Teaching Vonnegut

Welcome to Teaching Vonnegut 2023!

Thank you for your interest in our Teaching Vonnegut workshop series.

Teaching Vonnegut is an annual series of workshops exploring the life, works, and legacy of Kurt Vonnegut as well as the causes that he championed. Have an idea for a Teaching Vonnegut workshop? Our application period will open in January.

Teaching Vonnegut History

In 2011 Teaching Vonnegut began as a way for teachers to teach other teachers about the work of Kurt Vonnegut and create new lesson plans to enhance student engagement in middle school, high school, and college classrooms.

In 2021 KVML expanded Teaching Vonnegut to include workshops related to a diverse range of subjects like environmentalism, social justice, remote learning, dramatic arts, becoming an author, and navigating censorship and free speech conversations. And we are excited to continue that expansion in 2022.

2022 Teaching Vonnegut Workshops

2021 Write Like a Human Being

2021 Philanthropic Study

2021 Wit and Wisdom

Other workshops have included:

Everybody Doesn’t Like Something: Let’s Just Ban Everything
From Granfalloon to Karass: Leveraging Storytelling to Build Real Relationships
“In Nonsense is Strength” - Using Vonnegut to Understand Comic Books
Authoring Selves - When Plot Becomes Character

In 2022 our workshops were attended by more people than ever and continued our expansion of Teaching Vonnegut to explore subjects that resonate with Vonnegut’s own work. We had workshops that dealt with finding empowerment through storytelling, navigating free speech in the classroom, and even comic books! In 2023, we’re excited to proceed with the expansion of our workshops and participants. Teaching Vonnegut workshops are open and applicable to all!

I have had many, many professional developments in my career, but none as valuable and with more takeaways merit than Teaching Vonnegut. I am a librarian in a diverse Appalachian high school of 1,700 students, and this year I have been able to collaborate with teachers about Kurt Vonnegut lesson plans, thus enhancing readership. There has been a renewed excitement about his works, and I have gotten several of my colleagues interested in coming to Teaching Vonnegut next summer. This is certainly a program that should grow and grow.

– Workshop Attendee

Teaching Vonnegut Schedule & Registration

KVML will host eight (8) two-hour Zoom workshops spread across the afternoon and evening on scheduled days in July.

Workshops will be led by experts in their fields and Vonnegut scholars, and aim to enhance both public and educator knowledge on a variety of topics related to the works, interests and philosophy of Kurt Vonnegut. Workshops will also continue to help teachers build new, and enhance existing, educational curricula back at their home schools.

Teaching Vonnegut Workshops are inclusive, and open to anyone. There are no prerequisites. It is our goal to provide high-quality educational experiences to as many people as possible. So, whether you’re a teacher or just someone who has an interest in the subject matter, we welcome you at Teaching Vonnegut.

For more information on Teaching Vonnegut, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section below. If you have any other ideas or questions regarding future or existing Teaching Vonnegut workshops please email us at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect

Each Teaching Vonnegut workshop is two hours long and covers a unique topic related to the life, work and philosophy of Kurt Vonnegut. In 2022, all workshops will be conducted via Zoom. Workshops often include breakout room sessions, individual or group activities, and example lesson plans for those that wish to build new or augment existing curricula. Teaching Vonnegut is open and attended by all life-long learners, and there are no prerequisites for any workshop.

Certificate of Completion

Participants who complete Teaching Vonnegut workshops will receive a Teaching Vonnegut Certificate of Completion.

Eligibility

Teaching Vonnegut Workshops are inclusive, and open to anyone. Whether you are a teacher or just someone who has an interest in the subject matter, you are welcome at Teaching Vonnegut. It is our goal to provide high-quality, unique workshops to as many people as possible. There are no prerequisites for Teaching Vonnegut workshops.

Registration

When you are ready to register for one or more of the 2022 workshops please do so here.

Cost

Each 2022 Teaching Vonnegut workshop costs $27 per attendee. There are also discounted four (4)- and eight (8)-workshop packages available for $80 and $160, respectively, and a discounted student registration rate of $10 per workshop.

Anyone registering for Teaching Vonnegut 2022 will receive the 2022 So it Goes e-book when it is published later this year. All participants who complete a workshop will also receive a Certificate of Completion. Please see below for Additional KVML Benefits when you sign up for the 4- or 8-workshop packages!

Scholarships

We understand that the above costs may be prohibitive for some. If that is the case, please fill out the Scholarship Form, and KVML will carefully consider subsidizing your registration fees. It is our goal to make sure that these unique workshops are available to as many people as possible.

Additional Benefits

Anyone registering for Teaching Vonnegut 2022 will receive the 2022 So it Goes e-book when it is published later this year. All participants who complete a workshop will also receive a Certificate of Completion. Anyone signing up for at least 4 Teaching Vonnegut workshops will also receive 50% off KVML Membership in 2022. Anyone registering for all 8 workshops will receive free KVML Membership in 2022 and 50% off KVML Membership in 2023. Teaching Vonnegut membership discounts may only be applied to the “Friends of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library” and “Kurt’s Karass” membership tiers. Please visit kvml.org to see all member benefits.

About KVML

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization and proud partner and affiliate of the American Writers Museum. The KVML is also a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, and in 2022 we received the American Library Association’s first Literary Landmark designation in the state of Indiana. Renowned author, Kurt Vonnegut took an unflinching look at the world, tempered with a satirical eye and sardonic sense of humor. In honor of his wit and wisdom, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library champions the literary, artistic, and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist, teacher, and Indianapolis native, while advocating for free speech and common decency. The library and museum serve as a cultural and educational resource unique to the nation.