“…writing is sanctuary; it is the art of discovering a safe space in which to be.”

-Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin

As our world continues to shift and become more complicated, it is necessary that we find a safe space to nurture our students. As Gabbin reminds, writing challenges us with the art of discovering who we can be despite the noise within our society that so often disrupts our sense of knowing. The text we read allows us to share in the stories of others. As we encounter people, places, and experiences, we learn more about ourselves. Writing continues to be a response to reading.

For this call, we are seeking proposals that embrace the power of writing and reading as a connection to ourselves, first as individuals and then as society. How can we encourage our students to find meaning through writing? Is the relationship between reading and writing a way to see who we are and can become? What is it that we learn about ourselves as we process our thoughts? Is it possible to make meaning of the world as we become readers and writers? What ways of knowing and becoming have we found as teachers of literacy?

The purpose of writing can often be seen as required skill development. Yet, the power it has to connect us to ourselves and others is often overlooked. With practice and instruction, we believe that writing provides students with a tool to not only express themselves but to shape their ability to imagine possibilities.

*Submission deadline:  June 30, 2023