The 2005 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 19, 2005. It will be held in the Old Main Buildilng and Irby Hall 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. Two teams of six students for each level per school within a school district may compete. Participating schools will remit a registration fee of $25.00 per team 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.
Two years ago, ACTELA offered a new competition for students at both levels, the Dramatic Reading event. Students 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 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 returning the entry form with the registration fee.
4. Each school within a school district may enter two teams 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 to read.
8. Entry form and fee must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2005, and sent to Dr. Linda Arnold, Irby Hall 317A, UCA, 201 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR 72035. For additional information, you may email Linda Arnold at lindaa@uca.edu.
9. Registration forms are attached. Forms may also be obtained from Linda Arnold at the address above.
10. Special Attraction: A professional development session for teachers will be offered during the morning session by UCA English Department Faculty.