Upcoming Institutes

Teaching Short Fiction (Fall 2026 In-Person Workshop)

On October 15, 2026, Humanities Texas will hold a one-day workshop in Austin for language arts teachers on strategies for teaching short fiction at the secondary level.

Date and Location

The workshop will take place on October 15, 2026, at the Thompson Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin.

Curriculum

Content will align with the TEKS. Presentations will focus on strategies for teaching the works of major nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century U.S. writers of short fiction and creative writing pedagogy.

The workshop will feature close interaction with scholars, the examination of texts, and the development of effective pedagogical strategies and engaging assignments and activities. Teachers will receive books and other instructional materials.

Faculty

Program faculty includes Bridgette Copeland (Texas Christian University), Sarah Gilbreath Ford (Baylor University), Maryse Jayasuriya (Saint Louis University), and Peter Turchi (University of Houston).

Eligibility

The workshop is open to secondary-level language arts teachers in Texas schools. Priority consideration will be given to early-career teachers and teachers in low-performing schools and districts.

How to Apply

Complete the online application. Please apply as soon as possible, as registration will occur on a rolling basis and space is limited.

Substitute and Travel Reimbursement and CPE Credit

The workshop is free to teachers and their schools. Humanities Texas will reimburse schools up to $200 for a substitute for any teacher who attends. Humanities Texas will not locate or secure substitutes; this remains the responsibility of the schools or districts. Details for the reimbursement process will be provided to participants.

Teachers traveling from out-of-town to attend the program will be reimbursed for approved travel costs. For further information regarding rates, please review the website of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the program. Review the Humanities Texas travel policy for additional details.

Participants will receive CPE credit and a wealth of curricular materials. CPE hours will be adjusted if a participant misses any portion of the program.

Sponsors

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