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2009 Regional Spring Conference

Conference dates: March 5-7, 2009 at the Inverness Hotel & Conference Center, Denver

2009 CLAS Regional Spring Conference March 5-7 Inverness Hotel & Conference Center - Denver REGISTER NOW for the conference [Registration Form] Contact the Inverness Hotel and mention the CLAS conference for SPECIAL ROOM RATES : [Reservations] Register for 1 semester hour of UCD credit -- bring completed forms to conference [1. Course Information -- 2. Registration Form -- 3. Course Evaluation Form] DOWNLOAD CONFERENCE PROGRAM [Program]
		Thursday, March 5: Pre-Conference Workshop Tom Romano, author of Clearing the Way, Writing With Passion, Blending Genre, Altering Style, Crafting Authentic Voice and Zigzag, A Life of Reading and Writing, Teaching and Learning, will kick off our 2009 conference Thursday night. His presentation, "Writing Your Life in Literacy, Teaching, and Learning,” promises to energize and engage us.
		Friday, March 6: Morning Keynote Jeff Wilhelm, author of You Gotta BE the Book, Engaging Readers and Writers with Inquiry, Going with the Flow: How to Engage Boys and Girls in Their Literacy Learning, Strategic Reading, Action Strategies for Deepening Comprehension, and Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys, will give Friday morning’s keynote speech—“Getting It Right.”
		Friday, March 6: Luncheon Speaker Jimmy Santiago Baca will be featured at Friday’s luncheon. Baca is the author of 11 books of poetry, including Spring Poems Along the Rio Grande, Winter Poems Along the Rio Grande, C-Train & 13 Mexicans, Working in the Dark, and Immigrants in Our Own Land. He is also the author of the memoir, A Place to Stand, the short story collection, The Importance of a Piece of Paper, and Working in the Dark, the Reflections of a Poet of the Barrio. Baca will speak of his life as a writer.
		Special Friday evening event: Meet Colorado Authors Come hang out with two of Colorado's finest writers -- David Wroblewski, author of the Oprah"s book club selection, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and Robert McBrearty, winner of the Sherwood Anderson Writing Grant and author of A Night at the Y and Episode . Festivities will include a light snack, cash bar, and the two authors reading and discussing their writing. Free to conference registrants. $20 for others. [Event flyer ]
		Saturday, March 7: Morning Keynote Cris Tovani taught elementary school for ten years before becoming a high school reading specialist and English teacher. A nationally known consultant, she chooses to continue teaching high school students full-time. She has also worked for many years as a staff developer for the Denver-based Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC), the consortium that has received national acclaim for its work in reading comprehension reform. Her book I Read It, But I Don't Get It, and her new video series by Stenhouse, has helped thousands of teachers nationwide improve their instruction in reading comprehension.
		Saturday, March 7: Luncheon Speaker Sharon Draper, teacher and two time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, gives Saturday’s luncheon speech—“Literacy, Laughter, and Learning.” Author of November Blues, Copper Sun, Fire From the Rock, Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, and many more, Draper was also honored as National Teacher of the Year.
And don't miss these Featured Colorado Speakers who will be presenting breakout sessions during the conference: Cris Tovani • Tim Hillmer • Denise Vega • Louann Reid • Julie Anne Peters • Lesli Cochran • Michelle Jones • Annie Patterson • Susanne Plaut
Conference Strand for pre-service and early-career teachers: "New Voices" A strand of sessions is in the planning stages to address the needs of early career teachers and those preparing to join the profession. Louann Reid, Professor of English Education at Colorado State University, who is coordinating the strand, envisions offering at least one session geared to this group in each of the time slots of the conference. CLAS is seeking sponsorship for a reception that would welcome these teachers to the conference and to CLAS membership. We will work with publishers to provide a packet of free materials for conference attendees, who identify themselves as pre-service and early-career teachers. We encourage CLAS members to bring this strand to the attention of their colleagues who are in their fifth year or earlier.