English Teachers Welcomed

Click here to check out my webpage...

2011-04-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have posted a number of videos I created for NCTE and FCTE's respective Advocacy Days, among other items.

Destination: Inspiration 2 ~ New Orleans Charm

2011-04-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

See my submissions among the pages of Destination Inspiration: New Orleans Charm.

By clicking on the title of the post you can view sample pages of the final publication.

Writers on Wheels

2009-02-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

Discover the Hypnotizing Heritage of Charming New Orleans

Cost includes...

travel from Merritt Island to New Orleans and back (accommodations can be made for a prior night’s stay or alternate pick-up locations)
hotel for six nights in the French Quarter
Registration fees
Writing workshop
a copy of published book Writers on Wheels: The New Orleans Tour
wine & hors d’vours in a New Orleans's home Wednesday night
French Quarter Tour
Southern lunch and narrated cruise on the Natchez Steamboat
Garden District Tour
Cemetery and Voo Doo Tour
Friday night Cajun Dinner
Night Swamp Tour
Creole Tomato Festival
Zydeco Music Festival
Preservation Hall set
Hurricane (drink) at Pat O'Brien's
Tuesday night dinner at the Praline Connection

Total cost $675.00 based on double occupancy*
*We can help you find a roommate, if you are not booking with a friend.
Single rates are $330.00 more based on availability

Payment Schedule
January 31 - nonrefundable registration fee $50.00
March 15* - $210.00
April 15 - $210.00
May 15 - $215.00

*Refunds after March 15 are not available. In extreme emergency cases, up to 50% of your payment may be reimbursed.

Contact information
Kristin Pitts – 321-720-8157 writersonwheels@aol.com
Marjorie Weiffenbach - 321-986-8064
weiffenbachm@brevard.k12.fl.us

Come join Writers on Wheels for the New Orleans Tour

June 10 – 16, 2009
Who: Writers on Wheels (Anyone who loves to write and experience new places with a desire to be published.)

What: A week-long writing trip

When: June 10 - 16, 2009

Where: New Orleans, LA

Why: because we want to have an unbelievable writing experience!

Cost: $675.00

Articles of note

2009-01-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

FAMU graduation rates tell complex story
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200812220200/NEWS01/812220321

Senior FAMU faculty member Walter Mercer says he has more work to do
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200812270200/BREAKINGNEWS/812270309

Is it not good to be alive!

2008-11-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

I captured this photo earlier this year on the side of an eatery off Wahnish Way near the campus of Florida A&M University. It seems quite apropos now. I have published only one other post to this site regarding this year's historic election, and it called for supporters of all candidates to provide links to positive videos and messages of hope. I posted a link to the Will I Am song with Zoe Kravitz. My 2-year-old loved the beat, the energy and the spirit of the song. Who wouldn't?

However, on this auspicious occasion I am somewhat perplexed about the state of American Education. I think it criminal the seemingly calculated treatment of disadvantaged youth entering our crumbling school systems. How can a third grader need drop out prevention? I am so furious with our lackadaisical attitude toward the education of 'other folks' children that I could swear. Expletives, won't solve any problems, but sometimes it is more professional to swear than to cry.

Teaching at a Historically Black College/University makes my heart often more heavy. Students, and not the ubiquitous choir members who always receive sermons from on high, but those who lack compassion, character, intelligence and a sincere desire to read beyond course requirements, to investigate their own intuitions, and to inspire students to greatness. I am a firm believer that if I find a teacher unworthy of teaching my son, he or she should NOT be allowed to teach anybody's son or daughter. We have too much at stake to continue this road to the ultimate wasteland. I have unfortunately witnessed students put more money and effort into partying and attending homecoming activities than attending conferences at student rates that are almost always less than $50. I have witnessed students walk across the stage graduation after graduation and not have completed and or passed all their coursework, passed their required certification and general knowledge exams, or have a grade point average worthy of attending school for, on average, 6 years. And these students want to teach? Why?

How did they get so far without someone saying, this profession is at a most critical time in history and we can ill afford to have such low caliber students enter our most challenging, underfunded, overcrowded, most needy, majority-minority classrooms, even though we know this is where the vast number of minority beginning teachers become employed. We must say no!

It is also perplexing how many small-town USA voters found it okay to say aloud, I have no reason not to support Obama other than the fact that he's a N******. WHAT! How dare you! I have no qualms with those who tow the party line. That's your right as a US citizen. That's my right as a US citizen. But the blatant arrogance of fading dinosaurs who fail to realize that all species must either adapt or die, and their belief that "this land is their land" more than it is "my land" ticks me off. Last night was the culmination of many tears, prayers, boycotts, marches, watch night services, and other vigils of hope and constant steadfastness. It was also the day that, unbeknownst to him, my 2-year-old can say with conviction, even arrogance, that HE too, can become the President of the United States. However, paradoxical to that revelation, as his parents, we will certainly consider how the towns of perspective colleges and universities that he may contemplate voted in this election before packing him up and sending him off. He's too precious and precocious to leave to the "kindness of strangers" especially those who will forever see a N*****.

We can simply not rest on Obama's, excuse me, President-elect Obama's deeds, credentials and feats. We must assist. It was impressed upon me during the inauguration of FAMU's 10th president that we must vow to pledge our undying support to Ammons to ensure the university's success first, his, second.

I will be afforded the opportunity to travel once again to our nation's capital in April 2009 for the annual NCTE Day on The Hill as a newly appointed member of the National Council of Teachers of English SLATE Steering Committee. It was in April 2008 as the Florida Council's SLATE representative that I captured this photo of Obama's placard located outside of an office that was under renovation at the time. Clearly, this office will be occupied by someone else. However, the call to The Hill in April supersedes all waxing nostalgia. We are committed and we have a purpose. Those who journey there from the Sunshine State have a dual purpose this year. We are seeking support to begin a Florida Day on The Hill in Tallahassee for teachers, especially English teachers, to meet and discuss the impact and treatment of NCLB legislation at the state level and other pieces of legislation that impact English teachers, instructors, and professors, alike.

Our kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, Godchildren and young fictive kin are at risk of failing and forever falling. Your kids, these kids and my kid are simply too important for dropout rates to continue to soar while impeding their ability to rise, spread their wings and fly!

2008 FCTE PDI Orlando

2008-10-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

What an institute! I hope you enjoyed the sessions, speakers, and camaraderie. If you have suggestions, ideas, comments, or concerns about this year's PDI or even PDI 2009, do not hesitate to contact any FCTE board member. You may visit/join FCTE-SLATE's Google Group or use the comment feature on FCTE's Blog to leave your message. There are other websites for teachers to preview as well as a spot for Florida English teachers' blogs and class websites.

In the column at the right under 'Favorite Websites' there are other sites that may be of interest to you. Here are the links to websites and documents discussed, demonstrated or alluded to during either of the sessions I participated (and even some I attended). You can find copies of PowerPoint presentations and other information regarding the conference on my Google Site .

Voki Allows you to create avatars

Schooltube Provides students and educators a safe media sharing website

Youtube Media sharing website (public)

Teachertube Provides students and educators a safe media sharing website

Playlist Social Music Site

Voicethreads A collaborative, multimedia slide show that allows people to leave comments

Moviemaker Found on all Windows operated systems. May need to use 'search' feature to locate.

Instant Messenger This is AOL's creation. However, every email provider has a version.

Flash Appointments 30-day free trial

Appointment schedulers This one is "free for small businesses." There's a small fee for most.

Wordle 'Toy' that generates word clouds

Google Lit Trips Uses Google Earth to plot the course of great literature

Online Meetings There are several. Most have a free trial period. Google: online meetings

Google docs Allows multiple people to share documents in 'real time'

Google calendar Calendars can be private or public and others can make changes or add events

Google Wiki/sites Allows for one or multiple users to access, create, edit, and post information

Google Reader Lets you subscribe to web sites so that new content comes to you when posted

Jing Always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video… anywhere

Presenters' emails/website:

Jeff Anderson jander231@earthlink.net http://www.writeguy.net/

Carol Jago jago@gseis.ucla.edu http://www.caroljago.com/

Michael Meyer michael.meyer@uconn.edu

Alan Sitomer AlanLawrenceSitomer@yahoo.com

Sharon Draper http://www.sharondraper.com/

Elizabeth Thomas upwordspoetry@earthlink.net http://www.upwordspoetry.com/

Tammy Hinson Thinson@flvs.net

Oya Mwanza Omwanza@flvs.net

Clarissa West-White clarissa.westwhite@famu.edu englishteacherswelcomed.blogspot.com

Janeen Larson jflarson@fsu.edu - Balloons, Pies and Other Vocabulary Matters

Kathy Froelich froelich@coe.fsu.edu Talking the Talk!

Enrique Puig epuig@mail.ucf.edu Talking the Talk!

Lucas Rodesiler fcte2008vt.pbwiki.com Symbolic Analysis: Literature, album art, and Voice Thread

Newsletters, books, documents, other information

NCTE's Inbox NCTE's newsletter - You can sign up to receive the newsletter at the site.

Writers on Wheels Emails may be sent to Kristin Pitts at writersonwheels@aol.com

The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3 Referenced by J. Larson

Nickel and Dimed Book referenced by Sitomer

Maryanne Wolf's Proust and the Squid Book referenced by Anderson

Graham & Perin's Writing Next(2007) - PDF of the report - Referenced by Anderson

Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian Referenced by Anderson

Official Web page Sherman Alexie's Official Web page

The Silent Epidemic PDF of report http://www.silentepidemic.org/ Report's website-Sitomer

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Referenced by Sitomer

The Pew Center Referenced by Sitomer

Urban Institute Referenced by Sitomer

National Endowment for the Arts-Readers at Risk Report PDF of report-Referenced by Meyers

Commissions & Contact Information

If you would like to become involved with any of the following commissions, please contact the FCTE Liaison** or Commission Chair*:

Development of Diversity in Educational Leaders

**Susan Houser (susan_15ym@yahoo.com)

Intellectual Freedom

*ReLeah Lent (rlent@phonl.com)

Continuation of Professional Development

**Pamela Craig (pamelasue5@tampabay.rr.com)

Standards & State Requirements Affecting Classroom Instruction

**Tamara Doehring (tamaradoe@aol.com)

Community and Educational Partnerships

**Donna Garcia (dkgarcia@mail.ucf.edu)

Media and 21st Century Literacy

*Barbara Pace (bgpace@coe.ufl.edu)

NCTE Advocacy Day! April 23, 2009

The following video (made with movie maker) provides a glimpse into the annual event. Members of FCTE are in the planning stages of a Florida Advocacy Day! If interested, contact Susan Houser - susan_15ym@yahoo.com or Clarissa West-White - clarissa.westwhite@famu.edu.

October 2008 - Featured Site

2008-10-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

This month's featured website is the creation of Taalam Acey who is "widely considered to be the central figure in this generation of Spoken Word Poetry." Although there are a few typos here and there, do not hold that against the talented poet. Explore his website and listen to sample works. Even if you decide this his creative taunts are not your "cup o' tea" research the work of other prominent artists that he showcases http://cdbaby.com/style/220. Whether this genre is new to you or you are an experienced member of its ever growing community, this site is a great place to start. It features, for example, the work of Alixa and Naima http://cdbaby.com/cd/alixanaima who were featured guests at Amiri Baraka's lecture at Florida State University a few years ago. As the saying goes, 'you ain't seen nothing yet' if you have not seen spoken poetry performed by raw, talented individuals with a message to speak or sermon to preach. Even in Tallahassee, there are frequent displays of spoken word events thanks in part to Black on Black Rhyme.

September 2008 - Site of the Month

2008-09-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

VG: Voices from the Gaps Women Artists and Writers of Color, An International Website

VG/Voices from the Gaps is a web-based trans-national academic community including students, teachers, artists, and scholars. VG provides resources about artists and writers. VG forges a collective effort of scholars who digitally interract with each other. VG contains biographical and critical analysis, pedagogical information, and histories of translation. VG archives recorded sound, film, and image collections, interviews, and online conversations with web logs (blogs).

Google Wiki Site Created

2008-08-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

Click the title above (or here) to explore a new site I created for students enrolled in ENC 3320, LIT 3333 and LAE 4360. Even if you're not enrolled, click the link to explore and think about creating your own!

And while you're at it (no, I am not getting paid to do so) check out other cool things Google offers. One thing that appeals to me is that I can do so much with only once username and password. We all are aware of Google's web searching ability, but did you know that you can:

create blogs
create sites/wikis
create and share calendars
create and share documents (& photos) with others across the room or the world
create an email account which holds massive amounts of data (gmail)
create maps
use Google lit maps in your class
explore earth (earth.google.com)
create groups
explore Google videos, images, world news, shopping bargains
search for books (books.google.com)
research topics (scholar.google.com)
search for patents
check, plan and seek financial advice

Don't believe me? Click and explore all that Google has to offer!

Tips for college students (click here for article)

2008-07-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

As I embark on my 14th semester at Florida A&M University, and upon the heels of viewing CNN's Being Black in America, it is with excitement and concern that this semester and academic year get underway. It is hoped that a productive summer was had by all and that everyone had the chance to relax, regroup and renew their commitment to excellence and a positive attitude. There are circumstances that occur in our lives for which we have no control, and those that are solely ours to alter. Wisdom, we have been repeatedly told, is displayed when we are able to tell the difference. I have witnessed students who “spin their wheels” on frivolous enterprises and become caught up in materialism and foolishness. Yet, it has been my esteemed pleasure to know those who have persevered through an assortment of problems and challenges that make “reality” television appear docile and bogus. Those who are successful have clearly mastered "their fate" and can discern the difference.

Tallahassee is a wonderful place to consider home and explore what makes you, you. It is also, as I have witnessed a place that can literally highjack students and their dreams. Be careful that you concentrate on your purpose for being here, that you remain true to your family and yourself, that you use the appropriate curriculum guide, as well as advisors and mentors so that your matriculation is timely and well spent, and that you use your free time wisely and not involve yourself in matters that are self-destructive and anticlimactic.

There are of course, other Do’s and Don’ts that can make your stay here fun and less stressful, but also a one-in-a-lifetime educational and growing experience. Your classmates and colleagues, instructors and counselors, graduates and the surrounding community can offer perspective as well as the use of common sense. Let’s just hope (and pray) that this academic year, whether your first or last, is kind to your sensibilities and provides much introspection.

Just in case you missed the title link, follow the link below and read the article, "Tips for college students."

Semesters spent at FAMU:
Fall ’03
Spring ‘04
Summer ‘04
Fall ‘04
Spring ‘05
Summer ‘05
Summer ‘06
Fall ‘06
Spring ‘07
Summer ’07
Fall ’07
Spring ’08
Summer ’08

Classes taught
ENC 1101 – Freshmen Communicative Skills
ENC 1102 – Freshmen Communicative Skills, Student Teaching
ENC 3320 – Advanced Composition
LIT 3333 – Adolescent Literature
LAE 4360 – Teaching English in Middle/High Schools
TSL 3370 (3371, 3080) – Introduction to ESOL Theories and Practices
TSL 4324 – ESOL Survey of Strategies for Instruction
ESE 4943 – Student Teaching
ENC 5318 – Advanced Concepts of Communication
ENG 5905 – Directed Individual Studies
CRW 3110 –Techniques of Fiction Writing (assumed class for the late Dr. Robin Nixon)
SPC 2600 – Public Speaking (assumed class)

As a bonus! Click here for a good laugh!

NCTE 2008 Advocacy Day

2008-05-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

New Literacies - Political Campaigns

2008-05-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Check it out....

Please feel free to post links to other politician's "techno" enhanced campaign devices (via the comment feature) as a forum for students to discuss technology's role in politics. Please be sure that the posts are endorsed by the candidate.
Thanks!

Cultural Studies News of Note

2008-01-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

When I first saw the image above, I was awe struck. What a clever idea! What a way to see the world. So in this spirit of seeing things anew, I have decided to include in this blog news item of note relating to cultural studies and the impact events have on US populations even when they occur a world away. I became increasingly interested in this field via 4 major events:

1) Last semester in my Advanced Composition classes, students were required to read A Long Way Gone: Story of a boy soldier by Ishmael Beah. The story was a mind-boggling, eye opener that left many wondering how any human could descent to such levels of cruelty and still function, let alone overcome.

2)During the summer of 2006, I embarked with fellow colleagues to Turkey for a month on a Fulbright-Hays Award. The views and varying terrains, the religious history and implications, the myriad of college and university campuses and its close proximity to Iraq and Iran made the trip a wonderful kaleidoscope of enriching learning experiences.

3) For three years I taught middle and high school English/Language Arts in a rural town in the panhandle of North Florida where many of my students (33%) were ESOL. I later taught 10th grade honor classes in Miami Dade among a much higher SES high school population where I still had a high number of ESOL students. There were major differences of course in the populations: the first were mostly of Mexican origin, and offsprings of migrant farm workers, many who were also undocumented aliens. The second set of students were from all parts South American, all Caribbean Islands, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Their entry was "legal" and they were from middle to upper middle class homes. They each viewed the learning and/or mastering of English differently. I then went on to teach at Florida Memorial University in Miami and encountered much of the same type of ethnic diversity.

4) Living in South Florida for a total of 3 years is in itself a living, breathing classroom on cultural diversity and awareness. The clashes that often occurred due to misunderstandings and cultural biases were numerous.

And so, for these reasons, I have decided to collect news stories which highlight and celebrate all that diversity provides.

Enjoy!

Fall 2007

2007-12-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

Fall 2007 was filled with meetings, conferences, papers, on campus events, plays, musicals, art exhibitions, tailgating, football and marching bands! Being an avid football fan, fall has always been my most favorite time of the year, after all Christmas will soon be here. Furthermore, the weather cools, longer walks are possible, leaves change their colors, more people are out and about in the neighborhood, the wind blows, lights go up, holiday festivities abound... I could go on forever; however, fall semester as a period of 16 or so weeks during the academic calendar is not my favorite time of the year.

Students are not able to balance the 'fun' of the season with the responsibilities a full load carries. Many work to pay for items that could be delayed - instant gratification seems to be a continuous holdover from one generation to the next. Couldn't students 'rough it' a few years, live on-campus, take the bus, wear clothes that are less expensive and require less maintenance, forgo the latest phone, I-pod, laptop, stay out of the mall... you get the picture. It amazes me how many students desire (and purchase) new cars with huge rims, but won't buy required textbooks for class and then, after failing a few tests or assignments because they were incomplete or failed to follow directions, say that they simply could not afford to purchase books (while texting a friend, sporting the latest coiffure, and flashing either a gold grill or mega gold jewelry). I know, it could have been a gift, it could have been handed to them by a family member - but, wouldn't you say to a cash wielding relative who is bent on buying you something that you would rather he or she purchase your books for English or African History?

I am also amazed by the fantastic lies I have been told over the years. There are too many to name, but look for the book at a store nearest you (once I get the time to write and publish it). It is alarming since I teach in the 'Bible belt' and an overwhelming percentage of my students say they are Christian and believe in the adage, "What goes around, comes around" a.ka. "karma." What is more alarming is that I teach English education and elementary education majors - future teachers. These future teachers have stated in many discussions or assignments just how strict they plan to be on their students and how they are not going to believe anything they say without substantial proof, yet they clearly don't practice what they plan to preach. If teachers lose their honesty and integrity, they will also lose respect; a dishonest teacher who lacks integrity and respect among his or her peers or students should simply not be teachers....

If not for football and family, fall would simply be just another 16 weeks of average educational humbug. Are you ready for some football?!

Shift Happens

2007-11-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

Banned Books

2007-11-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

NCTE - New York 2007

2007-11-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I was able to catch Beah's speech at NCTE in New York! He was awe inspiring and actually answered the majority of the questions we posed during class discussions.

1) He commented that people falsely assume that the healing process is instantaneous. He is still healing from his memories and his dreams which still haunt him. He continues to have night terrors and nightmares, but understands that he has to deal with them. He says he remains sane by saying to himself after having a bad dream, "I am in America in Brooklyn, what could possibly happen?" (West-White's inner monologue: Of course the crowd roared with laughter for multiple reasons: no doubt we all realize that our neighborhoods are not as safe as we would like to think, or because we have misconceptions about "unsafe" areas within America and that they deserve to be "unsafe".)

2) He was quoted as saying that he has killed more people then he would like to remember. Again, his response to this was that he is still healing and his past is apart of who and what he is and can't erase the past without effecting his future.

3) In Sierra Leone, he stated that the teacher was the only person with a book, so if you wanted to read the book you had to be nice to the teacher and run extra errands to gain favor. Thus, he was shocked when he began school at Oberlin and went to the bookstore and was give his books. He said he remarked, "Are you serious? These are all mine? To keep?" He used this to also comment on how his fellow classmates took so much for granted (Americans as well).

4) He stated that although he believed in God, he did not follow one religion. His father raised him Muslim and he attended schools to learn to read the Quran. His mother was Christian and he loved the songs and praise that occurs within Christian churches. His present mom (the lady in NY) is Jewish but practices Buddhism as well. He stated that all the religions share the basic tenets, but he doesn't know what religion he will experience...

5) He stated that he wrote the book in chronological order and that it was originally 500, 1.5 spaced pages. He felt no one would read that many pages from a new writer so he focused on the two main stories found in the book: childhood in Sierra Leone before the war and the victory of overcoming obstacles. (I didn't take notes, so I am pretty sure these were the two points. This is why I figured I better write this and send it out before I forget any more.)

Here are a few videos of Beah:

http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=728
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4yhPSQEzo

Furthermore, as you probably know, much of the talk around this year's convention centered on technology. I attended a presentation by Kylene Beers and this is what she had to say:

As she visits more and more schools throughout the country she is finding a digital divide along racial lines. It's not that minority students aren't using technology, but much of the technology she has witnessed them using is the computer as a glorified electronic workbook for remediation. She further stated that she can walk down the hall and find white students doing things with technology such as uploading projects to the internet, creating digital stories (with a purpose), etc. She is saddened by the fact that simply putting minority at the back of the bus is not the issue, but rather not allowing them on the bus at all.

Since many of the new jobs created in the future will demand much techno savvy, not instructing and engaging them in meaningful uses of technology is almost criminal. Especially since not doing so will limit their employability, skills and quality of life. Take a look at Google's job application for further evidence. Also, google "lit trips" which have been created with Google Earth to highlight the places within a novel where the characters live, travel, author info, etc. for all grade levels.

First, you will need to download Google Earth if you have not.
http://earth.google.com/

Many novels have been done for you as a teacher, (Kylene demonstrated using Grapes of Wrath) but if one isn't there. Find out how to create one and go for it... I know you can do it!
http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Home.html

What's New in Google Lit Trips...
November 18, 2007: Lit Trip for Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings
October 27, 2007: Lit Trip for James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
October 6, 2007: Step-Guide for Creating Route Paths for Google Lit Trips

Here are a few other sites:
http://elemenous.typepad.com/weblog/2007/03/mapping_literar.html - this is also a good example of an eduation blog

http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Lit_Trip_Tips.html

FCTE 2007 Conference Highlights

2007-10-21T20:23:00.001-07:00

Laura Robb
Shared students’ reflections regarding reading and their surprises at actually liking it.
Discussed how assessment informs instruction and how to plan for a differentiated unit of study around a genre and an issue. In addition to seeing the benefits of establishing routines before starting a differentiated unit. Demonstrated how the read aloud becomes the common teaching text when students read texts at their instructional levels. Teachers then read different biographies and experience how issues and inferential reading strategies develop students’ high level thinking. Writing about reading was integrated into her workshop to show how writing helps students clarify their understandings.

Kylene Beers
Discussed The Perfect Storm: A Report (Overview can be found on the website below)
http://www.ets.org/Media/Education_Topics/pdf/AmericasPerfectStorm.pdf

In addition to the following three forces in America's Perfect Storm + Beers adds Globalization
· substantial disparities in skill levels (reading and math)
· seismic economic changes (widening wage gaps)
· sweeping demographic shifts (less education, lower skills)
Shift Happens – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q Created by Karl Fisch, and modified by Scott McLeod; Globalization and The Information Age.
Karl Fisch’s blog: http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/
Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat
Have you heard of (if not, I am sure your students have):

Twitter
Diggs
MMORPG
Clustrmap
Facebook
Skype
Mashups
Teachertube
Youtube
Wikis
Delicious
My space
Podcasts
Blogs
Flickr

Doug Fisher
Discussed much of what can be found in:

Fisher, D., & Ivey, G. (in press). Evaluating the interventions for struggling adolescent readers. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy

Additional information can be found in:
Abstract from Fisher, D., & Ivey, G. (2006, November). Evaluating the Interventions for Struggling Adolescent Readers. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 50(3), 180–189. doi: 10.1598/JAAL.50.3.2

See http://www.ncte.org/profdev/onsite/consultants/fisher/publications/125055.htm for additional Professional Journal Articles by Fisher

Neal Shusterman
Has penned more that 20 books! - http://www.storyman.com/
Discussed those ‘teacher inspired’ moments in his education that led to his development as a writer and storyteller.

Other speakers including brief biography taken from conference program:

Janet Allen
Visit her website for more information: http://www.janetallen.org/
Allen is an international consultant recognized for her literacy work with at-risk students. She is the author of numerous professional books.

Jeff Anderson
Jeff has taught writing and reading for over 18 years. Jeff’s passion is motivating and developing struggling writers. Sharing strategies to create positive attitudes and confidence in young writers are central goals of his staff development and writing.

Jane Kiester
Jane is the author of the popular Caught'ya books: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle; Caught'ya Again! More Grammar with a Giggle; The Chortling Bard! Grammar with a Giggle for High School; Giggles in the Middle: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Middle School; Eggbert, the Ball, Bounces by Himself: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for First Grade; Putrescent Petra Finds Friends: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Second Grade; and Juan and Marie Join the Class: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Third Grade (these last three were formerly Elementary, My Dear! Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Grades 1, 2, and 3), all published by Maupin House.

Other thoughts & program sessions:

Differentiated Reading... Hip-Hopping Through Literature: A cultural responsive approach for teaching reading to the black adolescent male... Infusing technology in the English class (a tip) Do not shy away from assigning or exploring technologically enhanced assignments because you lack experience or expertise with the medium. Online tutorials are great tools for learning, step-by-step, how to use programs such as Movie Maker, Word’s Publisher or WebPage Wizard, etc. (All Smiles) Using Art to get to the heart – of any subject -- The session used historical portraits to introduce art in the curriculum and how to use it to inspire student writing. You can also use bargain books from area bookstores that showcase artists’ works, calendars, postcards, note cards, a collection of greeting cards, etc. along with questions to engage students. For example, have students free associate with the photo(s) chosen, have them list feeling words, color words, etc. related to their photo(s), from this list have students select one word that summarizes the art and then have them compose a poem, any form they like. ... Writing on wheels - Teachers from Space Coast High and Merritt Island High are planning a trip to the world’s longest yard sale and writing about their experiences along the way. The week long trip will land you in Tennessee and the cost is minimal. Think of the National Writing Project (NWP) on wheels.