Lehigh Valley Writing Project to host annual conference

Ernest Morrell

Ernest Morrell will give the keynote presentation, “Cultivating Youth Voices: Developing Powerful Writers in Diverse 21st Century Classrooms" at the Best Practices conference.

Credit: Ernest Morrell

The Lehigh Valley Writing Project (LVWP) will host its annual Best Practices in Teaching Writing Conference: Bridging Worlds, Bridging Literacies from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus in Center Valley.

The conference features interactive workshops and presentations for teachers to share professional teaching practices.  Ernest Morrell will give the keynote presentation, “Cultivating Youth Voices: Developing Powerful Writers in Diverse 21st Century Classrooms."

A former high school English teacher, Morrell served as director of the Council of Youth Research, a project that involves teens in researching issues in their communities and schools. He has authored numerous titles including “The Art of Critical Pedagogy,” “Critical Literacy” and “Urban Youth and Critical Media Pedagogy: Teaching for Achievement in City Schools,” which was awarded Outstanding Academic Title for 2014 by Choice Magazine of the American Library Association.  Additionally, Morrell has published over 75 journal articles and book chapters and has earned numerous commendations for his university teaching

Morrell is a Macy Professor of English Education and director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME) at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a past president of the National Council of the Teachers of English. Morrell's innovative approach to teaching continues to transform how teachers reach students as they navigate through what it means to be a reader and writer in the 21st century.

The cost of the conference is $55. For Lehigh Valley Writing Project Fellows, the conference cost is $45.  Registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Prepaid registration is required. To register for the conference, or for more information, visit the conference website or contact Nancy Coco at 610-285-5026 or [email protected].