Literature and the natural world: a conference for educators

Northland College will be hosting the second annual Children’s and Young Adult Literature Conference November 9-10 for educators of all types — including librarians, teachers, childcare providers, parents and college students in education-related fields.

This conference focuses on the connections between literature and the natural world for children and young adults. Presentations and session topics will explore ways for educators to integrate environmental ideas through reading and language arts.

Featuring authors, and educators, the conference will focus on literature and the natural world. Activities will also help educators meet state common core standards.

Conference Highlights:

• Keynote presentations: Merri V. Lindgren and Megan Schliesman, librarians at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center in Madison; and author Emma Bland Smith, winner of the College’s Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award for children’s literature.

• Six breakout sessions that will focus on practical ways for educators to integrate environmental ideas through reading, language arts and outdoor activities.

• The Cooperative Children’s Book Center will be bringing hundreds of new books for review and examination.

• Examination of how to use quality literature to increase young people’s ability to ask questions about the world around them, speculate, hypothesize, seek information and develop questions.

• Strategies for meeting state common core standards for environmental education and English language arts.

• Optional wolf howl excursion on Thursday evening, following an opening reception and presentation.

Register now at northland.edu/cya-lit-conference. The cost is $95.