My plan of action in the fall is Master's work and lots of it. However, now that I've been through the demo and seen everyone else's, the little voice of responsibility in my head is telling me maybe NOW would be a good time to start putting lessons together. With all this experience to lean on now, I can put things together and bounce them off people, find the holes so I can fill them. It's very comforting to have that, a network that can tell me "Oh, yeah, I tried that and...".
As far as my own writing, I'm going to keep at it. The biggest difference now is the fact that I'm saving drafts for two reasons. First, I've discovered that I often fool myself into thinking new is definitely better, which is probably a bit of an overreaction to my previous falling in love with the first draft. The more important thing to me is having those drafts so that I can show students that I may be good at this, but it's work. I'm really allowing myself to be "wrong" in my writing now and I want students to understand that is part of the process.
The demo taught me to trust my instincts. I had experience that I wasn't sure was universal, but research supported me. I need to rely on this more but remain open to finding a new perspective.
As yet, I can't say I'm going to be collecting student samples, but I'm going to look for stuff that shows the students' development.
My experience here and the demos have really got me thinking about how important building a community is. I had a few moments in my demo where I leaned on the community here to keep things lighthearted and moving well. We support each other and I want my students to feel that in the classroom. To this end, I definitely see the community building techniques, like Dana, Rachel, and Casey's demos, making it into the classroom.
For obvious reasons, I'm going to be picking over the information on NWP's website that's related to the New Teacher Initiatives. I think Debbie would be great working on something like this. She shares her experience freely and she's always got a story from her classes to back up her reasoning.
I'm going to miss all of you.
Chris
Friday, July 11, 2008
Action Plan of Genesis
What is your plan of action in the fall?
My first goal is to consistently have students writing informally on a daily basis (well, at least on the days I have them in class). I know that has really helped me get things going in the writing realm. Another goal is facilitate more collaborative learning/community building in my classes. I would also like to try to add some of the innovative ideas for getting students more connected with academic writing. Additionally I plan on encouraging better portfolio keeping methods with the goals of encouraging revision and reflection.
What’s your plan for your own writing?
I plan to continue to write on a daily basis in some form or another. I would like to develop and submit at least one piece of writing for publication. I may be interested in presenting at a conference and/or
How will your classroom look differently daily? Weekly? Monthly?
On the daily basis, I anticipate having more variety in our activities (since I'll now have only 90 minutes classes it seems especially essential). I plan on having students do more things together (writing groups, collaborative assignments, etc.) at least once a week. Now and then I intend for students to do more self-and peer-evaluation/reflection. There are a lot of things I plan on shifting, but time is tight so...
Discuss the process of creating your demo and what you discovered through that process. How will you incorporate your demo in the fall?
During the preparation for my demo I spent time connecting low-tech methods to blog research, brainstorming other possible activities, and agonizing over what to use for writing prompts. I plan to continue to use circular journaling and paper wads and extending the idea of Post-It posters. Ideally I could get some grants to actually use the methods to transition to cyberspace.
What kinds of student writing samples can you collect?
Paper wads, more circular journal examples, and posters. I'm sure I'll have some other things developed from other people's demos as well.
How has your writing project experience affected your plan?
In general I am far more motivated to be innovative in the classroom. You all have inspired me in a time when I most needed it! I think that due to the OWP experience I have many new ideas and extensions to better work toward the goals for my classes.
How will you use other demonstrations? Please list several demos that you saw that you will integrate into your classroom.
I don't think there is a single demo that I don't want to steal something from. I am definitely going to integrate many of the fellows' ideas into the things I already do to make the projects better for my students. Some that come to mind first:
My first goal is to consistently have students writing informally on a daily basis (well, at least on the days I have them in class). I know that has really helped me get things going in the writing realm. Another goal is facilitate more collaborative learning/community building in my classes. I would also like to try to add some of the innovative ideas for getting students more connected with academic writing. Additionally I plan on encouraging better portfolio keeping methods with the goals of encouraging revision and reflection.
What’s your plan for your own writing?
I plan to continue to write on a daily basis in some form or another. I would like to develop and submit at least one piece of writing for publication. I may be interested in presenting at a conference and/or
How will your classroom look differently daily? Weekly? Monthly?
On the daily basis, I anticipate having more variety in our activities (since I'll now have only 90 minutes classes it seems especially essential). I plan on having students do more things together (writing groups, collaborative assignments, etc.) at least once a week. Now and then I intend for students to do more self-and peer-evaluation/reflection. There are a lot of things I plan on shifting, but time is tight so...
Discuss the process of creating your demo and what you discovered through that process. How will you incorporate your demo in the fall?
During the preparation for my demo I spent time connecting low-tech methods to blog research, brainstorming other possible activities, and agonizing over what to use for writing prompts. I plan to continue to use circular journaling and paper wads and extending the idea of Post-It posters. Ideally I could get some grants to actually use the methods to transition to cyberspace.
What kinds of student writing samples can you collect?
Paper wads, more circular journal examples, and posters. I'm sure I'll have some other things developed from other people's demos as well.
How has your writing project experience affected your plan?
In general I am far more motivated to be innovative in the classroom. You all have inspired me in a time when I most needed it! I think that due to the OWP experience I have many new ideas and extensions to better work toward the goals for my classes.
How will you use other demonstrations? Please list several demos that you saw that you will integrate into your classroom.
I don't think there is a single demo that I don't want to steal something from. I am definitely going to integrate many of the fellows' ideas into the things I already do to make the projects better for my students. Some that come to mind first:
- blending some of the ideas/activities from Casey's and Dana's demos as an opening unit
- using Stacy's focus on the American Dream as an overarching concept in my American Lit class
- Keri's small writing groups and Joe's response methods/forms
- Melissa's and Kim P.'s ideas on making research awesome
- Chris's Parallel Poetry
- Kim W.'s Writing Territories as a portfolio opener
- Sarah's and Sharolette's Reading/Writing Connection ideas/prompts
- Kathy's and Elise's innovative grammar (probably in mini-lessons)
- Episodic fiction seems like one Nelle of an idea (thanks, Joshua)
- Making films more useful with hints from Debbie
- Faith's index card categorizing
- Michelle's figurative language sorting poster
Based on our brief conversations and your new knowledge of OWP programs, what areas interest you? Who would you nominate for certain areas?
I am interested in participating with many of the events for the year (the writing retreat, Write to Learn). I like the idea of working on professional development and integrating technology (I mean, real technology - not pen and paper). Jenner seems to be a technology guru in progress. Elise seems interested in developing professional writing - perhaps the retreat is just the spot for her to be this October.
Summer Institute 2008 Action Plan
At the September 27, 2008, Renewal, you will briefly present on your action plan--your new learning integrated into your classroom in the fall. Please bring student work and the assignment or idea that you integrated into your classroom based on your experiences in the OWP Summer Institute. Please create a "New Post" to respond to the questions below. In the tag line, "Labels for this post," type "Action Plan 2008."
What is your plan of action in the fall?
What’s your plan for your own writing?
How will your classroom look differently daily? Weekly? Monthly?
Discuss the process of creating your demo and what you discovered through that process. How will you incorporate your demo in the fall?
What kinds of student writing samples can you collect?
How has your writing project experience affected your plan?
How will you use other demonstrations? Please list several demos that you saw that you will integrate into your classroom.
Based on our brief conversations and your new knowledge of OWP programs, what areas interest you? Who would you nominate for certain areas?
Take a look at the NWP website for information on NWP special programs such as the NWP Professional Writing Retreat and others, or take a look at the OWP web page for a list of some of our programs.
What is your plan of action in the fall?
What’s your plan for your own writing?
How will your classroom look differently daily? Weekly? Monthly?
Discuss the process of creating your demo and what you discovered through that process. How will you incorporate your demo in the fall?
What kinds of student writing samples can you collect?
How has your writing project experience affected your plan?
How will you use other demonstrations? Please list several demos that you saw that you will integrate into your classroom.
Based on our brief conversations and your new knowledge of OWP programs, what areas interest you? Who would you nominate for certain areas?
Take a look at the NWP website for information on NWP special programs such as the NWP Professional Writing Retreat and others, or take a look at the OWP web page for a list of some of our programs.
Help us help you!
Good morning, Fellows! It was so great to be a part of your SI yesterday, and I am so honored to be getting to know you and figuring out what we can build together as I support you as your Inservice Coordinator. You are about to enter into the exciting world of being a Teacher Consultant for the Ozarks Writing Project! What an overwhelming and thrilling endeavor; I remember this feeling well. In fact, I still feel these emotions when presented with the opportunities and possibilities presented to me from my experience at SI 2007.
From what you heard yesterday regarding Summer Institute, Advanced Institute, Writing Retreats, Youth Writing Camps, Saturday Seminars, Literacy Academy, Write to Learn, Embedded Institutes, and the other learning and networking opportunities, I am here to help you realize your potential through the Ozarks Writing Project. Did anything you have heard about so far excite your creativity and create a desire to know more information?
Thank you, it will be my pleasure to utilize your research and work as inservice opportunities are developed through the OWP. If you hear of any professional development or inservice needs in your building or school district, please contact me right away and you can help me organize a partnership with your building! These partnerships will allow you to share your demos with teachers and administrators all across southern Missouri! These partnerships will also create opportunities to develop projects in your building or district about which you feel passionately, just like the Youth Writing Camp I developed in my district. So, what information you give me here will "help me help you"!
Respectfully,
Liz Salchow
Inservice Coordinator, OWP
From what you heard yesterday regarding Summer Institute, Advanced Institute, Writing Retreats, Youth Writing Camps, Saturday Seminars, Literacy Academy, Write to Learn, Embedded Institutes, and the other learning and networking opportunities, I am here to help you realize your potential through the Ozarks Writing Project. Did anything you have heard about so far excite your creativity and create a desire to know more information?
Thank you, it will be my pleasure to utilize your research and work as inservice opportunities are developed through the OWP. If you hear of any professional development or inservice needs in your building or school district, please contact me right away and you can help me organize a partnership with your building! These partnerships will allow you to share your demos with teachers and administrators all across southern Missouri! These partnerships will also create opportunities to develop projects in your building or district about which you feel passionately, just like the Youth Writing Camp I developed in my district. So, what information you give me here will "help me help you"!
Respectfully,
Liz Salchow
Inservice Coordinator, OWP
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Blogging the Summer Institute: An Invitation
I have some exciting news! The National Writing Project asked the Ozarks Writing Project to present at one of its Annual Meeting sessions in San Antonio. The session will be called Blogging the Summer Institute. Our blogging has been noticed, and we, along with sites in Maya West Writing Project in Puerto Rico and the Hudson Valley Writing Project in New York will present during the session. When I get a link to their blogs, I'll put them on here.Here's the rough draft description of the session we'll be involved in:
Why blog your Summer Institute? In this session, participants will have an opportunity to hear from sites that have taken the step of making aspects of their Summer Institute public via weblogs. The session facilitators will discuss the reasons why their sites chose to take this step, how they incorporated the use of a blog into their summer institutes, and what they learned from that work. Participants will then engage in conversations to identify the ways in which their sites might find blogging useful as a tool for publishing, communication and the development of community.
As many of you know, I've been thinking about blogging in the context of education for awhile, but we have many committed bloggers at our site. We like our blogs, and I think this invitation to present is quite an honor!
Does anyone have any thoughts about the blog that they would like for us to share at the Annual Meeting? Please comment.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
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