Attention Teachers! Clock Hours Available at Festival Events

Get Lit! Programs is showing our love for teachers by offering multiple events during the festival that count for up to six continuing education credit hours. K-12 teachers, librarians and parents can participate in one or all of these events, which range from just 1-2 hours each. Not only do these sessions provide an enjoyable way to get those pesky clock hours taken care of, but also give teachers concrete tools to get their students energized about reading and writing. In our world of Facebook, texting and email, we can't just tell students that reading novels and poetry is fun, we have to prove it, and these events can help you do so.

The sessions appeal to a wide range, so whether you are a kindergarten teacher or your spouse teaches 11th grade AP English, you'll find a discussion worth your while. There will be sign-in sheets at each event and there's no need to pre-register. The cost for obtaining the clock hours from ESD 101 is just $10 for 3-5 hours and $12 for 6 hours. So essentially for $12, you can knock out six continuing education credit hours and attend a few awesome sessions on getting your students excited about reading and writing. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Here's the breakdown of the different sessions:

Author Janet Wong will lead a workshop open to any K-12 teacher, focusing on the importance of reading aloud in the classroom. She'll discuss how reading aloud can encourage a child's success in literacy and she will also offer suggestions on how to incorporate poetry into the classroom on a daily basis. Friday, April 16, 4:30-6 p.m., EWU Riverpoint, Phase 1 Building, Room 115.


Since 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death, one session will focus on celebrating Twain's writing and his influence on American literature. Whether for teachers who have previously taught Twain's works or those who see it looming in the curriculum, this could be a great way to discover a new approach to a novel like Huckleberry Finn. The discussion could spark your own interest in Twain's life or works, give you insight into how your students might relate to the book or perhaps a fellow educator will share how they've successfully engaged their students in Twain's works. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1pm, Hotel Lusso

For parents and teachers exhausted by trying to keep track of which books should be must-reads for their kids' age, Marilyn Carpenter, a professor of education at EWU, has you covered. She'll be offering a list of the "100+ Best Kids and Young Adult Books," helping teachers, librarians and parents get an idea of which books will engage and excite their students. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hotel Lusso

In the Classroom Publishing Workshop, teachers can learn how to inspire their students to write, and also how to encourage students to publish their work, whether through a blog, wiki or actual book. Ooligan Press, out of Portland State University, has an upcoming book on classroom publishing, and they'll discuss their philosophy that students who participate in all aspects of the writing and publishing process become more engaged with their own writing. Saturday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hotel Lusso

Last but definitely not least, there will be a Performance Poetry workshop. Geared toward demystifying poetry and getting students energized about poetry, language and writing, the workshop invites both students and teachers to participate. Teachers who'd like their classrooms to join the workshop can even do so via live video-feed rather than transport their students by bus. If you'd like your classroom to participate, just email dringwald@ewu.edu to RSVP, and ESD 101 will help you set up the technical equipment.

For more information on the sessions that qualify for continuing education clock hours, click here.

UPDATE:

Another opportunity for K-12 teachers is coming up March 10 & 11 at Spokane Community College. The Northwest Inland Writing Project is hosting their spring conference, "'Spring Planting: Growing Student Writers." The keynote speaker will be Barry Lane, author of ten books on writing and currently a professor at the University of New Hampshire. He'll be giving a keynote address on the morning of March 10 and March 11, followed by sessions on literacy topics like "Writing in the Digital Age" and "Publishing with Purpose." Lane's address will focus on practical suggestions for teaching writing to students of all ages. For more information, visit: http://www.niwp.org/