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Virginia School Consortium for Learning

Windows and Mirrors: Reimagining Secondary ELA

Grades 6-12
Tuesday, 19 November 2019 November 19 November 19, 2019

Event Details

How do we get teens to read books? How do we get teens to write for a variety of critical purposes? How do we get teens to care about ELA for more than a grade on a transcript? Can we view the SOLs as an invitation to innovate? English Language Arts instructors have a unique opportunity to engage students purposefully in exploring individual interests, culture, and technology, and, in doing so, to reimagine today’s ELA classrooms to make them more effective for today’s culturally diverse learners. During this workshop, middle school and high school ELA teachers and other Instructional Leaders will explore a wide variety of approaches and tools that can help make learning more relevant as well as more challenging for our students. The goal is for ELA instruction and assignments to be able to provide mirrors for students’ own lives as well as windows to the outside world. During the workshop, we will examine the implicit biases and practices that shape our teacher identities so that teachers can then go back to their classrooms and use that knowledge to facilitate better connections with their own students. Participants will also have a chance to discuss the various books and projects that have proved successful in involving students in analyzing and developing a better understanding of themselves and of the world in which they live today. Participants should come prepared for an engaging dialogue and productive work session, focused on reframing their reading and writing instruction and assignments to engage students in authentic, project-based learning, using choice, technology, and culturally responsive practices.

Audience

Grades 6-12

ELA Classroom Teachers, Coaches, Curriculum Leaders, Instructional Specialists, and School Administrators

Event Schedule

This event will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1901 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Registration and a Hot Breakfast Buffet will open at 8 am.

The Conference will be held from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm.

A hot Luncheon Buffet will be served at noon.

Free Parking and Internet Access are also included as part of the conference registration fee.

Recertification Certificates (5 points) will be given at the end of the PD Conference.

Registration Details

In the registration form (below), required fields are indicated with a red asterisk.  Mistakes made in completing the form will be highlighted in red.

Once you have submitted the registration, the person or people whom you have designated to receive a confirmation email should see that email (with registration information included) within 24 hours.

Pre-Payment for VaSCL conferences is not required.

The person identified on the registration form below as the Billing Contact will receive via email an invoice for payment of the registration fee AFTER the conference has been held.

If you need to receive an invoice BEFORE the event is held, please contact VaSCL Administrative Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If a purchase order number is provided on the registration form (or sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. via email, if the registration form has already been submitted), it will be referenced on the invoice.

PLEASE NOTE: Notification of cancellation must be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5:00 p.m. SEVEN DAYS BEFORE the EVENT is held. . . or you will be billed in full.

Contact VaSCL

If you have questions or concerns, or would like to receive more information about this conference, please contact our Administrative Assistant, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

November 19 November 19, 2019
Windows and Mirrors: Reimagining Secondary ELA
Holiday Inn, Charlottesville, VA
October 18, 2019
Grades 6-12