Past Institutes

Teaching the Literatures of Texas (2024 In-Person Institute)

On June 11–14, 2024, Humanities Texas partnered with The University of Texas at San Antonio to hold a professional development institute for English language arts (ELA) teachers focusing on how Texas writers engage the state’s history and culture.

Curriculum

The institute offered insight into how Texas writers engage the state’s history, culture, and identity in poetry, prose, young adult fiction, and popular culture. Presentations also addressed how to develop students’ critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.

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

Faculty

Coleman Hutchison (The University of Texas at Austin) served as faculty director for the institute. Faculty for the institute included Sonya Alemán and John Phillip Santos of The University of Texas at San Antonio, Cordelia E. Barrera (Texas Tech University), David Oscar Bowles and Emmy Pérez of The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Amy Earhart (Texas A&M University), John Morán González and Bret Anthony Johnston of The University of Texas at Austin, William Jensen (Texas State University), Alexandra van de Kamp (Gemini Ink), Naomi Shihab Nye (Texas State University), and Richard Z. Santos (Austin Bat Cave).

Location and Schedule

The institute took place at The University of Texas at San Antonio from June 11-14, 2024. The schedule is available  here.

Sponsors

The institute was made possible with major funding from the State of Texas, with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.