Classes & Workshops with
Liz deBeer
Throughout her teaching career, Liz found joy in helping her students discover their writing voice. She loved turning teens onto new books and enjoyed working with student teachers, as well as offering professional development workshops for language arts teachers in the Monmouth County area.
In addition to teaching workshops on Flash Fiction and Banned Books, Liz currently offers limited presentations and mini writing workshops for students, and professional development for language arts teachers.
In addition to teaching workshops on Flash Fiction and Banned Books, Liz currently offers limited presentations and mini writing workshops for students, and professional development for language arts teachers.
Flash Fiction Workshops/Classes- Summer 2024
Online - Register With Link Below
Interested in writing more with fewer words? Join Liz and Project Write Now for both a single workshop and a class series in the summer of 2024. More information here: projectwritenow.org/writers-institute/product/flash-fiction-writing-more-with-fewer-words/
Online - Register With Link Below
Interested in writing more with fewer words? Join Liz and Project Write Now for both a single workshop and a class series in the summer of 2024. More information here: projectwritenow.org/writers-institute/product/flash-fiction-writing-more-with-fewer-words/
Presentations for High School or College Students Include:
1. Writing Shorts: A Writing Workshop on Flash Fiction & Non-Fiction
That blank page is waiting for our stories, but maybe it’s just a shorty, like a 100-word true story to submit to Readers’ Digest, or a tweet-length flash fiction piece. Writing fewer words is fun for both readers and writers in this hands-on workshop.
2. Discussing Banned Books
Let's discuss banned literature, including famous titles such as Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter series, and even some Dr. Seuss books.
Questions will include: What is worthy literature? Why are some books controversial? What do these controversies say about American society? Who should read these controversial books?
3. Transcendentalism: Is it Still Relevant?
Does anyone today see life’s answers in a bug gnawing through a table? Can we still find peace in nature? Reflecting on excerpts or poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau, we consider whether the concepts of the 19th century American philosophy Transcendentalism apply to 21st century America.
4. Exploring Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
The Dalai Lama has said, “When it comes to personal happiness there is a lot that we as individuals can do.” Using selections from his and Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World as a jumping off point, we explore finding joy in our own lives. Selected poems, short essays and quotes add to the relaxing and enjoyable discussion.
Professional Development for Language Arts Teachers:
1. Social Justice in the Language Arts Classroom
Censorship —of books and words—is flaring up around the country. In this workshop we discuss what we can include in our classrooms and the development of empathy via reading texts. Even in classrooms where some texts are predetermined, excerpts and poems can provide a vehicle to rich discussion about virtually any topic. Classroom-ready “do-nows” and some reading suggestions are provided.
2. Grab Their Attention! Motivating Students to Care about the Classics
Some of the oldest books in our classroom shelves even smell bad. So how do we motivate students to read classics? This workshop challenges teachers to consider research such as transactional theory and schema as a means to introduce literature to elicit interest and curiosity- even fun! Multiple activities will be modeled, including scenarios and questionnaires, news articles and picture books as methods to introduce and remain engaged with classics.
3. Placating Poetry Phobia
Do your students have a Poetry Phobia, rolling their eyes at Poetry Month? This workshop offers ways to pop poetry into even a rigid curriculum as well as methods that engage even the biggest haters. After framing poetry instruction in academic theory, both contemporary and classic poems will be explored and ready-to-use classroom examples will be shared.
1. Writing Shorts: A Writing Workshop on Flash Fiction & Non-Fiction
That blank page is waiting for our stories, but maybe it’s just a shorty, like a 100-word true story to submit to Readers’ Digest, or a tweet-length flash fiction piece. Writing fewer words is fun for both readers and writers in this hands-on workshop.
2. Discussing Banned Books
Let's discuss banned literature, including famous titles such as Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter series, and even some Dr. Seuss books.
Questions will include: What is worthy literature? Why are some books controversial? What do these controversies say about American society? Who should read these controversial books?
3. Transcendentalism: Is it Still Relevant?
Does anyone today see life’s answers in a bug gnawing through a table? Can we still find peace in nature? Reflecting on excerpts or poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau, we consider whether the concepts of the 19th century American philosophy Transcendentalism apply to 21st century America.
4. Exploring Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
The Dalai Lama has said, “When it comes to personal happiness there is a lot that we as individuals can do.” Using selections from his and Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World as a jumping off point, we explore finding joy in our own lives. Selected poems, short essays and quotes add to the relaxing and enjoyable discussion.
Professional Development for Language Arts Teachers:
1. Social Justice in the Language Arts Classroom
Censorship —of books and words—is flaring up around the country. In this workshop we discuss what we can include in our classrooms and the development of empathy via reading texts. Even in classrooms where some texts are predetermined, excerpts and poems can provide a vehicle to rich discussion about virtually any topic. Classroom-ready “do-nows” and some reading suggestions are provided.
2. Grab Their Attention! Motivating Students to Care about the Classics
Some of the oldest books in our classroom shelves even smell bad. So how do we motivate students to read classics? This workshop challenges teachers to consider research such as transactional theory and schema as a means to introduce literature to elicit interest and curiosity- even fun! Multiple activities will be modeled, including scenarios and questionnaires, news articles and picture books as methods to introduce and remain engaged with classics.
3. Placating Poetry Phobia
Do your students have a Poetry Phobia, rolling their eyes at Poetry Month? This workshop offers ways to pop poetry into even a rigid curriculum as well as methods that engage even the biggest haters. After framing poetry instruction in academic theory, both contemporary and classic poems will be explored and ready-to-use classroom examples will be shared.