Middle School ELA Curriculum Video: Close Reading of a Text: MLK “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Close Reading of Text: Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. from EngageNY on Vimeo.

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This is a 15 minute video in which David Coleman, a contributing author to the Common Core State Standards, models a close reading of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” After reading the letter and watching the video, educators might ask themselves: Which of the Shifts is modeled in this video? What would it take to be able to conduct a conversation such as this with students? What tools, resources, support, and preparation would a teacher require? What would this look like at the Elementary level with an elementary text? What is it about this reading that is different from my own past/present practice?

This is just one way of conducting professional development around this video. We encourage you to use this opportunity to share your ideas and experiences. Please contribute to the discussion by telling us how YOU have used these videos! Which discussion questions did you find sparked the most collaboration amongst educators? What professional learning experiences did you design around the viewing? We want to hear from you so that educators across the state can benefit from your experience!