Workshop title: Sandburg in the Classroom

Target educators: Junior high and high school teachers in language arts, history, and music

Proposed date: Friday, October 28, 2022

Location: Carl Sandburg Historical Site (313 East 3^rd St., Galesburg, Illinois)

TO REGISTER, PLEASE CONTACT:
Emily DuGranrut | Archivist
Galesburg Public Library
40 E. Simmons St.
Galesburg, IL 61401
309-343-6118
emily.dugranrut@galesburglibrary.org

Schedule

9:00 – 9:15      Participants arrive / Registration

9:15 – 10:15    Session 1: Sandburg’s World (literature and history)

10:15 – 10:30  Break

10:30 – 11:30 Session 2: Sandburg the Poet (literature)

11:30 – 12:30  Tour of the Sandburg Site and lunch provided

12:30 – 1:30    Session 3: Parallel Paths (music)

1:30 – 2:00      Reflection and evaluation

Rationale:

Carl Sandburg is a world-renowned poet, journalist, Lincoln biographer, historian, folk musician, essayist, and social reformer. The Sandburg in the Classroom workshop uses instructors and performers to provide secondary teachers with knowledge and materials that incorporate the rich Sandburg legacy in language arts, history, and music curricula.

This workshop will: provide an on-site professional learning experience for middle and high school educators at the Carl Sandburg Historical Site in Galesburg, Illinois. This Site includes the Sandburg birthplace – a small four-room bungalow where Sandburg spent his early life. The Site also includes a museum, bookstore, and visitors’ center which offer an abundance of sources for the study of Sandburg and his works.

On the grounds, beneath large oak and sycamore trees is a poetry walk: a path with Sandburg quotations carved into the steppingstones. The path encircles “Remembrance Rock,” a large stone under which are deposited Carl Sandburg’s ashes. Adjacent to the path is a marble and bronze sculpture from local artist Lonnie Stewart, depicting the iconic image of Sandburg.

Alignment to Learning Forward Standards:

This workshop will provide “professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students; uses a variety of sources and types of student, educator, and system data to plan, assess, and evaluate professional training.”

Workshop Specifics:

Session 1: Sandburg’s World (literature and history)

This session will focus on material compiled and written for The World of Carl Sandburg by Norman Corwin. Originally presented as a tribute, then a stage presentation, Carl Sandburg worked with Corwin to integrate poems, writings, musings, music, and stories by Sandburg. The session will also highlight some aspects of Sandburg’s Abraham Lincoln biography and the American Songbag that Sandburg compiled.

Kevin R. Roberts is a 20-year member of the English Department Faculty at Monmouth College, where he directs the composition and argument program and teaches classes ranging from composition to literature to grammar. Professor Roberts also teaches a senior capstone course at Monmouth College that revolves around the Main Street Program, a non-profit program that promotes business, history, and life in small towns throughout Illinois.

Session 2: Sandburg the Poet (literature)

This session will focus on the teaching of Sandburg’s poetry. Considering poems such as “Chicago,” “Work Gangs,” “Grass” and “Legal Midnight Hour,” we will test out a variety of approaches, including close reading and creative writing exercises. Participants should leave the workshop with strategies for: appraising Sandburg’s poetic means, situating his work in a larger literary context, and otherwise exciting students to engage his language in their own time & place.

Nicholas Regiacorte is the author of American Massif, published by Tupelo Press. His poems have appeared in 14 Hills, Copper Nickel, Mary, New American Writing, Descant, Bennington Review, Colorado Review, and elsewhere. He teaches in the English Department at Knox College, where he also serves as Director of the Program in Creative Writing.

Session 3: Parallel Paths (music)

This session will focus on a program created and entitled Parallel Paths, which combines original songs with Sandburg poems and tunes that he collected for his American Songbag book.

Chris Vallillo is an Illinois Arts Council presenter, singer, song writer, and roots musician from Macomb, Illinois. He has twice served as the Illinois State Scholars for the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit on roots music, “New Harmonies.” He scored and recorded the music for a series of videos for the documentary film, “Witness to History.” He has performed at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois, toured the Abraham Lincoln Heritage Area, and appeared on Tri-States Public Radio, and the WFMT Fine Arts Network. He is also the Artistic Director for the “Music of Lincoln’s America” concert series at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.