WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH, 2019 VOLUME 42 ISSUE 3

Tonya Bolden opened her talk by sharing that even though she had only been at Confratute once before that being here “feels like coming home” and that this was “some of the best energy I’ve ever been around.” Tonya’s expanded that good energy with a compelling and thought-provoking talk. She transported us by reading the powerful lyrical opening of her book Inventing Victoria. The book is a coming of age novel set in Savannah during Reconstruction that also provides a window into Black aristocracy. The book was inspired by her desire

to explore what happened to some of her characters from Crossing Ebenezer Creek.

Tonya described how she utilizes a range of historical artifacts to create a vivid sense of place and imagine her characters. For example she shared a historical photograph that inspired one of the main characters from Crossing Ebenezer Creek, she studied old maps of the journey her main characters needed to take, she used online photographs from the Metropolitan Museum to help her visualize her character’s clothing, and she read old newspapers. She also referenced her forthcoming novel, Saving Savannah, which is set in 1919 in Washington DC and explores the turbulent forces of that time. The main character, Savannah, comes from a privileged family, but she is dissatisfied and wants to be an activist.

Tonya argued that history is critical to understanding our present selves and our current context. She said she likes to use the word Sankofa (a word in the Twi language of Ghana) that translates as “the way out is back through.” As Tonya explained, “The way out of shame, self hatred, and confusion is to go back through history and see how we got here. When you know history you can be horrified by things but you’re not shocked. We’ve been here before. You can start to see that this is a pattern.”

Tonya concluded her remarks with a call for us to use history in ways that helps our students have a broader perspective on the humanity and individuality of Black people and by extension all people. She invited the audience to participate in an activity called, “Picture a life.” Students go to The Library of Congress website, pick a photograph to download, and then have to study it and use prompts to write about the person in the photo: Who is this person? What does he or she want in life? What is this person prepared to do to achieve their goals? Tonya encouraged us to use exercises like this to evoke empathy and a sense of possibility including with our own students, “If children believe that you love them — you can teach them anything.” When you look at your students, “Picture that life and what that student can be."

Wednesday’s Opening Keynote: Tonya Bolden Finding Fiction in History: A Reflection on the Making of Inventing Victoria

and Inspiring Our Young People to Dig Deeper Into History

TODAY’S EVENTS:

Book Signing - with Tanya Bolden

12:00 P.M.

ConfraChorus Rehearsal

12:15-1:00 P.M.

Roundtable Discussion

12:15-1:00 P.M.

Strand B 1:30-3:00 P.M.

Strand C & Special Topic Sessions 3:30-5:00 P.M.

Variety Show Rehearsal

3:45-6:00 P.M.

Dinner 4:15-7:15 P.M.

Graduate Courses Information Meeting

5:30-6:15 P.M.

Evening Forums 7:30-8:30 P.M.

Team Trivia Night 9:00-10:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH, 2019 VOLUME 42 ISSUE 3

PAGE 2

Who’s on

Deck?

Lunchtime Roundtable Discussions 12:15-1:00 P.M. in the Rome Commons Dining Hall

“A Visit from Charles Darwin to Your Classroom” with Professor Kenneth Noll

Up tomorrow — Odyssey of the Mind with Sharon Cernogorsky and Opportunity for Grade 3 Teachers: Thinking Like a Mathematician with Stacy Hayden and Alexis Melendez

Thursday Morning’s Keynote: Brian Housand

InSight into What it Takes to Get to Mars from the Scientists and

Engineers That Will Take Us There

Graduate Courses Information Meeting Wednesday at 5:30 P.M. in WSRH 112

Come hear about how you can join an exceptional group of educators from all over the world to pursue graduate level coursework. Information about the Three Summers Graduate Program, online graduate courses, and the online Master’s degree will be shared.

WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH, 2019 VOLUME 42 ISSUE 3

PAGE 3

Mathematics Teacher

Position open for teaching high school mathematics to gifted middle school students in a small private school.  Must be able to teach any math between sixth grade level and high school honors calculus.  Passion, enthusiasm and flexibility required. Understanding of gifted and middle school age children necessary.  Understanding of

asynchronous development, social/ emotional needs of gifted children and ability to differentiate instruction is preferred. Certification not required. Send resume and cover letter to:  Lydia Gibb, Talcott Mountain Academy, 324 Montevideo Road, Avon, CT 06001 or by email tolgibb@tmsc.org.

***************** K-8 Gifted and Talented Teacher

The Norwalk Public Schools in Norwalk, CT, is seeking a certified, full-time K-8 Gifted and Talented teacher for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year. Candidates must have an understanding of SEM and gifted pedagogy, be able to differentiate, curriculum compact, co-teach, and facilitate school-wide enrichment. Qualified applicants should email their resume to Lori Leibowitz, District Coordinator of Gifted and Talented at leibowitzl@norwalkps.org

Social Event: Team Trivia Night

Rome Dining Hall, 9:00-10:30 P.M.

Think you have what it takes? Come on down to Team Trivia and see if you can win it all!

Don't already have a team but want to play? Come anyway! Everyone is welcome.

WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH, 2019 VOLUME 42 ISSUE 3

Calling all performers- beginners and “pros” alike! Sign up to perform a 2-5 minute individual or group skit, dance, and more for the Variety Show on Thursday, July 12th, at 8:30 P.M. in VDM. Sign up by 5:30 P.M. on Wednesday. Last chance for a rehearsal is today from 3:45-6:00 P.M. in VDM.

PAGE 4

Raffle Announcement! Have you completed your Renzulli Profiler?

All Confratute attendees with a completed Renzulli Profiler by noon on Thursday will be entered to win:

Grand Prize: A One-Year Site License including

2 “Days” (6 hours each) of online Professional Development with Jeannie Pascon, Director of PD & Client Support

Two 2nd Place Prizes: 1 “Day” (6 hours) of online PD with Jeannie Pascon

Four 3rd Place Prizes: Your Choice: I Love My Renzulli pin or

Kathryn Haydon’s Creativity is for Everybody

Don't forget to stop by Command Central to get your t-shirt and other memorabilia.