GKCWP Events

Every year, one of the most important things we do is identify teachers for the Summer Institute. By nominating committed, thoughtful teachers, you play a crucial role in growing the energy and reach of our project.

The 2020 Invitational Summer Institute will continue our focus on diversity, relevance, and access, emphasizing social justice and the importance of teacher leadership that responds to the needs of a diverse student population. Although you should nominate any exemplary educator, we especially encourage the nominations of outstanding urban educators in elementary and middle schools, as well as teachers outside of the English/language arts content area. We look for science teachers, math teachers, and more to attend every Summer Institute.

Your nominees will receive a recognition letter which includes your name as nominator. Each year, many applicants tell us that being nominated by their colleagues is, professionally, a truly powerful experience.

You can email me directly or use this google form to nominate colleagues.

Do you know any teachers of grades 3-5 who are interested in pairing their classroom with a classroom from a disparate demographic? KC Kids Unite accepts only 12 teachers each year. Teachers receive age-appropriate, social justice projects that unite their students with students from a different school. The culminating event is a visit to the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

Please share this flyer with interested elementary teachers or have them email me for additional information.

Please nominate up to 5 students to be a 2020 KC Storytellers Scholars. We are looking for students from each high school in our area. They'll participate in workshops and work to build a better community through the sharing of stories.

Visit kcstorytellers.org for information and the nomination form.

The contest is open! Students in grades 7-12 can submit in many different categories.

visit artandwriting.org to get set up. Email kkline@ucmo.edu if you have any questions.

New fees this year set by the Scholastic Alliance: individual entries $7.00; portfolios $25.00.

Encourage your students to enter before winter holidays.

We are in the early stages of working to create a community of support for k-12 teachers who have been directly impacted by primary trauma in the classroom/school. We will keep you posted as we develop plans, but those interested in the early conversations, can email Katie directly.

You are also invited to take Dr. Gudino's survey. He recently presented at KC's unconference and is working in the area of teachers experience secondary trauma:

An Invitation to Participate in needed research:

You are invited to participate in a research study called, “Understanding the Needs and Experiences of Educators Exposed to Students’ Trauma” being conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas. We hope that this study will help us understand the perspectives and experiences of teachers working with students exposed to trauma.

Who can participate and what does participation involve?

· K-12 teachers are eligible to participate

· Complete an anonymous online survey (30-40 min)

· Receive $15 for participation

· Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time

There is no direct benefit to you, but your participation can help us support teachers like you.

Omar Gudino, PhD, ABPP

University of Kansas

Phone: 785.864.3981

E-mail: Omar.Gudino@ku.edu

2nd Tuesday of the Month, 5-7pm

No preparation needed -- we will provide pizza and the reading material for our focus area of microaggressions and antiracism. The next meeting is November 12, at Minskys at 51st & Main. Just email Katie kkline@ucmo.edu so we order enough pizza.

2nd Saturday of the month, 1-3pm

Elizabeth Schurman leads this monthly meeting at Crows Coffee Waldo (74th & Washington). No RSVP needed.

I will send additional details as the events near

• KC Storytellers at Universal Unitarian Forum, Sunday, Dec. 1, 10am -11am
• Winter Work Day, Saturday, Dec. 7
• Scholastic Contest Scoring, Saturday, January 11
• Write to Learn conference, February 27-29
• KC Storytellers Community Exhibition, Saturday, April 4
• Work Day, Saturday, May 2
• Middle School Writers Conference, Tuesday, May 12

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If you are interested in bringing the GKCWP to your school or district, email Linda Brock, lindabrockbklvr@gmail.com. She can coordinate onsite workshops for your school faculty.

Thank you for taking action on these items -- nominating your colleagues for the SI, finding elementary teachers for KC KIds Unite, and getting kids started on Scholastic entries!

Hope to see you soon!

Katie Kline

kkline@ucmo.edu

816-582-5802

Instagram: gkcwp

Twitter: @gkcwpkline