NATE Newsletters
Sharing good practice, NATE Conference 2011: Richard Eaton for NATE/BLNATE's newsletters are sent to members at the beginning of each month and also available to anyone interested in the teaching of English - sign up on the left to be added to the list.
In addition, members receive Resource Watch with details of new materials from NATE and others. If you don't receive newsletters, please log into the Members' Area of this site and check that we have your current email address.
Read our latest newsletter, and previous issues, here.
NATE e-news 9: e-readers, All Talkers - and Christmas shoppers
In this issue:
This issue covers, as you'd expect from NATE, a wide range of topics about teaching and learning in English, from talk to e-readers, film to shopping. We've an appeal from the previous Chair of NATE to take part in a short survey about e-readers in education, news of notable speakers at Conference 2012, offers of free workshops on spoken English, screenwriter Ronan Bennett at the NATE/BFI Conference - and suggestions for Christmas shopping.
We had hoped by now to bring you news about the revamped National Curriculum, but at present there's nothing to report. 'It looks as though someone's not handed in their homework on time,' I said to NATE's Director. 'I think it's more of a case of the homework being handed in but given back to the students to come up with the right answer,' was Ian's reply.
'But we did what you asked, sir!'
'I'm sorry, I think you must have misunderstood. Now go back and do it again.'
'But, sir...'
'And hurry up with it, too!'
Whatever the reason, you can be sure we'll keep members informed on the NATE website.
Join us in York for a spectacular Conference Photo from Wikimedia Commons
This man would like to hear what you think about these.... Photo: Richard Eaton for NATE
Free spoken English CPD events in York and Kendal from NATE and BT.
Best wishes for the end of term!
If you've missed an earlier edition of our newsletter, you can find them all online here.
NATE Conference 2012 news: poetry from Motion and more
The Conference programme is now taking shape. Keynote speakers will include the former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion, Ron Carter, Professor of Modern English Language at Nottingham and NATE's own Simon Wrigley, former Chair and co-founder of NATE's exciting National Writing Project. You'll find a flier about Conference with your membership renewal letter, arriving soon (more below) and, of course, on the NATE site.
The Professor requests your views on the use of e-readers
Andy Goodwyn, NATE Past Chair, is Head of the Institute of Education at the University of Reading - where better to carry out a survey of reading?
Dear Colleagues
As a friend of NATE we know you care very much about young people and reading and, of course, your own reading. We have definitely entered a new era with the introduction of e-reading devices such as The Kindle; such devices have now been around long enough to become relatively common. We hear mixed reactions in society to this innovation and think it is time we found out how you are feeling about this certainly exciting development. We know many teachers are personal users and some are making use of these devices in school.
We would be really delighted if you could take 10 minutes to share your views by completing our online survey, here. The survey will stay live until December 5th.
We would be very grateful if you could copy this information to your colleagues. There are no gimmicky prizes and we are not promoting any particular device - we just know you are professionals and committed English teachers whose opinion is important. NATE is hosting this survey because of its importance but we are conducting the research as independent academic researchers at The University of Reading; we have full ethical clearance and all participation is anonymous. Our pilot survey has already produced some really interesting results and comments.
If you would:
- Rather receive a paper copy
- Prefer to send some comments rather than complete a survey
- Prefer to talk to us over the phone
Writing Film: LATE/BFI Conference, Saturday 10th December
The latest in LATE's popular moving image conferences is on 'Writing Film' at the BFI Southbank, London. Screenwriter Ronan Bennett (Hackney-based Channel 4 drama Top Boy, TV drama Hidden, the series 10 Days to War, Public Enemies, Face and Lucky Break) will be the closing speaker. Bookings are starting to come in so please act now if you want to get the workshop of your choice. For the programme and how to book, please visit the LATE site.
All Talk up North
Our last e-newsletter had a feature on BT's new All Talk resources. Since then, members in the North should have received an email about two free CPD workshops. Of course teachers from elsewhere will be most welcome if they wish to see for themselves how grand it is up North. Click the links for more about the All Talk days in Kendal on Saturday 3rd December and in York on Thursday 8th December.
Support NATE with your Christmas shopping
Yes, you can help NATE even when shopping. Apart from Ian's suggestion, below, that NATE membership makes an ideal present, and even apart from the many fine publications in our own shop, any time you shop on the Amazon site you can help the Association by using our Amazon link. It's simple, takes just a click and costs you nothing. Go on, bookmark this page now!
NATE subscriptions 2011 - our Director writes
NATE members will soon be receiving a letter regarding subscription renewals for 2012 [Yes - mine came this morning! Tom]. Next year's rates reflect a very small increase in the annual fee; we'd like to point out that this will be the first rise in six years. Rates are now £99 p.a. for Institutions, £80 for Individuals and £40 for Unwaged/Students and at this price a NATE membership still offers great value. Primary, Associate and Library rates remain the same (£45 and £60 respectively).
The vast majority of Individual members now pay by Direct Debit - from January, this will increase from £6 to £6.50 a month, reflecting a £2 discount over the year. In the present climate NATE, as a membership-based charity, needs you... and we'd like to think, with Local Authority support being stripped whilst change continues apace, that you might benefit from NATE too.
Many members are not enjoying the full benefits of their subscriptions, such as accessing the Members' Area with free downloadable copies of NATE Collections (£12.50 each to non-members!). Should you wish to be informed or reminded of NATE's membership benefits, please click here. And if you're in receipt of this as a non-member, please give yourself an early Christmas present and join NATE!
Have a great end of term and a happy Christmas!How to get in touch
If you want to get in touch about this newsletter, please email Tom Rank; for all other NATE matters, email NATE Office, call 0114 255 5419 or find more contacts here.
We try to keep newsletters relevant and hope you find the information here useful. Please feel free to forward this issue to anyone you think might find NATE and its work of interest. The Members' area on the NATE site allows you to change the email address we use for you. Log in with your membership number (you can find it on your address label for NATE's magazines). If you have problems, email info@nate.org.uk, including your name (and membership number if you know it) or call us on 0114 255 5419.
If you no longer wish to receive emails from NATE, simply remove your email address from your online membership record. Please note that we shall then be unable to communicate with you about NATE events. NATE will not share your email address with anyone else.