Textual, tech-ual and textured lineages - the importance of supporting the literacies of all youth.
Ubuntu Matters! Emphasizing Community in Writing Activity Systems.
These are the two titles of presentations accepted for the Urban Sites Network Conference hosted by the National Writing Project in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 26th and 27th.
The first presentation will consist of teachers from the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield who explored their own textual lineages (Tatum, 2007, 2009) and tech-tual histories during summer institutes. Shaun Mitchell (Central High School), Kelley Gordon-Minott (Stamford High School), and Julie Roneson (Discovery Magnet, K-8) will discuss reading strategies to support heterogeneous classrooms and share their use of technology to support diverse reading (and writing) habits in their classrooms. (Pictured above is Sean Mitchell's new podcast equipment purchased with a CWP enhancement funds to promote digital storytelling with students - getting stories in radio form!).
The second is a reflection on teaching in Kentucky, Syracuse, and Connecticut and the importance of building community to support writing processes. Drawing on the Skills4Life program of Mark Crandall's Hoops4Hope program, work with refugee youth and adults, and support for school writing programs, teachers will be engaged in a conversation about the importance of merging in- and out-of-school literacies to build ongoing life skills that youth can use in classrooms, on the fields, on courts, at home, and beyond.
Highlights from this year's event in Alabama include learning from Alabama Civil Rights Activists and networking with teachers from across the United States who empower youth as change-agents. The conference is a prime location for urban educators who value the power that comes from written communication. We're feeling great about this. In fact, we're celebrating with "Write on!"
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