Each month, we share five things we love as part of our Footnotes Newsletter. Dive into our September 2024 edition to discover the latest English language arts resources, articles, and other gems that we think you should see!

1. Banned Books Week 2024 Roundup

Banned Books Week, an annual event highlighting the importance of reading and intellectual freedom, wrapped up a few days ago. Check out this NCTE blog post for more information about the event, including a link to their book rationale database that now covers over a thousand popular titles!

2. My Classroom Library Routine

Speaking of books, third-grade teacher Jennifer has made it a mission to make her classroom library the best it can be! Watch this vlog to see how she sources books for her collection, sets up the shelves, and creates an in-class lending system that teaches students the importance of personal responsibility.

3. What Are Text Features?

Nonfiction often includes text features like sidebars and charts to make information clearer and identify key points. When students understand how to use these features, they get more out of the text. This article from We Are Teachers lays out a simple guide to teaching text features so your students can be nonfiction pros.

4. Embed Scientific Vocabulary in Four Easy Steps

Sure, this article is science-focused, but it’s packed with great advice for building new vocabulary that carries over to the ELA classroom. Writing for The Royal Society of Chemistry, educator Omer Pazar explores four strategies students can use to remember tier-3 words, terms used in specific domains that students might not otherwise see.

5. How Shirley Jackson Exposed the Horror of Home Life

With October just a day away, who’s ready for a good scare? In this video essay, English scholar Dr. Rosie Whitcombe explores the works of Shirley Jackson, one of America’s most famous horror writers. Watch now to discover the quiet terror in Jackon’s stories and how they offer a scathing critique of the treatment of women during the time in which she lived.