Serena McKenna

Meeting with Language Chairs from other secondary schools tomorrow to demonstrate what structured literacy looks like in grade 9 and 10 classrooms!

Elements of Fiction & Stylistic Devices Elements of Fiction & Stylistic Devices Considering the Author’s Choices CHARACTERIZATION Characterization is the process by which an author reveals a character's personality, traits, and qualities in...

To help grade 9 students notice diction & consider how word choice contributes to overall meaning we learned about connotation. I always create a ref sheet after a lesson, based on concepts we just learned so examples are relevant. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Group writing on white boards! Students circulate, editing or just reading other responses and then they record personal responses, using their classmates ideas.

Follow up to last post: essay writing is scaffolded. I provide feedback at each stage. Yes, it’s a lot of work but this is where short videos are everything. I’ll record comments on thesis and arguments. We all refine them at the same time. Same process for each stage.

LitEssayFeedback checklist NBE3U Essay Feedback Checklist: completed by Ms. McKenna on ___________________________ Name: Ideas addressed (evidence of reading comprehension) Topics & Themes Racism/Intolerance Stereotypes Iden...

Are you a secondary teacher struggling to assess and provide feedback on a MASSIVE stack of essays? I use a checklist that I edit depending on learning goals. Often I also record personal comments in short vids. My students love the feedback videos. Feel free to copy

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Examples of vertical learning in NBE3U. We are comparing the ideas addressed in a variety of text forms. I’m not a fan of “This demonstrates”, but we need to master other skills rn. Later I use this phrase as a lesson about overuse of pronouns & we beef up the word choice to be very specific.

Verbs in categories . Communication and Expression Articulates: The author articulates the complexity of human emotions through the inner monologue of the protagonist. Clarifies: The narrator clarifies the character's mo...

This is a resource I created that I’m using as a source for vocabulary lessons. We are early in the semester and I am already seeing more deliberate, informed choices of vocabulary! This is a doc that’s in progress but feel free to copy, adapt, improve…!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Elements of SL in high school- what does it look like in higher grades? Explicit teaching of vocabulary and syntax in an NBE3U class. We are using vertical learning to practise! Students thinking about words and having the time and space to talk about them makes this teacher’s heart very happy!

I won an award! I’m actually really impressed that I’ve never brought a rubber mallet to school to “fix” this machine. It is only February.

For the record, no one interrupted!

Moore Butts Conversation #18 -- Advice for The Rocky Political Road Ahead Podcast Episode · The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge · 2025-01-06 · 49m

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... For my Canadian friends: the Moore-Butts conversations are among my favourite episodes on The Bridge. Get a measured, respectful & truthful bipartisan insight on how things run behind the scenes in our country. This is a really important time to pay attention!

They're from different generations — but a green bench brought them together in Tecumseh, Ont. - CBC News I loved this story. There is mention of a teen skateboarding past a bench who stops to sit with an elderly person to ask if he should stay in school. 🥹 We all need a green bench!

Connections
Puzzle #546
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Connections
Puzzle #539
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Are there any secondary school English teachers here? I’m looking to start a starter pack. I would love to start conversations about assessment, adolescent literacy & structured literacy in grades 9 & 10!

Wordle 1,254 4/6

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Thank you, Jodi! I’m so grateful for the connections, and your for SOR starter pack!

Reading Intervention for Adolescent Readers with Dr. Margaret Opatz and Sara Kocherhans Podcast Episode · Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy Podcast · 2024-03-29 · 55m

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/j... Are there any secondary teachers on BS🦋 yet? I need the freeze time superpower so I can binge listen!

Thank you! I followed up on this during an episode of insomnia. It lead down the most amazing rabbit hole of literacy intervention resources for older students! That Literacy Queen title I bestowed on you holds! 👑🙌Also, I have literacy t-shirt envy 😂📖

Shout out to @katewinn.bsky.social for posting this title in the other platform we will not name! This book is providing the missing puzzle pieces in our Structured Literacy journey at Holy Cross Secondary School! Are Structured Literacy t shirts a thing? Can we make them a thing?

Highly recommend @IDA_Ontario's Basics of Decoding and Spelling Instruction course. It's very affordable, asynchronous, and you have access to the course forever! #onted #structuredliteracy #SOR #edusky

Would You Trust The New US Team With Your Secrets? Podcast Episode · The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge · 2024-11-18 · 47m

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... sighhhhhh. I NEVER miss an opportunity to listen to Janice Stein, but this episode scared me. Well, none of this is surprising but still, to hear her actually sigh and groan on air- yikes. We are in for a wild four years.

THIS

I live for Mondays for this reason

I want a Janice Stein t shirt. She is so awesome that I would rep her in some cool merch. #makeintellectcoolagain

I think this applies for feedback I’m writing about someone’s writing, right? 🧐

You have some lovely variety! I’m stuck on whippets…for now. Hehe.

I don’t know how this happened. They’re like chips or those tiny Kit Kat bars. It’s unreasonable to expect a gal to stop at one!