Areas of Focus

Future Teacher Narrative/Vignette: A traditional essay, a video, a voicethread, or other creative presentation that shares what led you into the teaching profession. Images, audio files, and supportive written text may be woven into the piece. Maximum length: 3 pages or 3 minutes. 

 

Outstanding ELA Publication (graduate students and in-service teachers): An article or chapter (single author) published in 2022-2023 on any topic pertaining to English Language Arts teaching or research. Submit the entire publication as a PDF, and provide citation information if not visible.

 

Classroom Spotlight: (in-service teachers) A short article highlighting a lesson, unit plan, or a day in your classroom. This is an opportunity to share your best practices in English Language Arts. Maximum length: 5 pages.

 

Fiction: A short story, comic, film, or animated work. Maximum length: 5 pages or 5 minutes

 

Poetry: A poem, spoken word poetry video, or song with lyrics. Maximum length: 3 pages or 3 minutes

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Writers may submit up to one entry each year. All elements of any submission must be the person’s original work. Published work is not eligible for this contest, with the exception of Outstanding ELA Publication entries. 

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Winners of the contest will be notified by August 20, 2023. Prizes include 2023 AETA Conference registration and a year of membership in the AETA organization. Contest winners will have the option to share their pieces and mentor fellow teacher-writers during a special session at the conference. Winners may also be invited to submit their work for publication in the Arizona English Teachers Journal. Prizes are not transferable. The contest committee reserves the right to make changes to the contest. All committee decisions are final.