Dear Fellow ATEGers:

Happy Holidays to all.

I know that this is a busy time for all of you, but I hope you'll find time
in the next three weeks to come up with a proposal for next year's NCTE
conference.  It will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 16-21.
Proposals are due January 21.  There were a number of panels this year with
the G word in the title, so I think there's a good chance to continue the
trend.

As you know, there are several formats:

*Individual sessions: 15- or 20-minute talks that the program folks will
combine with two or three others;
*Panel presentations:  75-minute sessions featuring 4 to6 panelists with
short (5-7 minute) position statements on a particular issue, followed by
30-40 minutes of discussion.
*Classroom demonstations:  75 minute sessions designed to showcase the
pedagogical practces and handouts of 3-6 presenters.
*Also Conversations and Poster sessions.
AND
*WORKSHOPS: one-day programs occurring Monday or Tuesday following the
convention weekend.  (No more than four leaders, including the chair,
generally limited to 60 persons.)  The workshop guidelines state that
proposals that highlight convention topics of emphasis are encouraged.  The
2000 convention theme is "Teaching Matters."  That ought to be right down
our grammar alley!

If any of you are interested, why not post that information--and perhaps
you can find a partner to work with on a panel program or a workshop.

If you don't hae a "Call for Program Proposal," drop a note to NCTE at
www.ncte.org  or write to them at 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL
61801-1096 and ask for a copy.

I'm convinced that the NCTE program is our best bet for demonstrating to
the powers-that-be that there's a place for grammar in the curriculum.
Please think seriously about proposing a program.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy and bug-free Y2K.

Martha Kolln