Preconference and conference tasks  

Outcomes of the Summit will include consensus beliefs statements as well as documents, frameworks, and plans that can be utilized by CEE to develop new initiatives, build membership, structure future conferences, and shape our activities within and beyond NCTE. 

Overview of Pre-Conference Tasks

    Documents to Be Read by All Attendees Prior to the Conference

Guidelines for the Preparation of Teachers of English Language Arts, 2006 Edition  http://www.ncte.org/groups/cee/links/126867.htm

July 2006 Issue of English Education:  A Report on the CEE Summit  http://www.ncte.org/pubs/journals/ee/contents/120675.htm

    Pre-Conference Tasks to Be Completed by Each Strand Group

Electronic listservs are being set up by Kristen McGowan at NCTE Headquarters for each thematic strand group in order to facilitate their conversation and work online.  Each thematic strand group will work to accomplish two specific tasks before the CEE Summit in June:

•    Task 1:  Co-conveners will initiate a listserv discussion in their group to select key readings related to their thematic strand.  These readings will be each group’s thematic strand texts.  All group members should participate, and consideration should be given to a variety of perspectives, authors, and dates of publication (e.g., historic/landmark and current).  After online discussions and some negotiation on the listserv with strand participants, co-conveners will make final selections of materials to be read.  The group may wish to consider both a required reading list and a supplemental reading list.  Co-conveners, conference co-chairs, and NCTE staff will help participants obtain copies of the selected documents as necessary.  [by mid-April]

Note:  In developing the lists thematic strand readings, participants are encouraged to consult with colleagues to get suggestions from those not attending the Summit.

•    Task 2:  Strand participants will read the required pieces by an agreed upon date and co-conveners will initiate/continue discussion with the participants in their thematic strand group.  This online conversation should be viewed as notes toward a statement explaining what we know and believe about the issue/s under inquiry.  If time permits, strand participants may wish to develop a draft belief statement to be posted on the group’s listserv for discussion.  [by early May]

Note:  As an example of the genre, we encourage each group to read the 2005 Summit statements: http://www.ncte.org/groups/cee/featuredinfo/122844.htm

Overview of Face-to-Face Inquiry during June

At Lake Forest College, strand groups will meet to continue discussing their topic and refine the notes/draft developed during the online phase of the Summit.  As the consensus belief statements take shape, drafts may be distributed to all Summit participants for comment.  Participants should also note that whole-group sessions during the Summit will include presentations by each thematic strand group each day—on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. These group reports will be necessarily brief, and will likely include just one or two key issues and a question the thematic strand group wants to bring to the whole group.

At the conclusion of the Summit, each thematic strand group will need to develop a means of moving from the initial consensus belief statements to other forms of engaging and useful texts, as well as toward plans for action.  Each group will need to discuss who will be responsible for polishing/revising final documents for the thematic strand group and who will be responsible for follow-up on proposed actions.  Each group should also discuss how the issues of collaborative writing and co-authorship will be handled for all writing that is produced by the thematic strand group.  (Additional information about the June activities will be provided at a later date.)