Olentangy middle school ELA team showcases classroom strategies at national conference

Olentangy Local middle school English-language arts teachers told the school board on Feb. 6 that sharing classroom units at the National Council of Teachers of English convention in Boston affirmed local practice and brought new ideas back to district classrooms.

The presentation, delivered by teachers who attended the NCTE annual meeting, summarized three units they presented and new classroom techniques they adopted after attending sessions. "We really wanted to start by just saying thank you especially to the board for giving Olentangy teachers a voice to showcase some of the amazing things that happen across our district," a presenter said.

Teachers described a unit that frames fiction as social commentary, pairing dystopian and science-fiction novels with research and argument writing so students connect genre language to contemporary issues. "We believe that writing is a form of artwork and it's a comment on society," one teacher said, adding students select a real-world issue, research both sides and identify the decision maker who could act on their ideas.

Presenters also described using dialogic talk to build empathy and deeper comprehension. They said safe classroom environments, frequent low-stakes discussions and explicit structures for seminar talk help students learn to listen and to consider differing viewpoints. "The environment is the biggest piece in order for the kids to be able to have these quality discussions," a presenter said.

A third strand of the presentation focused on maker-space approaches that combine hands-on activities and multimodal response to boost writing engagement. Presenters said an Olentangy Education Foundation grant, supported by the Hooprick family, funded materials such as story cubes and brand-name cards used in stations where students generate product ideas, interpret historical articles with blocks and develop sales pitches as part of writing work.

Board members praised the teachers and said the work aligns with district goals for communication and critical thinking. "Show me a school where the adults are learning, and I'll show you a school where students are learning," Superintendent Meyer said.

Presenters told the board the district's teachers received positive feedback from a standing-room audience at NCTE, and several brought back specific techniques that changed their instruction. They also noted the networking opportunity with authors and national speakers added energy they planned to translate into classroom practice.

The presentation closed with board members encouraging classroom visits and continued support for professional learning opportunities that teachers say directly affect student engagement and skill development.