2022-23 Book Study
Registration is closed for our fall book study. Stay tuned for a possible spring 2023 book study announcement.
An online space for discussion and support around teaching reading and writing.
Join the Maine Council for English Language Arts to study Sparks in the Dark by Todd Nesloney and Travis Crowder.
“A teacher must become a guide, a mentor, and an example, demonstrating clearly what it takes to read and write effectively” (37).
“If we expect our students to take learning seriously, we have to show them none of us ever stops learning” (166).
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members.
Not an MCELA member yet this year?
Make your $30 member donation here to get this year's member code for free online events like this one: https://www.mainecela.org/membership.html (note: you'll get the membership code on your PayPal receipt that you can use to register for this book study free).
Attendees can earn up to 15 contact hours for their learning.
We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book. An autographed copy of the book can be purchased at a discount on the author's website https://thesunriseshopnesloney.com/collections/books/products/sparks-in-the-dark-book
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. EST.
Dates:
Meeting 1: October 18th – We'll be discussing chapters 1-4
Meeting 2: October 25th– Chapters 5-7 will create our talking points
Meeting 3: November 1st – Chatting about chapters 8-10
Meeting 4: November 8th – Our final group conversation centered on chapters 11-13 and the epilogue
Meeting 5: November 15th – Q & A with the authors!
An online space for discussion and support around teaching reading and writing.
Join the Maine Council for English Language Arts to study Sparks in the Dark by Todd Nesloney and Travis Crowder.
“A teacher must become a guide, a mentor, and an example, demonstrating clearly what it takes to read and write effectively” (37).
“If we expect our students to take learning seriously, we have to show them none of us ever stops learning” (166).
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members.
Not an MCELA member yet this year?
Make your $30 member donation here to get this year's member code for free online events like this one: https://www.mainecela.org/membership.html (note: you'll get the membership code on your PayPal receipt that you can use to register for this book study free).
Attendees can earn up to 15 contact hours for their learning.
We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book. An autographed copy of the book can be purchased at a discount on the author's website https://thesunriseshopnesloney.com/collections/books/products/sparks-in-the-dark-book
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. EST.
Dates:
Meeting 1: October 18th – We'll be discussing chapters 1-4
Meeting 2: October 25th– Chapters 5-7 will create our talking points
Meeting 3: November 1st – Chatting about chapters 8-10
Meeting 4: November 8th – Our final group conversation centered on chapters 11-13 and the epilogue
Meeting 5: November 15th – Q & A with the authors!
2021-22 Book Studies
In today’s challenging environment, we would like to provide teachers with the space for discussion and support around how and why we read. Join the Maine Council for English Language Arts to study Forged by Reading by Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst.
“It has been said that books change us, and certainly they might, but perhaps it would be better if we thought not that books change us, but that books give us the opportunity to change ourselves. We the readers should remain responsible for who and what we become”
- Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst
Attendees will earn up t0 15 contact hours for their learning.
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members.
We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. EST.
Dates & Topics:
Meeting 1: February 15 – Patti Forster & Courtney McCann
Meeting 2: March 1 – Patti Forster & Claudette Brassil
“It has been said that books change us, and certainly they might, but perhaps it would be better if we thought not that books change us, but that books give us the opportunity to change ourselves. We the readers should remain responsible for who and what we become”
- Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst
Attendees will earn up t0 15 contact hours for their learning.
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members.
We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. EST.
Dates & Topics:
Meeting 1: February 15 – Patti Forster & Courtney McCann
- Intro/Overview
- Highlight the theme of change (to excite participants as they read over vacation)
Meeting 2: March 1 – Patti Forster & Claudette Brassil
- Change ch. 1-6
- Power ch. 7-10
- Power ch. 11-13
- Hope ch. 14-18
- Conclusion/possible author talk
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Join the Maine Council for English Language Arts to study Sarah M. Zerwin’s Point-Less: an English Teacher's Guide to More Meaningful Grading. Last year we studied The Distance Learning Playbook, Grading for Equity and Flash Feedback. Zerwin's book Point-Less came up often as a resource that would be helpful in implementing many of the ideas: how do we evaluate students without grading everything? How do we make students feel more ownership over their own learning? How do we assess students without using points? Our goal is to provide teachers with a space to continue thinking and discussing how to use these new ideas in their own classrooms. Attendees will earn 2 contact hours for each meeting.
The Point-Less book study will be facilitated by MCELA teacher leaders Patti Forster, 2021 Knox County Teacher of the Year from Camden Hills Regional High School, and Courtney McCann, Marshwood High School .
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members. We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book. Purchase the book via Heinemann for 30% off.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom over five evenings from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. Our topics will be as follows:
Meeting 1: October 12 4:00-4:30
Click here to register!
The Point-Less book study will be facilitated by MCELA teacher leaders Patti Forster, 2021 Knox County Teacher of the Year from Camden Hills Regional High School, and Courtney McCann, Marshwood High School .
Cost: Free for members, and $40 for non-members. We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book. Purchase the book via Heinemann for 30% off.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom over five evenings from 4:00 - 5:15 P.M. Our topics will be as follows:
Meeting 1: October 12 4:00-4:30
- Introduction to the book study, with schedule of meetings
- Discussion of current practices
- Focus questions provided for chapters 1, 2, & 3
- Chapter 1: “Acknowledge the Problems With Points”
- Chapter 2: “Establish Clear and Meaningful Learning Goals”
- Chapter 3: “Plan the Work Students Will Do”
- Chapter 4: “Create a Classroom Culture of Feedback”
- Chapter 5: “Make the Learning Visible”
- Chapter 6: “Invite Students Set Goals and Reflect on Their Growth”
- Chapter 7: “Determine a Final Grade”
- Sarah Zerwin!!!
- Moving forward
Click here to register!
2020-21 Book Studies
Join the Maine Council for English Language Arts to study Matthew Johnson’s Flash Feedback: Responding to Student Writing Better and Faster—Without Burning Out. During this text study, we will discuss the challenge of providing students with effective feedback. As we reflect on this school year and prepare for the fall, our focus will be on practical strategies to make feedback more meaningful and efficient that we can apply to our work with writers right now. Attendees will earn 2 contact hours for each meeting.
The Flash Feedback book study will be facilitated by MCELA teacher leaders Renee Doucette, NBCT, Kennebunk High School and Courtney McCann, Marshwood High School.
Cost: $20 gets you access to the four Zoom meetings. We ask that participants provide their own copy of the book. Purchase the book via Corwin for 20% off.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom over four evenings from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Our topics will be as follows:
Meeting 1: April 6 from 4:00-4:30
- Introduction to the book study, with schedule of meetings
- Discussion of current grading practices
- Focus questions provided for chapters 1 and 2
- Chapter 1: "Giving Strong Feedback in Less Time"
- Chapter 2: "Giving Mre Effective Feedback"
- Chapter 3: "Making Feedback Memorable"
- Chapter 5: Democratizing Feedback"
- Chapter 4: Beyond the Text
- Discussion about how to move forward into the 2021-22 school year
The Maine Council for English Language Arts is committed to providing ways for teachers to stay connected and adapt to the challenges of this school year. Towards that end, we are in the process of planning a number of virtual events. Our first event is a virtual book group centered around The Distance Learning Playbook by Fisher, Frye, and Hattie. If you would like to receive a copy of the text, your cost to participate will be $30. This is a 30% discount from the list price offered by Corwin of $29.95 + $5.95 shipping and handling. If you already have the text, wish to purchase the e-text, or just want to join us to chat about these topics, the cost is $5. This will help cover our registration costs through Eventbrite.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom over three evenings from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Our topics will be as follows:
Day 1: Tuesday, October 27
Module 1: Taking Care of Yourself and Module 3: Teacher-Student Relationships from a Distance
Day 2: Tuesday, November 3
Module 5: Teacher Clarity at a Distance and Module 7: Planning Instructional Units for Distance Learning
Day 3: Tuesday, November 10
Module 6: Engaging Tasks and Module 8: Feedback, Assessment, and Grading
We will be offering two hours of contact time for each of the evenings you attend. The first meeting will be facilitated by two of our Executive Board members: Patti Forster, NBCT, a teacher at Camden Hills High School, and the author of “Teacher Clarity: It's about Purpose, Focus, and Letting Go” (The English Journal, July 2019) and Dan Murphy, NBCT, English Department Chair at Bonny Eagle High School. However, this will be an interactive group and we are hoping that others will help facilitate later meetings.
Events this year present unique challenges. Come join your colleagues, and let’s figure out some of the solutions together.
Our virtual book group will take place via Zoom over three evenings from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Our topics will be as follows:
Day 1: Tuesday, October 27
Module 1: Taking Care of Yourself and Module 3: Teacher-Student Relationships from a Distance
Day 2: Tuesday, November 3
Module 5: Teacher Clarity at a Distance and Module 7: Planning Instructional Units for Distance Learning
Day 3: Tuesday, November 10
Module 6: Engaging Tasks and Module 8: Feedback, Assessment, and Grading
We will be offering two hours of contact time for each of the evenings you attend. The first meeting will be facilitated by two of our Executive Board members: Patti Forster, NBCT, a teacher at Camden Hills High School, and the author of “Teacher Clarity: It's about Purpose, Focus, and Letting Go” (The English Journal, July 2019) and Dan Murphy, NBCT, English Department Chair at Bonny Eagle High School. However, this will be an interactive group and we are hoping that others will help facilitate later meetings.
Events this year present unique challenges. Come join your colleagues, and let’s figure out some of the solutions together.
