Where arts and literature collide
Remix, reimagine, and breathe new life into literature through arts-infused storytelling.
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OCTOMONO - One Page Menu
Reimagine what it means to read
Bring literature to lifeFrom July 7-11, Literacy Unbound will bring teachers and students together as creative collaborators to explore literature through drama and play, challenging traditional ideas of reading and writing.
This dynamic experience at Teachers College, Columbia University — centered around Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro -- removes barriers to literacy, making learning relevant, accessible, and impactful for everyone. |
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How You'll Engage & Evolve
Inventive educators and inquisitive high school students will collaborate with experts and artists to remix literature and co-create a live performance, blending creativity, curiosity, and shared expertise.
The Teacher Experience
MULTIMODAL EXPLORATION
Expand your idea of literacy instruction through hands-on, immersive experiences
Develop instructional skills that help students engage with complex, canonical, and challenging texts Incorporate multimodal strategies into your teaching to make literature more dynamic and accessible |
INSTRUCTIONAL INNOVATION
Explore how UDL, CRSE, and the Hallmarks of Advanced Literacy can support diverse learners
Craft an original unit of study for your classroom using project-based, arts-integrated approaches Infuse curiosity and creativity into your teaching, making literature more inclusive and engaging for students |
CREATIVE COLLABORATION
Engage in reflective reading and literature remix, stepping into this year's text alongside students
Learn how to foster a creative classroom culture that encourages students to engage deeply Develop the confidence to integrate collaborative, student-centered learning experiences into your classroom |
The Student Experience
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Experiment with artistic expression as you transform words on a page into a live, collaborative experience
Develop your unique voice by engaging in creative risk-taking alongside professional artists and educators Discover new ways to tell stories using a blend of literature, visual arts, and performance |
COLLEGE READINESS
Gain critical thinking skills that will support your academic journey beyond the institute
Enhance your ability to read with purpose, reflect deeply, and analyze effectively Acquire transferable skills in communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving |
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
Collaborate and build meaningful connections that extend beyond the institute
Diversify your perspective by working alongside a community of artists, educators, and fellow students Engage in shared creative work that fosters trust, communication, and teamwork |
What We're Remixing This Year
We'll use Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun to explore humanity in a changing world and discover all the ways in which stories can be unpacked and reimagined.
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“Humans are not easy to understand. They like to hide things, even from themselves."What does it mean to be human? To love? To connect? As generative AI becomes more powerful and pervasive, we wonder (some with enthusiasm, some with worry) about where we might be going — in schools, in the workplace, in society as a whole. Kazuo Ishiguro imagines one possible future, a world in which teenagers have Artificial Friends (AFs) as companions. When he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017, Ishiguro was cited as a writer "who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world." In Klara and the Sun, he continues to expose that abyss, calling into question what it means to be human and — perhaps inevitably — what it means to connect, even to love. So what happens when we put Klara and the Sun in conversation with historical texts, philosophical texts, contemporary fiction and poetry, current events? What do we learn? What new issues surface? This is what we will explore together.
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Institute Timeline
Mid-June - July 7Once you receive your materials, you can begin preparing for the institute independently by reading this year's text — Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro — and responding to the Invitations to Create we've designed for you.
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July 7-11Players will gather daily at Teachers College, Columbia University from 9am to 4pm to engage in arts-integrated remix, transmedia storytelling, and literary studies while collaborating on a live performance. After the performance, we'll reunite for closing reflections and teachers will attend a final professional development session. Throughout the institute, educators will also have dedicated time to explore how Literacy Unbound strategies can enhance their own classroom instruction.
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July 10The institute will culminate with a live performance at Teachers College, Columbia University from 7 - 8:30pm, which allows family and friends to witness this year's creation and speak with players about the creative process. Tickets for the performance will be released at a later date.
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KEY DATES
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Meet Your Facilitators
Our facilitators — alongside guest teaching artists — push the boundaries of traditional reading and writing, helping teachers craft innovative instruction and inspiring students to engage deeply with literature.
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Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley
Director, Literacy Unbound Adele is a lecturer in the English Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught English for grades 8-12 at the New York City Lab School, founding the Lab Theatre Company (LTC) in 2007. Prior to public school teaching, she received her M.F.A. in acting from the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program (PATP), where she taught undergraduate theatre. As an educator, she is interested in structuring classroom spaces as laboratories for imaginative exploration and creation.
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Dr. Jen Gowers
Associate Director, Literacy Unbound Jen has served in New York City public and public charter education for more than 18 years. She has expertise in managing principals, assistant superintendents, and network teams, teaching young people in elementary school through graduate school, facilitation, curriculum design, instruction, professional development and assessment practices, as well as experience building and sustaining schools and networks from PreK-12. Jen is passionate about working in solidarity to positively transform systems, to develop individual capacity and potential, and to make a brighter and better society.
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Testimonials & Highlights
Year after year, our Summer Institute energizes teachers and students alike, blending creativity, collaboration, and a multi-generational learning experience.
Explore past institutesEach institute is a unique experience, shaped by the participants, creative space, and the text we're exploring together.
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"Literacy Unbound has impacted me
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Submit Your Application
All applications are due by 11:59PM EST on March 28; payment ($200 for teachers; $100 for students) for selected applicants is due by April 18. There is no fee due at the time of applying.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page or contact us at [email protected].
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page or contact us at [email protected].
K-12 teachersAn ideal teacher candidate for our Summer Institute is a creative, open-minded K-12 educator eager to collaborate with students, ready to explore innovative approaches to teaching, and interested in designing arts-integrated, project-based units for their classroom.
PREVIEW APPLICATION QUESTIONS |
Students, grades 9-12An ideal student candidate for our Summer Institute will be in grades 9-12 in the fall of 2025, and possesses a curiosity for literature, has the desire to grow as a creator, and the ability to bring an open mind and collaborative spirit to our unique creative process.
PREVIEW APPLICATION QUESTIONS |
