14
August
2014
|
12:41 PM
America/Chicago

Van Horn Hosts Workshop to Develop Citizenship Curriculum for Harmony Public Schools

In partnership with Harmony Public Schools and in anticipation of UHD's upcoming Big Read efforts, professor of curriculum and instruction Leigh Van Horn hosted a professional development conference for teachers of grades 6-12 last week.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, a group of 85 middle and high school-level English and language arts teachers convened to discuss and develop a curriculum around The Big Read book, "A Lesson Before Dying" and the themes of citizenship and social justice.

The workshop was an opportunity for Harmony teachers and UHD faculty to collaborate and cultivate ideas for an interactive curriculum with a focus on civic engagement and cultural awareness. The lesson plans include poetry writing and reading assignments that address issues of social relevance in the local community. Other lessons focus on imagery in our city, building on resources from Van Horn's book, "Reading Photographs to Write with Meaning and Purpose, Grades 4-12."

The participants showed their appreciation for UHD's hospitality by presenting Van Horn with a book of poetry, the cover of which they inscribed with messages of praise for the program.

High school students will participate in UHD's Big Read Initiative by reading "A Lesson Before Dying," and reading and writing about issues of social relevance. In November, three hundred select Harmony Public School students will visit the UHD campus and participate in other Big Read activities designed around the novel's themes.

Van Horn currently serves as interim dean for the College of Public Service.

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