Institute for Writing and Thinking Presents
IWT April Conference: The Reflective Educator: Writing and Mindful Learning in the Classroom
Friday, April 21, 2017
Olin Humanities Building
8:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Campus Center, Multipurpose Room8:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
In recent years, “mindfulness” seems to be one of the most prolific and flexible buzzwords, appearing in a vast range of contexts: mindful parenting, mindfulness in the workplace, mindfulness therapy, mindfulness training for Phil Jackson’s New York Knicks, and mindfulness in the classroom. The term was coined in the 1970s by biologist Jon Kabat-Zinn, who defined it as: “The awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Kabat-Zinn’s definition is particularly relevant when considering the context of education. By emphasizing the importance of both being present and paying attention, this description of mindfulness clearly connects to how, as teachers, we often struggle to find relevant, meaningful ways to help (and keep) our students engaged and motivated.
This year’s annual conference aims to explore these connections and the ways in which writing-based teaching and mindful learning can help instill a growth mindset in students. Process writing, one of IWT’s core practices, is an example of how writing can represent an invaluable opportunity for “entertaining new possibilities . . . asking that we become more aware of how our minds are at a particular time,” as Alfred E. Guy writes. Both mindful learning and process writing encourage students to develop self-reflective habits of mind that enable them to own their own learning. We’ll ask: How can regular in-class writing help to support classroom management and foster self-regulation? For the student who has simply determined “I’m just not good at science,” how can writing provide a way in?
Registration Fee: $350, includes morning coffee, lunch, and anthology of related texts
Register by March 21, 2017 to receive the Early Bird Discount: $50 off registration fees.
Groups of three or more teachers from a single institution receive an additional 10% disocunt off total workshop fees.
Visit iwt.bard.edu to register, or call 845-758-7484 with any questions and concerns.
Sponsored by: Institute for Writing and Thinking.
For more information, call 845-758-7484, email pdooley@bard,edu, or visit https://iwt.bard.edu.
For more information, call 845-758-7484, e-mail [email protected],
or visit https://iwt.bard.edu/.
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Location: Olin Humanities Building