MEDIA ADVISORY Chris Van Allsburg Featured at Education Seminar on Creativity in the Classroom On Saturday, October 23, acclaimed children’s author Chris Van Allsburg will demonstrate how his book, The Polar Express, and other titles can help future and current NYU educators develop imagination and provoke discussion in the classroom.
NYU Faculty will lead sessions such as the “Polar Express Pajama Ride” where Steinhardt’s Education Professors Joe Rafter and Judith McVarish will don pajamas along with their students to show how to make storytelling engaging. Other sessions include “Bringing Mystery into the Classroom” and “Is Helping the Community Just a Dream?”
According to a recent National Education Association (NEA) poll, teachers voted Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express as their second favorite book to teach in the classroom after Charlotte’s Web by EB White. The Polar Express is due for release on November 10 as a feature film by Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Tom Hanks.
WHAT: Conference on “Integrating Chris Van Allsburg’s Books into the Classroom”
WHO: Hundreds of current and future educators, including teachers and librarians, are expected to participate in this full-day program that will focus on education through creativity. Van Allsburg will appear for a special presentation and book signing from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
WHEN: Saturday, October 23, 2004 Full program: 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Opening and introductions 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. First sessions 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Van Allsburg 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Second sessions 12:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. Conclusion
WHERE: New York University, King Juan Carlos I Center, 53 Washington Square South
For more information or to confirm attendance, contact Jennifer Zwiebel, NYU’s Office of Public Affairs, Steinhardt School of Education at (212) 998-6797 or jennifer.zwiebel@nyu.edu.