Literacy Institute

I just got back from DC, where I attended the Literacy Institute sponsored by National Geographic. This past year, I have been working with a team of teachers to create a new class, Advanced Academic Literacies, for this coming fall semester. By "create," I mean develop the concept of the class, write the curriculum, plan the calendar, design the materials, and write the lessons. So far the class has been quite an undertaking, but perhaps that’s a blog for another day...Anyway, my school sent me and my friend Mary to this literacy conference to check out the new research and to explore options of presenting our class in the future. The conference itself was a mixed experience - some good presenters, some very, very boring presenters. Honestly, even my sophomore public speaking students would know that it is never good to “read” PowerPoint slides to an audience!! I was also disappointed that many of the sessions pertained much more to the primary grades than to high school. Mary and I were able to glean many applicable ideas for both our class and some other projects we have in mind, but I was frustrated not to have more direct applications. Overall, DC still provided a good learning experience, among many other types of “experiences”… After watching several of the more competent and passionate presenters, I am more and more convinced that I want to write and research. I could be up there presenting my findings. I could be speaking at an upcoming literacy institutes or writing seminars. I have so many ideas…Now I just need to follow through.