Writing in Our Schools
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Good writers and their tool bags

Good writing comes from abundant and diverse consumption of words, ideas, 
challenges,  concepts.  Reading, both good and not so good literature matters!

Good writing comes from keen observation of the world and a willingness to explore comparisons that go beyond the easy cliches.  


 

Good writing emerges when the writer is willing to take a risk.  If someone else has told the story, an attentive writer will tell a different story, or she will tell the same story from a different perspective. 


 

Good writing benefits from conventions.  These may be among the minor considerations, but a polished piece conveys the value that the writer places on the offering and makes for easier reading.


Good teachers are not only readers, they too are writers.  They can empathize with the struggle that the student endures in the process.  This creates a special bond.
--Susan Reese
Past NJCTE President
Past Achievement Awards in Writing Chair for NCTE

A Judge Reflects on the Contest

The Legacy
            Left to right: Celia Murphy Braunstein, Janine Sullivan, and Patricia Schall

The Legacy Continues

If you enjoy writing and reading good writing, encourage your own students to submit to the NJCTE writing contest and consider becoming a judge next year.

 I was proud to see my own former student, Janine Sullivan, a teacher at West Orange High School,  celebrate the recognition her own student, Celia Murphy-Braunstein, earned. These are legacy moments to cherish. 

                                                                                     -- Patricia L. Schall

  
 Contribute to the New Jersey English Journal
                                                                 
NJCTE provides an opportunity for  teachers to practice what they preach about good writing.

Visit njcte.com to find the details of the current call.

Our 2019 theme is "The Intersection of Literacy and Democracy: What role does language arts play in a free society?"

Manuscripts will be accepted for the 2019 journal between 4/1/18 & 12/15/18. 

- Liz deBeer, editor
   
THE FALL CONFERENCE:  ALL ABOUT WRITING AND RESPONDING TO YOUR REQUESTS
  NJCTE 2018 Fall Conference

On September 29, 2018, we will gather together at the Kenneth R. Olson Middle School in Tabernacle, NJ to focus on teaching writing, K-16.  NJCTE invites educators of all types (public, private, cyber, charter, elem. - univ., etc.) to submit session proposals to collegially share!


 
NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing

NCTE Student Writing Contest 

NCTE offers an opportunity for students in grade 11 to respond to a as well to submit a portfolio of their best writing.  Check out this contest designed to engage students throughout the country.



Teachers Write: Let's Hear Your Voices!

Time to write!


Teachers Are Writers Too!

The NJCTE  Focus  staff dedicated this whole issue to the NJCTE Writing Contest and the importance of student writing. Now, we want to encourage teachers to write too. 

We know you have full and busy lives, but there are so many opportunities for you to make your voices heard too. We invite you to consider submitting a short article to
Focus. It could be something as simple as a successful lesson plan you would like to share or a brief reflection on something that moves you about teaching and learning.

Don't forget the six-word story requests we used to launch NJCTE Project Spark. It won't take long to write six words describing what lights your teaching fires. 

Need some advice? Check out " Office Hours," our recently launched column in the NJCTE Blog. Ask a question. Offer some of your own suggestions in the comments section. 

You might consider submitting an article to the  New Jersey English Journal . The editors look for all kinds of submission, from articles about practice to poetry to brief personal essays. Watch  njcte.com  for submission guidelines. 

Even if you just comment on some of the blogs or news sources you follow or write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, you are writing. The public needs to hear from teachers. Don't let others do all the talking for you. 

Share your ideas with others and keep your writing fires burning. Donald Murray, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer about writing, used to keep a sign by his desk stating, "Never a Day without a line." Let's hear from you!
                                                                         --Patricia L. Schall




MEMBERSHIP

 
*MEMBERSHIP: Membership is $25 annually, and runs from April 1 to March 31. Send questions about membership to  NJCTEmembership@gmail .com.
 
The NJCTE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) professional organization dedicated to educational and beneficial purposes. NJCTE fosters excellence in English language arts by helping develop academic and professional expertise in instruction at all levels, and by recognizing the worthy endeavors of students and their teachers.
For more information, please visit: www.NJCTE.com

We want to recognize all those members who invite a friend or a colleague to join NJCTE. Please let us know that you are a member who embraces our mission and shares our passion.
Send an email to njctepresident@gmail.com

Make NJCTE Your Professional Home


Make NJCTE Your Professional Home in New Jersey   
  
The New Jersey Council of Teachers of English (NJCTE) is the New Jersey affiliate organization of The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). The NCTE and NJCTE are different organizations with different memberships and separate dues.  

We invite teachers, administrators and friends of English/language arts to join us. We encourage our members to dedicate their time to participate and make a difference in their own professional lives and the lives of their fellow teachers and students.

Consider the Benefits of Joining
 
Members of NJCTE receive the following:
  • NJCTE's digital newsletter, E-FOCUS
  • The New Jersey English Journal, an annual publication of NJCTE 
  • Reduced (sometimes FREE!) admission to conferences and workshops
  • Professional development opportunities through volunteering for committees and events, judging the writing contest, and much more!
  • Networking opportunities and idea exchanges with a diverse group of teachers throughout the state
  • Local, more affordable events, with workshops at the NJEA Convention and conferences frequently offered on weekends to avoid problems with substitute teacher coverage.  

   Visit our Website and sign up online through PayPal, or download the membership form to sign up by check or money order by mail.


T he woes of "disembodied academic prose," as Peter Elbow aptly characterized this discourse so familiar to English majors!

e-Focus - New Jersey Council of Teachers of English - 732-267-2838 - http:// www.njcte.com  jctefocus@gmail.com
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