Poetry Out Loud State Winner

Chelsea Anokye-Anygei has won the top spot in Delaware's Poetry recitation competition! 

Anokye-Agyei’s final recitation, “The Albatross” by Kate Bass, earned her high marks with the judges. The full poem can be found on the Poetry Foundation’s website.

For her winning presentation, Anokye-Agyei will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington with a chaperone to compete at the national championship on April 29 – May 1. Hodgson Vo-Tech High School will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. Samuel McGarvey, the first runner-up will receive $100, and Tall Oaks Classical School will receive $200 for its school library.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.

Social Studies Argument Writing

Kick Start Social Studies Claims with Evidence   What is the recursive nature of SS reading and writing? Reading and writing cannot be separated. Students who learn to read critically will become better writers. Writing and rewriting with source information makes better readers. Therefore, read, write, listen, speak, the literacy cycle is complete when paired with classroom structures that encourage deliberation, collaboration and peer interaction.   Resources Library of Congress primary source material Lessons and Links Videos Read Like a Historian: Guide for Historical Inquiry ·       What makes an effective inquiry question? ·       Why is it important to gather evidence on both sides? ·       How is asking a focus question different from stating a lesson objective? Read Like a Historian: Using Sources ·       Getting students to discern sources. ·       Analyzing primary source documents. ·       Speaking and listening through the lesson. Historical Detective Work: Collaboration toward Evidence ·       Mystery encourages thinking skills ·       Reading to discern the facts ·       Discussion and debate to determine the outcome.   Essential Elements/Skills when teaching writing from sources Paraphrasing must be taught!  Think about the essence of a source then change the actual words to ensure that the thought is a reflection. Quote sources correctly!  Introduce your quotations, cite your sources and explain your thinking within the writing. Referencing and attribution is taught in English classes but check to see what form and content are currently being used.   See the Cape Writing Handbook on the Cape Henlopen website for specific directions and links. "Claims, Reasoning, Evidence." Washou Schools. Summer, 2013. Web. 16 July 2018. <http://www.washouschools.net >

How Is Social Studies Argument Different? 1.     Social studies writings routinely utilize both primary and secondary sources for analysis. 2.     Social studies writing will also have to acknowledge alternate or opposing claims.  3.     Sources should be distinctive, well defined and specific.   Tracy Kidder’s on writing in Social Studies: “ The hardest thing was learning to write. I was 13, and the only writing I had done was for Social Studies. It consisted of copying passages right out of the encyclopedia.”

In Praise of Maurice Sendak from the Times

Maurice Sendak: A Look Back

In a beautiful tribute to Maurice Sendak, the New York Times author Maria Russo takes us through his most memorable trilogy and dissects them for the deeper writing that allows us to confront the truths of childhood.  Where the Wild Things Are, a huge favorite of mine, is a reflection of the escape from childhood and the gentle path back.  In the Night Kitchen, a culinary dream and Outside Over There, with dark tones of adolescence.  Read this review to remember why you loved his books and how to appreciate them again.  

Reading is the complex cognitive process of decoding symbols to derive meaning. It is a form of language processing. Success in this process is measured as reading comprehension. Reading is a means for language acquisition, communication, and sharing information and ideas. - From Wikipedia

Success is measured as comprehension. What do you understand after you have read something? A core idea that has multiple ramifications. This leads me to the question, what do you read and how do you determine meaning?

Now take it one step farther, what do our students read and what are their thoughts and understandings? This is the essence of what we need to be concerned about in all core subjects and across all grade levels and across the Cape Henlopen District.

Let's begin a deeper conversation with the Teacher Book Club, a session that will be offered this Friday, February 15 during out C3 CHAT Connections PD Day at Cape Henlopen High School. Sign up at Data Service on session 76548 or 76549. Hope to see you there.

Reading Makes You Smarter!

According to a recent blog article by Christina DesMarais, reading raises your IQ, makes you happier and protects your memory. Don't believe me? READ it for yourself!

As a bonus, here's a link to the 22 Books that are highly recommended by successful people.

AND a link to Why Daily Reading should be a priority.

Now go read something!