This overview calendar is designed to help Chapter Advisors and student officers keep track of opportunities for ELA community members.
The following year-long outline may help organize chapter activities and help chapter members set goals. Remember, the more active the chapter is, the stronger it will be. This will mean that more students will be willing to join, contribute, and participate in its programs.
September 2023
- Select students for membership and communicate to students’ parents/guardians.
- Chapter Advisors enroll all new student members using the ELA Gateway platform.
- Hold elections for new Chapter Leaders.
- Chapter Advisors purchase Chapter Leader pins and membership pins from the online store (optional).
- Review or create chapter bylaws (with new officers and members, if possible) that agree with the ELA Honor Society Constitution.
- Set a yearly calendar of chapter meeting dates.
- Develop chapter activity ideas with Chapter Leaders and members.
- Begin reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage student members to participate in the first Writing Challenge; submissions open October 16.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event to celebrate World Teacher’s Day on October 15 (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
October 2023
- Begin chapter meetings.
- Hold induction ceremony.
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage all members to submit their work for first Writing Challenge to Chapter Advisors for top five final selection.
- Submissions for the first Writing Challenge open October 16.
- Applications for fall Professional Support Grants open October 16.
- Conduct chapter projects and collect documentation for winter Chapter Showcase submissions.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event for Native American Heritage Month (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
November 2023
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Submissions for the first Writing Challenge close November 20.
- Applications for fall Professional Support Grants close November 20.
- Conduct chapter projects and collect documentation for winter Chapter Showcase submissions.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society winter/holiday event (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
December 2023
- Winners of the first Writing Challenge announced December 5.
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage student members to participate in the second Writing Challenge; submissions open January 29.
- Begin write-up of chapter project for winter Chapter Showcase; submissions open January 29.
January 2024
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage all members to submit their work for second Writing Challenge to Chapter Advisors for top five final selection
- Submissions for the second Writing Challenge open January 29.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event or activity for Black History Month (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
- Chapter Advisors should prepare applications for Professional Support Grants; submissions open January 29.
- Finish write-up of chapter project for winter Chapter Showcase; submissions open January 29.
February 2024
- Submissions for the second Writing Challenge close February 15.
- Submissions for winter Chapter Showcase close February 15.
- Submissions for Professional Support Grants for Chapter Advisors close February 15.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event or activity for Women’s History Month (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
- Conduct chapter projects and collect documentation for spring Chapter Showcase submissions.
March 2024
- Winners of the second Writing Challenge announced March 5.
- Winners of Professional Support Grants announced March 5.
- Winners of winter Chapter Showcase awards announced March 5.
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage student members to participate in the third Writing Challenge; submissions open April 22.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event or activity for National Poetry Month or School Library Month (this could form part of a Chapter Showcase submission).
- Conduct chapter projects and collect documentation for spring Chapter Showcase submissions.
- Begin write-up of chapter project for winter Chapter Showcase; submissions open April 22.
- Students and Chapter Advisors select 2024-2025 Big Read reader.
April 2024
- Continue reading the ELA Big Read reader.
- Encourage all members to submit their work for third Writing Challenge to Chapter Advisors for top five final selection
- Submissions for the third Writing Challenge open April 22.
- Chapter Advisors should prepare applications for Professional Support Grants; submissions open April 22.
- Finish write-up of chapter project for spring Chapter Showcase; submissions open April 22.
- Plan a chapter project for fall 2024.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event or activity for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month or Jewish American History Month (this could form part of a winter 2024 Chapter Showcase submission).
May 2024
- Submissions for the third Writing Challenge close May 6; winners announced May 23.
- Submissions for spring Chapter Showcase close May 6; winners announced May 23.
- Submissions for Professional Support Grants for Chapter Advisors close May 6; winners announced May 23.
- Consider organizing a special ELA Honor Society event or activity for Pride Month (this could form part of a winter 2024 Chapter Showcase submission).
- Begin to organize an end-of-year celebration for ELA Honor Society members.
- Chapter Advisors purchase year completion pins, new Chapter Leader pins, and graduation pins from the online store (optional).
- Hold elections for 2024-2025 Chapter Leaders.
- Chapter Advisors complete Chapter Annual Report Survey.
June 2024
- Continue to organize end-of-year celebration for ELA Honor Society members.
- Hold end-of-year celebration for ELA Honor Society members.
- Recognize outgoing and incoming Chapter Leaders at a whole-school ceremony; present graduating students with graduation pins; present ELA Honor Society successes to school community and/or parents/guardians of student members.
- Consider new members and recruitment for fall 2024.
- Chapter Advisors complete Chapter Annual Report Survey.
