Heart of Texas Writing Project

Self-described as " (UT Org)- The Heart of Texas Writing Project- UT Austin   What is The Heart of Texas Writing Project? The Heart of Texas Writing Project is a site of the National Writing Project promoted by the United States Government to respond to the literacy education needs of the country.  This project seeks to improve the teaching and learning of reading, writing and 21st century literacy skills by providing in-service professional development to schools and districts, hosting one day workshops for teachers throughout the school year, hosting an intensive four week summer institute, sponsoring child and teen summer writing camps, and maintaining a dedicated group of literacy professionals in the community.  Teachers also meet in different study groups around the Austin area to discuss student work and books they have read.  The workshops and summer institute have two main focuses: firstly, to learn how to better teach reading and writing and secondly, to work on your own reading and writing.  The Heart of Texas Writing Project mainly works with Austin Independent School District  (AISD), Round Rock ISD, Taylor ISD, Leander ISD, Lake Travis ISD, and Del Valle ISD. Ultimate Goal The mission of The Heart of Texas Writing Project is to improve the teaching and student experience in the areas of literacy, reading and writing in the greater Austin area.  The Heart of Texas Writing Project also believes that teachers learn best from other teachers and utilize this belief in facilitating all of their professional development pieces. " Read more at http://www.heartoftexaswritingproject.org/index.html

Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Conservancy Video and Calendar

The Cattlemen'sTexas Longhorn Conservancy, headquartered over in Gonzales, a place where Spanish cattle have roamed for a couple of centuries or better, is pretty serious about their self-assigned task: "Founded in 2005 as a not-for-profit corporation and bestowed the tax exempt status of a 501(c)3 public charity, the mission of the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Conservancy is to engage in scientific and historical research, education and other charitable purposes associated with Texas Longhorn cattle. Imported to the Western Hemisphere more than five hundred years ago by the earliest Spanish explorers, the Texas Longhorn played a significant role in the history of the Americas and became recognized as North America's original bovine. Nearly cross-bred into extinction following the great Western trail drives, the Texas Longhorn was acknowledged as a national treasure by the U.S. Congress, which in 1927 established a protected herd on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Conservancy recognizes the value of this national treasure in its original phenotype (appearance) and genotype (genetics) and is intended to provide ongoing resources toward research and education pertaining to this naturally evolved, historic breed." The calendar hangs on the wall with its pre-punched hole. When opened it's 11 x 17.  squarely.  Of course, each month has a special color photograph of and quotation about the breed - and by that the CTLC means the unique breed that emerged from the early Spanish stock and formed the basis of millions of cattle first run up the great cattle trails after the Civil War.  They weed out the cross-breeds.  Only $15. The downloadable educational video is about 15 minutes long and is professionally done.  History, modern challenges, and efforts by themselves and others are spotlighted.  It's available online or in a disk form.   The website describes it as:  "This 15-minute educational video was designed for use in public schools as introduction into Texas History, Social Studies and Science curricula as well as for use in Museums, Historic Sites, Libraries, State Parks and other public learning centers. A Longhorn Educational DVD will be mailed to anyone making a donation to the Conservancy or joining as a member."  Enrique Guerra, current president and one of the CTLC founders, Maudeen Marks, part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Fayette Yates, longtime rancher, and others are interviewed and they speak well for those who wish to raise, perpetuate, and care for our official state large mammal, the true TEXAS LONGHORN. Read more at http://www.texaslonghornconservancy.org/

God and Texas

The Texian Christian Writers organization has a collection of books demonstrating their self-description: "We, the Texian Christian Writers, do covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ and one another to become Christorians -- dedicated to remembering, researching, recording, and restoring the God of History to the people of Texas and the world.  We have many members who qualify as professionals and many who are interested in serving God in ministry to children through the history of Texas. If you are interested in joining our group, here is what we ask: 1 You are a practicing Christian who holds Jesus as Lord of your life. 2 You have an interest in the Christian history of Texas. We have 2 conferences each year and at these conferences you may join our group. Also, you may join by sharing your interest with our group via email."      The TCW has several biographies for the 7th grade market, coloring books on early Texians and a volume entitled The Texas God Created.    See more at http://www.godandtexas.org/

... y no se lo trago la tierra - Tomás Rivera

2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Tomás Rivera's, "... y no se lo trago la tierra / ... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him" receipt of the Quinto Sol Literary Prize in 1970.  La Bloga's  Jesse Tijerina offers a retrorspective entitled "Un tragito para Tomas" on this now classic identity search of a young Tejano. Tijerina's review begins: "Prior to Tomas Rivera's groundbreaking novel, searching for a literary work with the ability to portray the life of migrant farmworkers with such precision and haunting reality would have been time and energy hard spent. While the experience's of Rivera's characters survive between 1945 and 1955, their stories of heartbreak and joy along the migrant stream differ only in decade as familiar situations and circumstances continue to cultivate in the fields of fruits and vegetables toiled by today's migrant farworker." Do continue reading the commmentary at http://labloga.blogspot.com/2009/12/un-tragito-para-tomas.html

House Slave Next Door

The Houston City Hall Examiner comments in an articleew entitled "Houston's controversial true news story on slavery is out in a book" on the volume House Slave Next Door about child trafficking and slavery in the Houston and Sugarland areas, particularly the case of Celestina Ifeacho. One of the review's paragraph's clearly understates the volume's contents "This book is not a biography, but simply, a compilation of  investigations and story pieces published in the International Guardian on a controversial alleged child-trafficking  victim who eventually ended up in immigration jail somewhere in the North side of town, awaiting deportation  amidst sloppy bureaucracy over official classification of her status as a victim of slavery." Read more of the review at http://www.examiner.com/x-32530-Houston-City-Hall-Examiner~y2009m12d28-Houstons-Controversial-True-Live-News-Story-on-Slavery-is-Out-in-a-Book To read this book, please visit https://www.createspace.com/3417904