Raising Autodidacts: Helping Students Write Their Ideas Authentically

Abraham Lincoln crafted the 272 elegant words of the “Gettysburg Address.” With only a year of schooling, how did he accomplish this? As an autodidact, he took ownership of his education. He read voraciously, wrote courageously. He listened, observed, cared. With 272 words, he brought healing to the grieving, and bridged the rift between North and South. In the 21st Century, we can be that teacher who inspires an Abe Lincoln attitude toward learning. Learning and practicing bundles of ELA skills leads to competency. Let’s talk ELA Benchmarks!

Presented by

Clare Bonn
Teacher/Speaker
Blackbird and Company

Clare Bonn graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Sociology. She has worked for 22 years with school age children in childcare, recreational classes and classroom learning. She taught at Waterhouse Guild for 3 years utilizing Blackbird & Company materials. She believes every child’s voice should be heard, unique gifts valued, and learning differences embraced. Clare has three differently-abled children who all learned to tap into their giftedness through writing using Blackbird & Company curriculum. You can find Clare most of the time in her garden or reading a good book.