English Companion

A place to ask questions and get help. A community dedicated to helping you enjoy your work. A cafe without walls or coffee: just friends.


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  • Scott Storm
  • Lisa Park
  • Bill Maniotis
  • Karalee Huck
  • Michael Umphrey
  • Mrs. Seipp
  • Jessica Clements
  • Jacque Helms
  • John Eric Byrnes
  • Michele Yakubowski
  • Erin Breaux
  • Justin Maslanka

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Coming November 23rd: "Write Beside Them" Book Club with Penny Kittle

Author, teacher, and EC Ning member Penny Kittle will host our next book club for her book Write Beside Them: Risk, Voice, and Clarity in High School Writing. This book club will begin November 23rd. Heinemann will offer free shipping through December 25th, using promotion code WBTNV9. If you do not yet have the book, order it asap so you are ready to go on the 23rd! We have focused on reading for the last few book clubs. Applebee and Langer's article in the June 2009 English Journal titled “What's happening in the teaching of writing?” points to troubling trends in writing instruction. Penny will help us move to address these issues in our own classrooms. Click here to read Penny's letter inviting all to join her.

Groups

Forum

Michael Umphrey

The Ethics of Authenticity: Chapter 7: La Lotta Continua 59 Replies

Started by Michael Umphrey. Last reply by Bill Maniotis 20 minutes ago.

Karen LaBonte

EC NING MEETUP at NCTE! 22 Replies

Started by Karen LaBonte. Last reply by Lisa Park 25 minutes ago.

Lisa Park

Joyce Carol Oates - NCTE Luncheon Speech (Nov. 21, 2009)

Started by Lisa Park 1 hour ago.

Steve Shann

Ethics of Authenticity: Chapter 8 Subtler Languages 26 Replies

Started by Steve Shann. Last reply by Mark Smith 2 hours ago.

Jenna R Waid

Help with Homer 1 Reply

Started by Jenna R Waid. Last reply by Sherstine Stephens 2 hours ago.

Meredith S

NCTE Reflections 1 Reply

Started by Meredith S. Last reply by Stacey Kerr 5 hours ago.

Meredith S

NCTE Resources

Started by Meredith S 5 hours ago.

Michelle Schneden

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" 6 Replies

Started by Michelle Schneden. Last reply by Michelle Schneden 14 hours ago.

Joseph Scotese

Should Teachers be allowed to sell their lessons online? 51 Replies

Started by Joseph Scotese. Last reply by Muvaffak GOZAYDIN 15 hours ago.

Stacey Kerr

What should I plan to do at NCTE? 45 Replies

Started by Stacey Kerr. Last reply by Lee Ann Spillane 18 hours ago.

Jim Burke

PRE-NCTE Info for ECNers: Presentations, Events, ECN Get-Togethers! 54 Replies

Started by Jim Burke. Last reply by Suzanne Porath 1 day ago.

Eileen Williams

What to do about those senior recommendations when you're not sure they deserve it? 2 Replies

Started by Eileen Williams. Last reply by Eileen Williams 1 day ago.

Pricer

Senior Projects 1 Reply

Started by Pricer. Last reply by Lorra Wells 1 day ago.

Sara Barth

Looking for ideas for watching Huck Finn 1 Reply

Started by Sara Barth. Last reply by Marie G. 1 day ago.

Robert B. Vellani

British Classic Non-Fiction - HElp finding titles

Started by Robert B. Vellani 1 day ago.

Blog Posts

Lisa Park

Joyce Carol Oates - NCTE Saturday Luncheon

Posted by Lisa Park on November 21, 2009 at 8:00pm — 1 Comment

Melissa Snyder

Counsel/advice?

Posted by Melissa Snyder on November 21, 2009 at 3:42pm — 6 Comments

Mark Gardner

The most important teaching time is not always the time with the students.

Posted by Mark Gardner on November 21, 2009 at 10:30am — 5 Comments

Alan Sitomer

I am privileged to be at NCTE and more should enjoy the same.

Posted by Alan Sitomer on November 21, 2009 at 5:30am

Michael Umphrey

Financial ruin and the future of soulcraft

Posted by Michael Umphrey on November 20, 2009 at 11:30pm

Teresa Bunner

Thoughts from Philly

Posted by Teresa Bunner on November 20, 2009 at 8:01pm — 7 Comments

Hamilton Salsich

GIVING IN ENGLISH CLASS

Posted by Hamilton Salsich on November 20, 2009 at 3:04pm

Melissa Snyder

Advanced 8th Grade Literature

Posted by Melissa Snyder on November 20, 2009 at 6:49am

Alan Sitomer

Watch What You Tweet!!

Posted by Alan Sitomer on November 20, 2009 at 5:30am — 2 Comments

Hamilton Salsich

STUDENTS TEACHING THE TEACHER

Posted by Hamilton Salsich on November 19, 2009 at 2:30pm — 2 Comments

Alan Sitomer

I just SOLD a New Book of YA Fiction: More on the Writing Process

Posted by Alan Sitomer on November 19, 2009 at 5:30am — 6 Comments

Edmund C. Garrison

New Jersey HSPA Expository Essay

Posted by Edmund C. Garrison on November 18, 2009 at 6:47pm

Traci Gardner

Bits Post: A Simple Starting Point for Visual Assignments

Posted by Traci Gardner on November 18, 2009 at 1:30pm

Jenna Gardner

Looking forward to Philly and the Convention!

Posted by Jenna Gardner on November 18, 2009 at 8:35am

Karen LaBonte

EC Ning Meetups at NCTE

Posted by Karen LaBonte on November 18, 2009 at 8:21am — 5 Comments

Alan Sitomer

All FIRED UP for NCTE in Philly!

Posted by Alan Sitomer on November 18, 2009 at 5:30am — 9 Comments

Hamilton Salsich

A SENIOR CITIZEN STUDENT

Posted by Hamilton Salsich on November 17, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

Dan Holden

TeacheRant: Sherman Alexie Beats a Kindle to Death

Posted by Dan Holden on November 17, 2009 at 12:30pm — 4 Comments

Jack

Week 8 Contest: Brainypics About Brainypics

Posted by Jack on November 17, 2009 at 10:30am

Megan

Open ended responses

Posted by Megan on November 17, 2009 at 8:50am

 
 

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Latest Activity

Bill Maniotis replied to Michael Umphrey's discussion 'The Ethics of Authenticity: Chapter 7: La Lotta Continua'
Mark, Mark. You may truly be a pinhead.
19 minutes ago
Lisa Park replied to Karen LaBonte's discussion 'EC NING MEETUP at NCTE!'
We missed you, Alan, at the gathering on Saturday! I saw you from afar at Middle Mosaic, though. Wish I'd sat at your table. :(
24 minutes ago
Lisa Park replied to ashley shaffer's discussion 'Transcendentalism Unit Ideas' in the group Teaching Texts
Sure. I'll try to upload things on Monday. I have everything at school. This weekend was NCTE here in Philly, so I dropped everything "school" and went to indulge myself by engaging with other English teachers! :)
45 minutes ago
Jacque Helms replied to Mallory Whitney's discussion 'The Giver' in the group Teaching Reading
A friend just taught The Giver from the perspective of institutions - like orphanages around the world. She had someone from a local world adoption agency come talk about life for these kids. The guest speaker was able to relate stories of childre...
52 minutes ago
Teresa Bunner commented on Teresa Bunner's blog post 'Thoughts from Philly'
Dan- Karen wanted to eat all the food, but I stopped her:) It was a delight to meet you, Dan! What a wonderful, wonderful evening! Certainly one of the greatest moments of the conference for me! So, so, so glad you were able to join us!
58 minutes ago
Lisa Park replied to ashley shaffer's discussion 'Transcendentalism Unit Ideas' in the group Teaching Texts
I agree with CSanders. An outdoor walk where they are "at one" with nature and just taking it all in is a good activity. I tell them not to talk. I give them a big piece of art paper and have them find a solitary, quiet spot to just reflect and wr...
59 minutes ago
David Swartz replied to ashley shaffer's discussion 'Transcendentalism Unit Ideas' in the group Teaching Texts
Lisa, This sounds great, and I agree it is helpful to render somewhat concrete the essentially abstract Transcendentalists - even when Thoreau is describing ants or ripples on the water, it always suggests some sort of subtlety or sublimeness (su...
1 hour ago
J. D. Wilson, Jr. replied to Gretchen Hintz's discussion 'Gulliver's Travels with Seniors' in the group Teaching Texts
Here are some things I use. I do these as group work and then base a quiz question on the findings. There is one for the fourth voyage if you are interested but this only lets me attach three. Introduce the Restoration Unit with a group work "deba...
1 hour ago
Rhonena Hoyet commented on Melissa Snyder's blog post 'Counsel/advice?'
I use parts of the 1963 film to introduce the novel, especially to help them understand about the boys' choir. I don't show the entire film in class--takes too much time--but I let kids come in to lunch with me and watch it over the course of a fe...
1 hour ago
Daniel Sharkovitz commented on Teresa Bunner's blog post 'Thoughts from Philly'
Teresa, Thank you for not eating all my food this evening during dinner when I had to excuse myself from the table for a couple of minutes. What fun to dine for the first time ever with my new Ning family. And Karen, you are even more amazing in ...
1 hour ago
Lisa Park replied to ashley shaffer's discussion 'Transcendentalism Unit Ideas' in the group Teaching Texts
One thing that my students enjoyed - 'refrigerator magnet poetry' or Found Poetry using Thoreau and Emerson. I'll upload a picture of the project if I can remember to take one at school on Monday. It's a quickie, fun, pair-share activity that stud...
1 hour ago
Jacque Helms added a discussion to the group NBPTS
Looking for mentors
I just got my Take One score - a 2.5 so I'm not banking it. However, I'm working on certification this 2009-10 year. I'd love to find a mentor who can help support me through the process. I'd love any guidance I could get.
1 hour ago
Michele Yakubowski Looking for ways to incorporate technology into lessons.
1 hour ago
glenda funk commented on Lisa Park's blog post 'Joyce Carol Oates - NCTE Saturday Luncheon'
Joyce Carol Oates' humor was so unexpected, but what touched me most is the trust she showed us by sharing her story of personal tragedy: the death of her husband in 2008. I've had Blonde sitting on the shelf for several years--one of those books...
1 hour ago
Teresa Bunner commented on Melissa Snyder's blog post 'Counsel/advice?'
I showed my kids the 1963 version. Then I showed them the opening to the 1990 version. They were outraged! They agreed that even though the other version was black and white and a little hokey, it was better. My advice, go with the older version.
1 hour ago
Teresa Bunner commented on Teresa Bunner's blog post 'Thoughts from Philly'
Christine- I'm so sorry we didn't get to meet you! But I am so glad that you had such a wonderful experience. Isn't it amazing how you can leave such full days with so much learning and yet feel energized! We've decided the Ning get togethers wil...
1 hour ago
Lisa Park added a discussion
Joyce Carol Oates - Saturday Luncheon Speech (Nov. 21, 2009)
(Also on my ECNing blog) mp3 version of Joyce Carol Oates' speech uploaded below. Joyce Carol Oates was such an engaging speaker! Listen for (1) the balloon metaphor and men's egos (8:35); (2) Twilight and vampires (10:18); (3) the wonderful and...
1 hour ago
Lisa Park added a blog post
Joyce Carol Oates was such an engaging speaker! Listen for (1) the balloon metaphor and men's egos (8:35); (2) Twilight and vampires (10:18); (3) the wonderful and honest advice about writing. JCO's advice to writers: 1. Write your heart out abou...
1 hour ago
Csanders commented on Melissa Snyder's blog post 'Counsel/advice?'
I HATE The 1990 film. It is reset in America. The boys have some Captain Benson with them, which destroys the whole notion of their being alone and creating their own microcosm of adult life. The nudity and profanity are exploited by the director....
1 hour ago
Csanders replied to ashley shaffer's discussion 'Transcendentalism Unit Ideas' in the group Teaching Texts
I find that kids really relate to Transcendental ideas--the inner connectedness of everything, and especially the wonder and power of nature. They all like the outdoors to some degree: lying on the ground and looking up at the clouds or stars or s...
1 hour ago
 

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