Bellringers: The unsung hero of the ELA classroom

One of the most universal problems facing English teachers is how to fit it all in. What is “it?” Well, “it” could include:

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Testing strategies
• Writing lessons
• Research units
• SEL
• Literary terms
• Formative assessments
• Summative assessments
• Writing workshops
• And heaven forbid, time for fun stuff!

As a veteran teacher of AP, Honors, and on-level ELA learners, I’ve struggled with this problem every year. I still do! But lately, I’ve learned to lean on bellringers to “catch” a lot of the material that falls through the cracks.

My new strategy is: Bellringers for breadth, literature for depth.

Here’s how it works:

When shaping my classes, I like to consider what to emphasize first. In my Honors classes I emphasize themes or real-world problems (disillusionment, choosing a future career, power and corruption, etc.).

My on-level students are organized by genre (novel, play, short stories, poetry, etc.). I focus our lessons on these materials and don’t worry about incorporating outside lessons or drills in our unit.

For the minutia of other things I need to tackle, I outsource them to my ELA bellringers. For example:

• Vocabulary
• Literary terms
• Nonfiction analysis
• Grammar

This catch-all design means I’m still fitting it all in, but each topic is neatly organized into a labeled box and they don’t need to blend together.

Here’s a snapshot of how one week of my Honors class works (this is from our Disillusionment thematic unit)

Monday:
Bellringer: Vocabulary (envenom, temper, blight, cryptic)
Lesson: Introduction to disillusionment unit: watch clip from Zootopia & read first half of “Flowers for Algernon”

Tuesday:
Bellringer: Nonfiction analysis (excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham Jail”)
Lesson: Discuss “Flowers for Algernon” and complete the story

Wednesday:
Bellringer: Literary term (paradox)
Lesson: Thematic analysis APE-style paragraph on “Flowers for Algernon;” brainstorm and write in class

Thursday:
Bellringer: Grammar exercises
Lesson: Read “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, use context clues to learn about the plot, setting, conflict, and protagonist; Introduce Fahrenheit 451 (homework: Read first 20 pages)

Friday:
Bellringer: Bellringer quiz (5 multiple choice questions)
Lesson: Rehash “Flowers for Algernon” paragraphs, notes on F451

As you can see, the bellringers have nothing to do with my regular scheduled lesson. You may think this seems unusual, but it has a major perk. It allows me to change my lessons as needed.

With my grammar, vocabulary, nonfiction analysis, and literary terms not tied to my literature units, I have the freedom to swap out units, change lessons, and adapt whenever needed without touching any of my technical lessons.

Likewise, here’s how I would lay it out for my English 10 on-level class in a study of 12 Angry Men:

Monday:
Bellringer: Vocabulary (rife, posterity, defunct, hone)
Lesson: Introduce 12 Angry Men, assign speaking roles. Rearrange classroom into a jury room and begin reading Act 1.

Tuesday:
Bellringer: Nonfiction analysis (excerpt from In Cold Blood)
Lesson: Continue reading Act 1 of 12 Angry Men.

Wednesday:
Bellringer: Literary term (antihero)
Lesson: Conclude Act 1 of 12 Angry Men, watch the movie. Assign homework assignment (option of art, journal, or reflection).

Thursday:
Bellringer: Grammar exercises
Lesson: Watch Act 1 of 12 Angry Men.

Friday:
Bellringer: Bellringer quiz (5 MC questions)
Lesson: Begin reading Act 2 of 12 Angry Men.

I love using bellringers in all my classes to start a lesson. While students spend the first five minutes focusing on the mini-lesson, I’m able to teach it with no prep and multitask organizing that day’s lesson (or sipping some much-needed coffee).

If you’re looking for bellringers to tackle all of that “other stuff” you never have time for, my new ELA Bellringers are a no-prep, full year of materials for 9-10 grade students. You can use these with on-level students or Honors/Pre-AP and go as fast or slow as you’d like.