and keep them occupied with some pre-planned or off-the-cuff surveys! With a free account, you can receive up to 40 responses for one question.


Some of the ways I use this in my classroom:

• Grad song & theme selection!
• Bell Task
• Pre-learning activity
• Check for understanding
• Exit slip
• Brainstorming session (with moderation - does cost $) - but what about staff meetings?
• Take the brainstorming a step further - convert to a Wordle!

Let's give it a try!


Would you use this website in your classroom? (poll)


Possible uses within your classroom (brainstorming)




H/T: Free Technology for Teachers (a favourite resource!)