Celebrate the ‘Power of Teaching’ by sharing teacher memories

WCTE 2011 Writing Initiative

Across the country – in classrooms and homes – people treasure fond memories of teachers who have made a difference in their lives. Now is the time to celebrate educators in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English (WCTE) is proud to promote a state-wide writing initiative with this year’s theme: The Power of Teaching.

The Kick-off date was Thursday, Oct. 20, the National Day of Writing. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.

We invite all writers, not just students—people of all ages and all walks of life—to submit stories for publication in our online writing gallery.  Submissions should reflect a response to the following prompt:

Teachers play a vital role in society — they cultivate knowledge in young minds, help students’ ideas and abilities grow, and watch with pride as their subjects blossom into mature, creative, intelligent thinkers. Many of us have experienced the powerful, positive impact that a teacher can have on our lives, our ways of thinking and our visions of the future. Who was that teacher for you? Help us celebrate the power of teaching by telling us about a point in time when a teacher made an important, memorable difference in your life.

Submit entries online at URL:  http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/3136656.  You may also go to www.galleryofwriting.org, search for “Wisconsin” and “United States,” and scroll down to find the WCTE 2011 Writing Initiative: The Power of Teaching.  Along with your entry, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Your name, city, and e-mail address

• Your category of writing (narrative or poem)

• Your age category (adult, 9-12 student, or K-8 student)

• Name of the teacher you are honoring and the name of that teacher’s school

Essays should address the impact teachers have had on individuals. Emphasis will be on authentic voice within the story of the relationship between teachers and students. Writing may be short or long, an essay, a personal anecdote or a poem.

For further information, please contact Kathy Nelson, WCTE President, Arrowhead High School,  N61W29917 Rybeck Rd., Hartland, WI 53029.