The Teaching ELA Podcast

Here’s a story that became very popular right around March/April of 2020. It’s called “The Fun They Had” by Isaac Asimov. It’s more of a middle school level text but the themes, in light of recent events, makes it applicable to all grade levels. This podcast contains an emergency lesson you can create 2 minutes and an in depth discussion of this science fiction short story.

3 Takeaways

1. The One Thing that makes everything else in this story easier to teach is the Elements of Science Fiction.
2. If you’re looking for a quick assignment, a 2-column making connections chart will do.
3. Science Fiction can be mind-blowing.

Resources/Links Associated with This Episode

• Science Fiction Lesson Plans Collection (4 teacher ready lesson plans you can use right now)
• "The Fun They Had" Lessons Page
• Science Fiction Short Stories for Middle School and High School

*Note, the audio for portions of this episode aren't great. The content is outstanding.

Most ela teachers feel like they don't have enough time to get everything done that they need to get done.

That's why every lesson plan at elacommomcorelessonplans.com is ready to use right now.

That means you can leave on time today and still have a great lesson tomorrow.

In today’s episode of the Teaching ELA Podcast, I discuss several short stories with a focus on imagery. I’ve got an emergency lesson plan you can get on the board right now involving imagery and a breakdown of what it means to master the standards for teaching imagery, a breakdown that will make teaching everything easier.

Takeaways

1. A 2-column chart that takes no more than 2 minutes to put on the board covers the most important standard taught at your school.
2. Teaching imagery is more than teaching a definition and how to identify it. Making the lesson meaningful requires citing textual evidence, critical thinking, and using evidence to support analysis.
3. Edgar Allan Poe is more than just a master of suspense. He's a master of imagery.

Links

1. Imagery Lesson Plan Collection
2. "The Pit and the Pendulum" Lesson Plans
3. "The Scarlet Ibis" Lesson Plans
4. "A Sound of Thunder" Lesson Plans
5. Short Stories for Teaching Imagery

In this episode of the Teaching ELA Podcast, I discuss one of my favorite science fiction stories, “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. I’ve got an emergency "Veldt" lesson plan you can get on the board right now involving setting and conflict. If you’re going to teach one thing from this story that will make everything else easier or no longer necessary, teach students to cite textual evidence to analyze theme. I discuss that along with the elements of science fiction, cause and effect, conflict, and a Methods of Persuasion Advertising Project.

1. Use a setting/conflict 2-column analysis chart if you need a lesson plan right now.
2. If you’re going to teach one thing from this story, go with theme. It will naturally lead to the elements of Science Fiction and help you teach cause and effect and methods of persuasion.
3. This story was written in the 1950s, long before virtual technology existed. 
4. Science Fiction isn't just for nerds!

Show Links

• Science Fiction Lesson Plans Collection (4 teacher ready lesson plans you can use right now)
• “The Veldt” Lesson Plans at elacommoncorelessonplans.com
• Analyzing Conflict in “The Veldt” handout (Different from the one we talked about)
• “The Veldt” text
• “The Veldt” movie

*The Official Launch for the Teaching ELA Podcast is August 2, 2021. Come back then for three additional podcast episodes. In the meantime, enjoy this Teaching ELA Podcast special preview episode*

Because ELA teachers are the most important contributors in a middle school or high school, it's essential that we understand what it means to master literature standards, notably the one standard that by so teaching, teaching all other standards become easier to teach or no longer necessary.

The 4 levels of mastering citing textual evidence to support analysis:

1. Define the key term.
2. Cite examples of the key term.
3. Analyze and explain the example.
4. Apply the key term in one's own speaking or writing.

Key Takeaways

1. Mastery is much more than regurgitating information.
2. All students are capable of mastering differentiated ELA Standards.
3. Mastering ELA standards supports every subject at your school.

Links

• Graphic Organizers for Teaching Mastery
• The One Standard that Rules Them All Video Episode

*The Teaching ELA Podcast officially launches on August 2, 2021. This is just a preview of what to expect.

ELA Teachers are the most valuable people at any middle school or high school. They are responsible for teaching the one thing that makes teaching everything else at the school easier or no longer necessary. In this episode of the teaching ELA podcast, I discuss the one thing, that by teaching it, teaching everything else in your class and in your school easier to teach or no longer necessary.

3 Takeaways

1. Teaching students to cite textual evidence to support analysis is the most important skill students at your school can learn.
2. By teaching this one standard, everything else becomes easier or no longer necessary to teach.
3. This skill transfers to all ELA standards categories and to all other subjects.

Links

• 5 Specific Lesson Plans to Teach Citing Textual Evidence to Support Analysis (MSWORD).
• More Student Ready and Teacher Ready ELA  Lesson Plans 
• An Enhanced VideoCast on The One Standard to Rule Them All

*The Teaching ELA Podcast officially launches on August 2, 2021. This is just a preview of what to expect.