SPARK VIDEO: Bot or Not?: All ELA educators are thinking about the growth of AI and its impact on writing instruction. AI tools can help our students with certain tasks, and they can be a hindrance in others. In this session, I will share a game I play with my students to help them recognize the benefits and drawbacks of AI-generated writing. We call the game "Bot or Not," and it's fast, fun, and easily customized. Participants in this session will learn, laugh, and leave with tools to help students engage in authentic conversations around the things AI writing can and cannot do.
SPARK Rural YA: This spark session will share findings and insights from previous book club discussions with Iowa teachers. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for teachers to sign up for the Spring 2025 iteration of the Reading Rural Book Club. Attendees will walk away with Rural YA Literature titles to share with their students.
SPARK Thought Experiment: I believe students like to go deeper than they think they can with their learning! Therefore, several years ago I began teaching a philosophy unit in my Advanced Placement Language and Composition classes. In this session I will explain how I set up the unit (student-led Socratic seminars), offer a list of philosophical essays, and include a few philosophical thought experiments. There's more than a trolley problem!
Come learn about how a rural English teacher brought a True Crime podcast into her curriculum and enhanced her students ability to openly discuss their opinions, accurately research, work as a team, and create their own podcasts.
Iowa Council Teachers of English: Teachers are leaders by nature. We can lead a classroom, guide an entire group of students and manage all of the decisions and data that this requires without even thinking twice. Before we do it all again the next day. And right now, our state needs to hear from you. Our nation needs your story and your voice. Come learn about the many ways you can share your experience and your leadership within our organization at ICTE. Because you matter.
2. Iowa Writing Project: Directions in Teaching and Learning: Sheila Benson and Kirstey Ewald invite you to reflect on the four directions and natural elements as a way to consider how you might best fulfill your needs as a writer, teacher, learner, and leader. Each of these takes you on a particular professional learning path that might best fulfill what your spirit calls out for, what resonates within your soul, what beats within your hearts. They invite you to participate in one (or more!) of Iowa Writing Project’s offerings and find whatever it is you seek waiting for you there.
3. Breadcrumbs to U-Turns: What is your reading journey? What turns did you take to get here? What mountains or cliffs did you face as a child or teen reader? Create a map of your reading journey to notice your patterns, joys, and challenges. As an ELA teacher, use this activity with students and gain insights to their reading lives, to generate class discussion about reading/books, or extend students' reflections with writing.
Dr. Stacy Haynes-Moore is Assistant Professor of Education at Coe College. She is a veteran classroom teacher of English language arts and student journalism programs. Stacy serves on the ICTE Board as the affiliate liaison for NCTE.
Educational Services Consultant, Central Rivers Area Education Agency
Kirstey Ewald is just shy of 30 years in education. She is a 20-year veteran teacher of high school English. The highlights of those years during which time she was a DLT/BLT member, department chair, and PLC facilitator. Kirstey Ewald is an English Language Arts teacher who currently... Read More →
An overview of why teach grammar and then a few different methods. Including a chance for those in attendance to share any success that they have had with teaching grammar.
As a teacher of 10th-12th grade reluctant writers and presenters in a Composition course, I saw a need to go beyond traditional forms of essay writing. Data showed us that many students in our district do not go on to complete four-year degrees, and most of them stay in our community. Couple these pointers with the wild success of the show Hot Ones, and an idea was born! Learn how to empower your high school students to consider that their future community and career opportunities are waiting within your classroom! bit.ly/NetworkSlides
