Washington Language Arts Council

Mission of WALAC

It is the mission of the Washington Language Arts Council to improve the quality of Language Arts and English instruction in Washington State in public and private schools and colleges. The second function of the Council shall be to publicize significant advances in the field to promote research and to hold public discussions and programs on the teaching of the language arts.

To achieve these purposes, the Council shall:
1.   Define and aid in promoting appropriate preparation for teachers of the language arts
2.   Support and sponsor in-service programs for teachers of language arts
3.    Make known definitions, findings, and recommendations for teaching language arts through publications and/or meetings
4.   Work continuously toward application of those practices which will lead to excellence in the teaching of language arts
5.   Inform the membership of its programs in achieving these goals

To find out more, read the WALAC By-Laws.

An Affiliate of the NCTE

The National Council of Teachers of English is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. This mission statement was adopted in 1990:

"The Council promotes the development of literacy, the use of language to construct personal and public worlds and to achieve full participation in society, through the learning and teaching of English and the related arts and sciences of language.“

2012 WALAC Conference: The Art of the Common Core

October 19-20, 2012
University of Washington, Tacoma Campus
Keynote Speaker: Eileen Murphy Buckley, author of:
360 Degrees of Text: Using Poetry to Teach Close Reading and Powerful Writing
Registration coming in early June

Professional Development Opportunity

Reading/writing guru Kelly Gallagher is coming to Methow Valley School District for three days this summer (August 1-3). Gallagher's focus is on instructional practice as a means to motivate readers and writers in grades 4-12; he is widely hailed as one of the best in the field.

More info is available at http://kellygallagher.org/

Attendance for this opportunity is capped at 50; the cost is $500. This would be great training for classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and principals. For more information, please check out the workshop flyer:

Gallagher Flyer

Additional Information