WCTE Update

Read the WCTE Update for news of WCTE and for useful classroom ideas.  Published online each fall, winter, and spring.

Current issue:

WCTE Update April 2024

• Convention Call for proposals
• Award Nominations
• NCTE Lit Mag Awards
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Michael Perry, New Auburn author
• Journalism for Your Classroom: Writing editorials
• Teaching Speech: Listening, Interviewing
• DPI Report
• Wisconsin English Journal news
• National Poetry Month
• From the Archives
• Meet the New Board Member: Patty Rieman
• AI in Education
• What We’re Reading
• and more!

WCTE Update December 2023

• Convention news
• Award Nominations
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Norbert Blei, Door County author
• Student Press Rights Bill
• Journalism for Your Classroom: Effective Openers
• Teaching Speech: Quick Directions for Giving an Informative Speech
• DPI Report
• From the Archives
• Meet the New Board Member: Adrian Hook
• Student Contests
• What We’re Reading
• For Class: Using AI in Both Creative and Technical Writing

WCTE Update September 2023

• WCTE English Convention: Penny Kittle, Oct. 12-13 in Wausau
• Award Winners
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Jeff Nania, mystery writer
• Legacy Honors: Tom Scott and Marti Matyska
• Teaching Journalism: How to manage class time
• Teaching Speech: Managing speech anxiety
• Build Your Stack: NCTE resources for you!
• What we’re reading
• For Class: Dungeon Crawl Activity

WCTE Update March 2023

• WCTE English Convention: Penny Kittle, Oct. 12-13 in Wausau
• Call for nominations for WCTE awards
• Wisconsin High School winners of NCTE REALM Award
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Marguerite Henry
• Teaching Journalism: How news writing is different from English class writing
• Teaching Speech: How to teach listening skills
• Wisconsin English Journal: Call for submissions
• What we’re reading
• For Class:  Hexagonal Thinking

WCTE Update September 2022

• Message from President
• Position Statement: Right to Read
• Teacher Awards
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Walter “Red” Smith
• Career Pathways:  for your classroom
• Journalism: Pitching a story
• Teaching Speech: Starting off right
• From the Archives: Snippets of minutes
• Meet a Board Member: Stephanie Hurt
• Wisconsin English Journal: Call for submissions
• What we’re reading
• For Class:  Phrases from Shakespeare

WCTE Update April 2022

• Message from President
• Call for nominations for WCTE awards
• Wisconsin High School winners of NCTE REALM Award
• Wisconsin Literary Map: focus on Marguerite Henry
• Teaching Journalism: The review as persuasive writing
• Teaching Speech: What you need to know about visual aids
• from the Archives:  WCTE film recommendations from 1990s
• Call for new editor of Wisconsin English Journal
• What we’re reading…
• For Class: Focus on Peer Feedback
• …and more!

WCTE Update December 2021

• Message from President
• Message from Executive Director
• Election Results:  New WCTE Board
• Call for nominations for WCTE Awards
• Wisconsin Literary Map Update
• Journalism and Speech lessons for your English classroom
• A fun quiz from our WCTE Archivist
• Report from our DPI Liaison
• Student Poetry Contest
• Call for submission to the Wisconsin English Journal
• What we’re reading
• …and more!

WCTE Update September 2021

• 2021 Convention featuring Folger Shakespeare Library
• Message from President
• Teaching Awards announced!!
• DPI Liaison Report from Madison
• Journalism resources for every J-teacher
• How to deliver an impromptu speech
• What we’re reading
• Stretching beyond the argumentative essay
• …and more!

WCTE Update April 2021

• Ongoing 2020 Convention Updates
• Message from the President
• Call for nominations for WCTE awards
• Wisconsin High School winners of NCTE REALM Award
• Teaching Journalism as a life skill
• Teaching Speech as a life skill
• from the Archives:  “The Box”
• Teacher feature:  Adam Sprague, WEJ editor
• DPI Liaison Report
• WCTE has a new logo:  the unveiling
• Book Recommendations
• What we’re reading
• Successful practices for book clubs
• National Poetry Month
• …and more!

WCTE Update January 2021

• Passionate Readers Book Club & Webinar
• Introducing WCTE Board of Directors
• Message from the President
• New Logo Coming Soon
• WCTE’s Connection with Public Radio
• DPI Liaison Report & COVID-19 Resources
• New WEJ Editor announces Call for Submissions
• Book Recommendations
• Classroom Resources
• …and more!

WCTE Update September 2020

• Convention canceled and re-imagined as virtual workshopos
• Letter from the President
• WCTE teacher Awards
• Message from the Executive Director
• Meet Board member Marti Matyska
• DPI news update
• Wisconsin First Nation resources
• What we’re reading
• Resouces for your classroom
• Calendar of Events

WCTE Update March 2020

• Join “Passionate Readers” study cohort
• Convention: call for proposals, convention grant
• Award nominations due May 1
• Wisconsin’s REALM winners (literary magazines)
• DPI news update
• Call for applications for Wisconsin English Journal editor
• Diversity Resources from Wisconsin First Nations
• Remote Teaching Resources
• What we’re reading
• Calendar of Events
• Join the WCTE team: call for volunteers

WCTE Update December 2019

• Formation of Wisconsin Action Groups
• WCTE Election Results
• Letter from the President
• WCTE Fall Convention Report
• CEL, NCTE Convention Reports
• CEL Talks Podcast
• How to Get Involved in WCTE
• Diversity Resources
• DPI English News, including Dyslexia report and ELA Standards Revision
• Twitter Chat Schedule
• Minnesota Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference Invitation
• Poetry Resources
• Teacher Travel
• Book Love Foundation
• What We’re Reading
• Calendar of Events
• For Class: To Kill a Mockingbird: Monroeville Walking Tour
• For Teachers: Board Members Share Favorite Resources

WCTE Update September 2019

• Convention information
• Changes to WCTE By-Laws
• Awards
• New Teacher Action Groups
• DPI Report
• Poetry Out Loud
• Diversity Report
• Twitter Chat Schedule
• Wisconsin English Journal
• WCTE in the News
• Books We’re Reading
• Wise Learn Platform
• Resources

WCTE Update March 2019

• Fall convention announcements
• Time to submit award nominations
• Diversity report asks for assistance
• DPI Update on WI ELA standards
• Twitter Chat schedule
• Wisconsin English Journal news
• Meet Amanda Sweet, District #5 director
• National Poetry Month resources
• First Amendment contest for your students
• Books: What we’re reading
• For Class: Ways to talk about books in class
• Top Ten online resources for English teachers

 WCTE Update December 2018 

• WCTE hires executive director, Lynn Frick
• Election results
• Awards—NCTE and Chisholm
• Twitter Chat schedule
• Wisconsin English Journal news
• Meet the treasurer: Tom Scott
• Interview with Wisconsin author of A Dreadful Fairy Book
• GEEO travel for teachers
• Student Poetry Contest
• What we’re reading
• For class:  Book club with a purpose by Tanya Sponholz

September 2018 WCTE Update

• Registration and details about the October convention
• Meet the WCTE Award winners
• WCTE wins three NCTE awards: website, newsletter, affiliate excellence
• DPI Update
• Twitter Chat dates and topics
• Wisconsin English Journal call for articles
• Meet District #2 director, Sarah Rowse-Borelli
• Great American Read
• Student Contest, scholarships, free curriculum from the Anti-Defamation League
• Books we’re reading
• For your classroom:  choice reading

Linda Barrington, Editor

Do you have a story idea for the December issue?  Let us know about it and we’ll research and write about it.

WCTE Update April 2018

• October convention information—Thursday workshops with Chris Lehman—and registration, call for proposals
• Award nominations due May 15
• Summer travel for teachers through GEEO
• Position statement opposing UW-Stevens Point’s proposal to eliminate 13 humanities majors
• Updated news from the DPI
• Promoting diversity in children’s literature
• News from the Wisconsin English Journal
• Meet District 7 director, Mary Beth Desens
• Books we’re reading
• Summer Journalism Workshop for high school students
• English Teacher’s calendar
• For your classroom:  VR (virtual reality) in your English class

WCTE Update December 2017

• Monthly Twitter Chats for Wisconsin English teachers
• Recaps of our state convention in October
• The deserving recipients of the Lee Burress Intellectual Freedom Award
• Highlights of the NCTE convention and CEL conference
• Latest news from the DPI
• Wisconsin Write project
• News from the Wisconsin English Journal:  now at a new WEBSITE
• Meet District 4 director, Brad Byron
• Student Poetry Contest
• Books we’re reading
• English teacher’s calendar
• For your classroom:  an interactive resource template for teaching a work of literature in historical context

WCTE Update September 2017

• October 2017 convention preview:  Becoming World Readers: One Book at a Time, with Sandra Kowalczyk
  • Special Thursday workshop: Words Without Borders
  • Breakout sessions list
  • Registration Information
• Awards: First-year Teachers, Student Teacher
• Diversity Resources
• DPI Updates for English teachers
• Do you know about Google+ Resources?
• WCTE Position Statement on Changes in Licensure for Teachers
• Find out how to join WCTE Twitter Chats
• Check out audio book free downloads!  Plan for next summer.
• Whatcha doing after school?  Find out about Afterschool Alliance.
• NCTE Award for Wisconsin English Journal and WCTE Update
• Meet District 12 director Tanya Sponholz
• Find out about Forensics opportunities for your English students
• Wisconsin English Journal: call for articles on all topics
• Good Books:  what we’re reading
• For Class:  Workshop activity to understand “privilege.”

WCTE Update March 2017

• October 2017 convention preview:  Becoming World Readers: One Book at a Time, with Sandra Kowalczyk
  • Call for Proposals
  • Registration Information (plan now, not at the last minute!)
• Awards: Deserving teachers will win only if you nominate them
• Wisconsin winners of NCTE’s Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Magazines
• DPI Updates for English teachers AND the
• The third and final installment of DPI English teacher survey responses, featuring teaching-related stories
• Importance of educating now to prevent intellectual challenges in the future
• “A Mile in Our Shoes” program to promote empathy and inclusivity through reading
• Meet District 7 director, Janelle Bailey
• Summer Journalism Workshop for students and teachers at Marquette University, July 16-19
• Wisconsin English Journal: call for articles on Approaches to Creative Writing
• Good Books:  what we’re reading
• Summer travel opportunities for teachers through GEEO
• For Class:  Take your students on a Canterbury pilgrimage, right in the halls of your school.

wcte-update-dec-2016

• Convention Wrapups: WCTE, NCTE, CEL
• Message from the President
• WCTE Election Results
• DPI News
• Meet your District Director (Holly Caudill, #9)
• Call for Submissions and What’s in this Issue – English Journal
• Milwaukee Area Student Affiliate
• What We’re Reading
• DPI English News
• DPI Survey Results, Part 2
• Chisholm Award:  Kathy Nelson
• Events Calendar:  Teaching the Novel and Poetry Together

WCTE Update September 2016

• Convention preview and registration
• WISELearn curation
• Message from the President
• Awards
• New Voices Legislation
• DPI Survey Results
• Milwaukee Area Student Affiliate
• Diversity Report
• DPI English News
• WCTE Board Member Profile
• WEJ Update
• What We’re Reading
• Student Poetry Contest
• Calendar
• For Class
  • Shakespeare in Wisconsin 2016

WCTE Update May 2016

• WCTE Convention 2016
• Nominations
• TYCA Statements
• Student Speech: Your Right to Know
• PRESLM Awards
• Diversity Report
• Sutdent Affiliate
• DPI News
• Meet your District Director (Tim Allison, #10)
• Publications
• What We’re Reading
• Literacy by the Lakes
• Events Calendar
• For Class:
  • Using Reflection Intentionally

WCTE Update December 2015

• Look at the New Website
• Convention Wrapups: WCTE, NCTE, CEL
• “Why Study English?” Milwaukee area pre-service teachers will visit your class
• DPI News
• Meet your District Director (Jennifer Kieren, #11)
• Call for Submissions – English Journal, WCTE Update
• What We’re Reading
• National Day of Writing
• Travel and study opportunities: GEEO and NEH
• Events Calendar
• For Class:
  • Shakespeare Resources

WCTE Update September 2015

• Convention Breakout Sessions
• Convention Registration
• Message from the President
• Awards
• Journalism Curriculum
• Call for Submissions – English Journal
• DPI News
• Milwaukee Student Affiliate
• Meet your District Director (11)
• What We’re Reading
• Events Calendar
• For Class:
  • Start the year “Write”

March 2015

• Call for Proposals
• Message from the President
• Intellectual Freedom
• Award Winners and Nomination Information
• Call for Submissions – English Journal
• NCTE Student Affiliate in WI
• Educational Travel Opportunity
• DPI News
• Meet your District Director (4)
• What We’re Reading
• Events Calendar
• For Class:
  • Tech and Test Prep
  • Silent Discussions

December 2014

• Sign up for Sara Kajder’s webinar!
• Message from the President
• Election news
• WCTE convention news
• NCTE convention recap
• English Journal call for submissions
• WI authors
• DPI news
• Books we are reading
• Writing projects

Fall 2014

• Message from the President
• Convention: Register now
• WCTE News
• DC Convention
• About people: Award winners
• American lit. resource
• Books: WCTE recommendations
• More

March 2014

• Convention
• Membership drive
• Literary magazine awards
• Symposium: Great World Texts
• Google PLC
• Read to Lead grants
• Nonfiction: Women at play
• For class: Wisconsin Media Lab
• More

January 2014

• WCTE Position Statement on the Common Core State Standards for ELA
• Convention 2013 photos and review of events
• PDP readers: New member benefit
• DPI news
• WCTE election results
• Updates from NCTE, CEL conventions
• Director profile: Loren Glasbrenner
• NCTE Student Awards
• For Class: Multi-modal murder mystery
• More

September 2013

• Convention registration, sessions
• Pooley awards – Apply before Sept. 13
• Burress award – LGBTQ group wins
• PDP readers – new member benefit
• Three outstanding teachers
• DPI news you need
• Banned Books Week
• Techie Girls
• For class: great world texts
• More

March 2013

• October convention to feature Tom Romano
• From the WCTE President
• District I Director wins Kohl fellowship
• State literary magazines winners in NCTE contest
• Apply or nominate someone now for WCTE awards
• Join NCTE’s Gay/Straight Educators Alliance
• Wisconsin Educational Leadership Alliance debuts
• Meet Martha Handrick, District 9 director
• Resources for English Teachers from NCTE and DPI
• More

December 2012

Election results; Awards presented; From the WCTE President; Convention wrap-up; Report from NCTE, CEL; New Director Denise Meyer; DPI ELA report; Poetry contest; Invitation to teach abroad; For class: Reading strategies

Fall 2012

Fall convention speakers and registration form [VIDEO] ; From the President; WCTE invites two-year college English teachers to join; DPI report: How advancing educational reforms affect English teachers; Guest columnist: Why English teachers keep coming back to the NCTE convention; Making CEL a priority [VIDEO] ; WCTE’s board assesses direction; Ellyn Lem receives Intellectual Freedom award; For class: CCSS lesson plan template

May 2012

Carol Jago, Rebecca Sipe keynote; From the desk of your President; WCTE fall convention call for proposals;   WCTE honors Senator Kohl; WCTE website; DPI English news; WEJ needs reviewers; Reading research symposium; WCTE award winners; NCTE award deadlines

December 2011

Election results; gathering at Arrowhead plans; WCTE at NCTE 100th; CEL highlights; Writing initiative; Awards listing; Statement on Intellectual Freedom; Profile: Kathy Bay; Digital tools for you

September 2011

March 2011

December 2010

September 2010

February 2010

December 2009