Plenary speaker for the 2009 conference was Gretchen Bernabei, the author of the Good Writer's Guide.  Her strategies are designed to help even the most reluctant writers to blossom into self-confident writers with their own voices.  Her inspirational keynote speech adressed the art of teaching writing.  She also provided three standing room only workshop sessions during the day: Ba-Da-Bing, Quicklist of Memories, and Color It Up.  All participants at her sessions received her book, The GoodWriter's Guide.

Other memorable sessions include . . .

Other Memorable Sessions

“Learn From Your Students: Understand Them More” from Ahlam Daraghmeh-Alqattawi (presenter).  This teacher is researching how ESL teachers can better connect with their students through cultural understanding.  She hands out an anonymous survey to her classes (to complete at home) in order to learn more about her students and build rapport and trust.  Here’s what the survey looks like:

• I wish my ESL (English) teacher knew this about:

• My country

• My culture

• My language

• in order to understand me better and help me learn English.

• Country: ___________________________ Language: ________________________

This was laid out on a full sheet of paper to allow for writing room.  I’m sure Ahlam would be happy to send you word documents of the above and of some of her own research results if you contact her ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Book Report “Pitch” Project.  This was a quick session done by Joseph Starr ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  Basically, if you’re tired of doing the same old book report, you can use his idea and have your students “pitch” a novel as a new movie idea.  He said he would be happy to share the document file with anyone.  There are specific questions to guide the assignment, but here is the overview: “In Hollywood, many books are made into movies.  Writers, directors, and other people ‘pitch’ (try to sell) their books to producers (the people who decide which movies are made).  For this assignment, you must imagine that you are trying to ‘pitch’ your book to a group of producers – in this case, your teacher and your classmates.  You must give reasons why we should consider making your book into a movie.”  He has students turn in a paper and give a presentation.  I think this activity could be adapted for all levels except HB.  I’m thinking about doing this next semester and providing a book list to my students in order to control the selection a bit.

Extreme Teaching Makeover: Use What You Have, Teach Another Way (from Alicia Leung, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) Alicia shared some ideas on how to use the overhead, word wall, bulletin board, construction paper, and whiteboard in new ways.  I found the Review Jeopardy game to be a good idea for reviewing for the final (where the categories could be “Gerunds/Infinitives,” “Comparatives/Superlatives,” “FANBOYS,” “Present Perfect,” “Mixed Tenses,” etc…  I’m sure Alicia could send you handouts if you emailed her.  Also, she gave a good idea for summarizing a story with pictures and captions (like a comic book) – to be done as a class (or at least started together), and then finished in groups.  Then you can cut up the story and have students work on sequencing to review later.

From Seed to Harvest: Vocabulary in Student Writing  (from Sandra Carrettin-Mulvaney, Deborah Hardin, and Cheryl Pearson-Tarim).  These teachers found ways to have students create vocabulary banks organically (through the use of authentic texts (articles, websites, signs, memos, brochures, etc…).  They also had a great idea about recording homework directions or vocabulary drills digitally, and emailing the files to students so they could listen to the words and also hear the homework instructions again.  It seemed to make it more important for the students to receive instructions this way, and most students completed it.  Another idea was sending students on vocabulary scavenger hunts once they created their weekly word lists (in the supermarket, on TV, etc…) to bring their examples back to class.