The 2003 Language Arts Festival, jointly sponsored by the Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (ACTELA) and the English Department of the University of Central Arkansas, is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2003. It will be held in Old Main on the Campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
The festival is open to any Arkansas accredited elementary, middle, junior high, or high school that serves students in grades 5,6,7,8, and/or 9. On-site competition is divided into two levels: Level I for grades 5,6, and 7; Level II for grades 8 and 9. Participation will be limited to the first 50 teams returning an entry form. Only one team of six students for each level per school within a school district may compete. Participating schools will remit a registration fee of $25.00 with the registration form to help defray festival expenses.
The ACTELA Festival provides an excellent individual academic competition in narrative, poetry, and expository writing, in book cover design and presentation, and in dramatic reading. The afternoon is devoted to a pairs’ competition designed to test students’ knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, and usage and mechanics. All participating students will receive a certificate of participation, and winners of each division will receive awards.
This year ACTELA offers a new competition for students at both levels. Students at either level may compete in Dramatic Reading. Students should choose the reading material in consultation with their classroom teacher. Texts may be published works or original work by the student. Students may read or recite the material. Presentations should express understanding and synthesis of the text. Dramatic Readings should last between 3 and 7 minutes. Winners of this competition will receive awards with winners in other categories. The top two winners in each level will present their readings before the entire Festival during the Awards Ceremony.
Lunch can be purchased in the Student Center near the Festival site.
Festival Regulations
1. The ACTELA Language Arts Festival is a statewide event open to any Arkansas accredited school for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
2. The Festival is divided into two competition levels:
Level I consisting of eight events for grades 5, 6,and 7; Level II consisting of eight events for grades 8 and 9.
3. Although any qualified school may enter, competition is limited to the first 50 teams (one team for each level per school) returning the entry form with the registration fee.
4. Each school within a school district may enter one team of six students per each competition level. The team members may be all the same grade level or from all grades within the competition level as long as they all attend the same school. The school should be careful to assign students to the appropriate level.
5. A student may enter one morning event as an individual and one afternoon event as a member of a team.
6. Students from each school MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY TWO TEACHERS who can facilitate and judge events. Teams not accompanied by two teachers can be disqualified. Teachers may also attend workshops.
7. Participants must bring pens and loose-leaf paper for competitions. Participants competing in Book Cover must also bring a completed book cover for one of the books on the book list. Participants competing in Dramatic Reading should bring a copy of their text for the judges.
8. Entry form and fee must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2003, and sent to Dr. Linda Arnold, Mashburn Hall 226, UCA, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR 72035. For additional information, you may email Linda Arnold at lindaa@mail.uca.edu.
9. Registration forms are attached. Forms may also be obtained from the ACTELA table at the Arkansas Conference on Teaching in Little Rock on November 7 & 8, 2002, or by contacting Linda Arnold at the address above.
10. Special Attraction: Professional development sessions for teachers will be offered during both the afternoon and morning:
The Hero in Native American Literature by Dr. Conrad Shoemaker
Facilitating Choice in Young Adult Fiction by Dr. Jeff Whittingham
Music and Young Adult Literature by Ms. Laura Gravette