This year's annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English will be held in Pittsburgh, November 17-22. If you've never attended an NCTE national convention, you're missing out on something wonderful. There's nothing like spending two or three or four days with teachers of English language arts from all over the country. Listen to what Nikki Locklear, current chair of NCTE's Secondary Section, has to say:
Why Should I Attend the Convention?
Let’s be honest—attending the Convention is not an easy task, physically or economically. The amount of work a teacher has to complete before being able to attend a conference or meeting is amazing. In most districts, the teacher has to find the substitute (that is, if she or he wants to be sure to get one who is certified in English). Then comes the arduous task of writing out specific instructions for both teaching the classes and completing one’s extended duties. And if that is not enough of a hassle, the teacher then returns to face a desk piled high with papers to grade and record. So that brings us back to the question of, “Will attending the Pittsburgh Convention be worth it?” Absolutely! Let me list my preferred “Top Ten Reasons.”
10. Experience the mystique and uniqueness of Pittsburgh. No longer considered the “dirty steel city,” Pittsburgh is worthy of a walking tour to view unusual architecture, glass castles, three major rivers, and lots and lots of bridges. Visitors can enjoy the benefit of countless ethnic influences in everything from music to traditional dance to memorable dining. Did you know that Pittsburgh was home for PBS’s Mr. Rogers’s neighborhood? Lewis and Clark had their “kickoff’ from there. And the city has paid homage to their native son Andy Warhol with a fantastic museum that is a must-see for all visitors.
9. Understand the meaning of this year’s theme, “On Common Ground,” as you establish long-distance friendships with teachers across the nation. Relish being with people who love teaching, who still put students at the top of their priority lists. You will be amazed by the warmth and positive attitudes of the other attendees.
8. Visit the Exhibit Hall, which will be packed with vendors marketing the latest developments in professional and instructional materials. Take advantage of perusing new textbooks, technology, and instructional materials, and attend demonstrations of new programs and equipment. In addition to these powerful resources, you will find Council-sponsored booths offering special services or concentrating on special areas of interests or concerns.
7. Return home with enough freebies to share with your colleagues. In fact, as a suggestion from an “old timer,” bring an empty duffle bag or suitcase to lug home all of the free books, teachers’ guides, materials, and handouts you will accrue during the Convention. Earn some brownie points from your colleagues at home by sharing the wealth of goodies you bring back to your school.
6. Meet members of the NCTE Section Steering Committees and learn how you, too, can become an active member. At the section-opening get-togethers, section leaders will share with you ways that you can become proactive on the national level. In addition to these events, the committees have selected and created a great program that is packed with sessions that will inspire, educate, rejuvenate, and sharpen your instructional strategies. We hope that you will leave the conference with a renewed vision and passion for teaching young people and the tools to help reduce the achievement gap.
5. Hear various authors and educators share their experiences as section-gathering speakers. This year’s speakers will include: Sonia Nieto at the Elementary Get-Together, Janet Allen at the Middle Get-Together, Susan Vreeland at the Secondary Get-Together, and Victor Villanueva at the College Forum. If you have never had the opportunity to hear these wonderful speakers, you won’t want to miss these events.
4. Enjoy lunch while listening to award-winning speakers at the Section Luncheons. This year’s speakers will include: Leo and Diane Dillion at the Books for Children Luncheon, Kate DiCamillo at the Middle Luncheon, Ted Kooser at the Secondary Luncheon, and Jay Mathews at the College/CCCC Luncheon. Aside from these award-winning speakers, you will also have a chance to connect with other educators across the country to share ideas and strategies.
3. Share ideas, strategies, and successes with other educators from across the country and the world. You will also be able to examine hands-on, practical approaches and strategies that will provide you with ways to stimulate your students through educational theories and ideas you can take back to your classroom.
2. Rub elbows with a host of publishers, authors, and educators at sessions, workshops, and book signings. Program Chair Kyoko Sato has designed a 550-session conference that promises to be an invigorating experience for all attendees. Her choice of speakers is phenomenal: Isabel Allende, credited for part of the Latin American feminist literary awakening; Frank McCourt, author of Teacher Man, due out in November; Poet Laureate and 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner Ted Kooser; Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier, whose new book honors Rosa Parks; Robert MacNeil, addressing the changing nature of our national language; and Mona Golabek, author and renowned pianist, speaking about the children who survived the Holocaust.
1. And the Number One reason you should come to Pittsburgh is to be part of an organization that truly knows the worth and value of teachers. All attendees are received with respect, admiration, and will be invited to share his or her ideas and successes in meetings, workshops, and meaningful conversations. As chair of the Secondary Section Steering Committee, I want to invite you to join us this coming November in Pittsburgh for what I hope will be an educational experience of a lifetime. I look forward to meeting each of you and sharing ideas and our “Common Ground.”
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