CURRENT OFFERINGS

Reading Aloud Basics*

Thursday, November 6, 2008, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - 2 clock hours | REGISTER NOW
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, 10 a.m. to noon - 2 clock hours | REGISTER NOW
Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - 2 clock hours | REGISTER NOW
Minnesota Humanities Center
FEE: $35, includes refreshments.
* Select ONE of the dates offered.

The Reading Aloud Basics workshop targets child care providers, paraprofessional staff, bilingual staff, parents, volunteers and any other individuals interested in gaining basic knowledge about the impact of reading aloud to groups of children.

Workshop topics include:

Tom Fitzpatrick, Director of Community Partnerships at the Minnesota Humanities Center, will conduct this workshop. Attendees will receive a variety of materials related to reading aloud, and will also have opportunities to view a diverse assortment of children’s picture books and other resources.

For more information, contact Tom Fitzpatrick, Director of Community Partnerships, 651-772-4255 or tom@minnesotahumanities.org.

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2008 Bill of Rights Symposium: The First Amendment Faces the Test

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 | REGISTER NOW
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - 7 clock hours
Minnesota Humanities Center
FEE: $65, includes breakfast, lunch, and a snack.

On the day that America goes to the polls to elect a new president, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in the “fleeting expletives” case, the 2008 version of the “Seven Dirty Words” case. And a few weeks later, the court will consider whether the “Seven Aphorisms of Summum” must be permitted to be displayed next to a Ten Commandments monument in a public park.

Whether it is the Seven Dirty Words, the Seven Aphorisms of Summum, or the hostile words of the presidential campaign, the boundaries of the First Amendment are being pushed. What does the constitution protect? Obscenity? Little known religions? Offensive political speech?

Deepen your ability to understand and analyze these contemporary issues in the First Amendment and improve your ability to teach First Amendment content to your students. As an added bonus, dissect the 2008 Presidential Campaign with an elections and First Amendment Expert!

Co-sponsored by the Learning Law and Democracy Foundation.

For more information, contact Kristen Hecker, Coordinator of Professional Development, 651-772-4281 or kristen@minnesotahumanities.org.

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Literature Series*

Dec. 3 - 4, 2008
Hmong-American Literature | REGISTER NOW
Presentation and discussions lead by Mai Neng Moua, co-founder and editor of the premier Hmong literary journal, "Paj Ntaub Voice."
Each participant will receive a copy of her book, "Bamboo Among the Oaks, Contemporary Writing by Hmong Americans."

Jan. 15 - 16, 2009
Latino-American Literature | REGISTER NOW
Presentation and discussions lead by Louis Gerard Mendoza, associate professor of Chicano Studies, interim chair of the Department of Spanish and Portugese, and vice provost in the Office for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota.

March 2 - 3, 2009
Somali-American Literature | REGISTER NOW
Presentation and discusssions lead by Marian Hassan, writer, journalist, and illustrator whose works include the popular bilingual children's books, "Bright Star, Blue Sky" and "Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale."

Day one: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Day two: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
14 clock hours
Intended audience: grades 6 - 12 educators
Minnesota Humanities Center
FEE: $165 per two-day series; includes materials and resources, breakfast, lunch, and a snack both days.Graduate credits available for an additional fee.
* NOTE: If you are registering for more than one, two-day workshop, register using this form to receive a $10 discount per workshop.

Looking for a way to introduce immigrant writers into your classroom? The Minnesota Humanities Center will conduct a series of two-day workshops addressing the English-language literary traditions and contributions of Somali-Americans, Latino-Americans, and Hmong-Americans. These workshops will focus on three themes: history of the literary tradition; how literary traditions change based on space and place; and contributions of these traditions to Minnesota and American culture. Participants will meet in small groupst to explore literature and to discuss resources and activities they can use in their classroom.

Overnight accommodations available: Preference will be given to participants traveling from outside the 7-county metro area. An additional $20 fee for the room is payable by check at registration check-in.

For more information, contact Kristen Hecker, Coordinator of Professional Development, 651-772-4281 or kristen@minnesotahumanities.org.

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Humanities Leadership Networking Luncheon

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 | REGISTER NOW
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - 3 clock hours
Minnesota Humanities Center
FEE: $50, includes breakfast and lunch.

Join other Core Knowledge school administrators for three hours of dialogue and professional development. Participants will discuss topics of interest to administrators implementing the humanities based curriculum, Core Knowledge, as well as opportunities for networking.

For more information, contact Kristen Hecker, Coordinator of Professional Development, 651-772-4281 or kristen@minnesotahumanities.org.

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Where is America? Landscape and Cultures in the 21st Century

Thursday and Friday, Feb. 19 - 20, 2009* | REGISTER NOW
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 14 clock hours
Intended audience: grades 4 - 8 educators
Minnesota Humanities Center
FEE: $165, includes materials and resources, breakfast, lunch, and a snack both days. Graduate credits available for an additional fee.
* NOTE: If you are registering for more than one, two-day workshop, register using this form to receive a $10 discount per workshop.

This multi-disciplinary and interactive workshop will provide an overview of the physical and human geography of the Americas. Regions studied will include North America--Minnesota, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America. Topics addressed during the two-day workshop will include how people are affecting the environment, urbanization, physical features, cultural geography, and preservation. Participants will explore lesson plans, resources, literature, picture books, maps, music, and classroom ideas specifically for teaching about the Americas in the middle grades, 4 - 8.

Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education (MAGE). Presenters include Dr. David Lanegran of Macalester College, Michelle Leba of Washington Technology Magnet in St. Paul, and faculty from Macalaster College and other members of MAGE.

Overnight accommodations available: Preference will be given to participants traveling from outside the 7-county metro area. An additional $20 fee for the room is payable by check at registration check-in.

For more information, contact Kristen Hecker, Coordinator of Professional Development, 651-772-4281 or kristen@minnesotahumanities.org.

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Humanities Roundtables for Educators

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 | REGISTER NOW
4th Grade Educators Roundtables
English Language Learners (ELL) Educators Roundtables

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 | REGISTER NOW
5th Grade Educators Roundtables
Curriculum Coordinators Roundtables

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | REGISTER NOW
Kindergarten Educators Roundtables
Music Educators Roundtables

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 | REGISTER NOW
1st Grade Educators Roundtables
Physical Education Educators Roundtables

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 | REGISTER NOW
2nd Grade Educators Roundtables

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 | REGISTER NOW
3rd Grade Educators Roundtables
Visual Arts Educators Roundtables

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - 7 clock hours
Minnesota Humanities Center
Fee: $90, includes breakfast, lunch, and a snack.
VIEW AGENDA

Join other grade-level teachers for a day of roundtable professional conversation, content and teacher presentations, and networking. Throughout the day, teachers will participate in small group discussions based on literature, student projects, and resource collections. Participants are expected to bring a piece of children’s literature they use to teach humanities-based content and a sample of student work relating to a humanities-based lesson. Teachers should be prepared to discuss and display their pieces of literature and student samples in small groups; items will also be displayed around the room for all participants to view. Topic areas that may be covered at the roundtables are listed here.

During the kindergarten, first grade and second grade days Diane Aldis, from the Perpich Center for Arts Education, will lead a session on how to enliven your humanities-based content by incorporating movement with academic concepts.

Steppingstone Theater will conduct a presentation on the third, fourth, and fifth grade roundtable days.

Please note: Educators from schools with a strong humanities program, such as Core Knowledge, will benefit most from these roundtables.

For more information, please contact Kristen Hecker, Coordinator of Professional Development, 651-772-4281 or kristen@minnesotahumanities.org.

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS

American Indian Literature Series, Spring 2009

A Borderlands Society? Building Knowledge and Understanding about Canada and Canada-U.S. Relations, March 9-10, 2009

Picturing America, March 19-20, 2009

No More Secrets: Victorian Art and Culture Seminar, July 22-23, 2009

Cultural Competency, Equity, and the Future of Black Education, Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Aug. 11-12 2009

Additional details and registration information will be posted soon.

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Reading Aloud Basics | Migration In and Out of Germany | Bill of Rights Day
Literature Series | Humanities Leadership Luncheon | Humanities Roundtables
Landscape and Cultures in the 21st Century | Upcoming Programs