The Word Is Out! 2006 Literacy Conference Connects Teachers and Artists


9/19/2006 9:18:33 AM


More than 600 teachers and artists participated in Literacy Connections Through the Arts—this year’s annual arts integration conference—on August 9, 2006

***ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAIALABLE UPON REQUEST***

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – In the last three years, an annual arts integration conference has grown in momentum, spectrum and well-earned popularity. This year’s Literacy Connections Through the Arts wowed more than 600 teachers and artists attending a workshop in August 2006, and instructed on how to teach the written word by using the arts.

“This workshop was GREAT! The instructor possessed the utmost zeal for his art and was very approachable and genuine. Not only did I learn the technique of shadow puppetry, but was deeply inspired to continue my endeavors of incorporating literacy in the visual arts for the kids.” Cynthia Patterson, Orangebrook Elementary School, K-5 Art Teacher

The workshop has diversified its focus in each of the three years. This year’s full-day conference taught participants how to integrate the arts into core educational subjects with the help of techniques from literature and grammar. It was a day of high energy, interactive arts, drama and inspiration. Previous years have focused on dance and movement (2004) and diverse cultures (2005) as teaching tools.

The conference—free to all teachers, artists, principals, community arts providers, and others who work with children and teens—consisted of 17 interactive workshops. This event was a collaborative effort to expose educators to the use of the arts to help students acquire the knowledge of word order, phrasing, and punctuation that contribute to the meaning of a written sentence.

“Let’s Dance a Book was wonderful! Great fun. Participating ‘hands-on’ was so informative. Actually dancing the story myself, really helped me to teach the concept to my students.” Fran Sullivan, K-5 Spanish Teacher

This annual event is a partnership among the Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education Program, Broward County Cultural Division, Dillard Center for the Arts, the School Board of Broward County, and Broward Center for the Performing Arts; the Cultural Foundation of Broward; Bank of America, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and Starbucks Coffee Company.

For further information about this successful event, or to inquire about conferences in years to follow, call Terrie Ford, arts education specialist, Cultural Division at 954-357-8007 or e-mail: teford@broward.org.


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