Upcoming Institutes

Taylor Swift in the Literature Classroom (Summer 2024 Webinar)

 
On July 8, 2024, Humanities Texas will hold a webinar for English language arts (ELA) teachers comparing the work of one of today's most recognizable songwriters and performers, Taylor Swift, and commonly taught poetic texts and traditions in the secondary-level curriculum.

Schedule and Curriculum

The webinar will take place over Zoom from 10:00–11:30 am CT on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Content will be aligned with the TEKS. The program for English language arts teachers will compare the work of one of today's most recognizable songwriters and performers, Taylor Swift, and commonly taught poetic texts and traditions (lyric, dramatic, and narrative) in the secondary-level curriculum. The program will provide strategies for finding ways to engage middle and high school students by showing how this pop-music icon uses traditional genres, motifs, and figures found in literary texts that seem remote from hers. Participants will also investigate the ways in which she uses fairly familiar middle and high school texts as the basis or reference points for some of her writing. Teachers are encouraged to share ideas with others hoping to incorporate Swift into their classroom instruction.

Like all Humanities Texas teacher programs, the webinar will emphasize close interaction with scholars, the examination of texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities.

Faculty

Elizabeth Scala of The University of Texas at Austin will lead the webinar.

Eligibility

The webinar is open to secondary-level English language arts teachers in Texas schools. 

Attendance and CPE Credit

The online program is free to teachers and their schools. Participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. CPE hours will be based on Zoom attendance and adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program. In order to attend the webinar and receive CPE credit, you must be a registered participant.

How to Apply

Complete the online application for the "Taylor Swift in the Literature Classroom" webinar. By submitting an application, you are signing up to receive information about and access to the webinar. 

Sponsors

The webinar is made possible with major funding from the State of Texas with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.