Exciting News! I will be presenting with my principal Jane Shartzer at the NESA Fall Leadership Conference in Katmandu, Nepal Oct. 21-23. Check out info about our presentation below.
One of the steps in the Teacher’s College workshop process is called “Active Engagement.” This phase of the minilesson is one I think deserves more detailed thought and understanding by teachers new to workshop teaching. First of all, active engagement comes after the connection and the teaching of the strategy. It is the moment in the lesson when students actually try out what you’ve just taught. Sounds simple enough right? However, I think it is important to note how this step allows you to do 2 things:
Many teachers new to this approach are confused by the notion that they will teach a minilesson, but then the students might not be working on what was just taught when they head off for independent practice. The idea instead should be (on most days-of course there are exceptions) you teach a strategy, everyone tries it during the active engagement phase, then those who are ready to use the strategy do so, when they move away to write. As you conference around the room you can ask specific students to use the strategy if you believe it will lift the level of their writing.
Active engagement is an important part of a strong minilesson. Take the time to cultive it in your classroom.
I’m reading the new Ralph Fletcher book Pyrotechnics On the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. My plan was to be part of the Stenhouse Ning group and work through this book with other educators and Ralph himself. (See my post about that here.) However, 2 days into the work, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the constant emails about posts and comments to posts on the Ning. It was just too much for me! So instead, I’m leisurely reading the book on my own. After finishing chapter 2, I’m convinced there is something BIG here for my work with teachers in the Fall… TALK.
More and more I’m learning how oral language development is the most important indicator of reading and writing success. Students who are strong orally are stronger writers and stronger readers. It makes sense, but this is something I don’t think I’ve really put emphasis on in my classrooms or even with my own daughter.
This doesn’t mean I’m advocating just letting children talk and talk and talk. Instead my emphasis would be on being a better listener to that talk. I plan to focus on engaging a child into moving further in her talk while practicing listening better to what is said.
Certainly there are direct links to conferring here, but really I’m thinking about the classroom environment. We need classrooms where children are taught how to talk; then given the space and time to do it. From KG1 (our PK4) to grade 5, developing talkers is an important step we need to take.
At the institute there was of course talk about Lucy’s new Reading Units of Study books for grades 3-5. I’ve just purchased a set of the units for my school. To start off, I don’t think we will be using these books on a day-to-day basis as we’ve done with the writing, but rather, I see us using this set as a tool to help grow our current units.
One of my jobs as a coach is to help teachers see that we are never finished with our workshops or our planning. Part of being a workshop teacher is being reflective and responsive. Year to year, we will need to alter our teaching to meet the needs of the students in our classrooms. I’m not talking about large scale changes to our units or curriculum each year, but rather small, targeted changes to minilessons, teacher demonstrations, celebrations, small group work and conferences. The changes need to be based on bringing each child one step further along. The changes are quite simply, differentiation.
Lucy talks about the importance of reading workshop on a video on the Heineman website. If you are new to workshop, Teachers College ideas, or just need a little inspiration, check it out. (Top right-hand corner.)
Ok, here is my confession. I’ve spent 3 days getting moved into our summer home, and 2 more days doing ANYTHING but blogging. This isn’t because I am burnt out and don’t want to think about the TCRWP Institute. It also has nothing to do with just wanting to be on vacation. My problem is simple… my notes from the conference are a disaster! It is going to take me weeks to weed through and interrupret them. Isn’t that just… sad?
Of course, this makes me think of the teachers I work with and the kids I teach. Learning how to organize information in the “information age” is essential.
Clearly, I need a tune up on this skill myself. Thinking back to the conference, there was so much going on, from Keynotes, to large and small group sessions, to conversations with my colleagues from ACS to deep-thinking discussions with my professional-twin Sarah (from Shanghai). I started off each morning typing; then ran out of battery and moved into the notebook we were given. I tried to store information in my head, I wrote notes on napkins at lunch and even on the back of the final certificate we were given to show completion of the institute.
Not knowing where to start or how exatly to being, I’m just going to dive in and make sense of it all.
Pared down, thoughtful posts full of useful information are sure to follow.
This time of year is so difficult for international school teachers and students as many of us are moving far, far away. I had a little first grade friend come in today, asking me to sign his goodbye book. When I asked him whether or not he would return to ACS next year, he told me yes, “but not forever.” When you are a TCK- Third Culture Kid- life is always temporary. Teachers in international schools need to be aware of the TCK experience and help students transition in and out of our classrooms and countries. Some of the easiest and most important ways to do this include:
Years ago, I wrote and self-published a picture book about the TCK experience. (Available on Amazon.) I wanted to be able to read something to my students which was written about them. I hope to blog more about how teachers can reach and teach TCKs next year on literacybytes.com.
Comments welcome!
I’m a big fan of Ralph Fletcher’s books, both his fiction and his professional writing books for teachers. So it was exciting today when I received the Stenhouse Newslinks (bi-weekly news via email subscription from the publisher) with an opportunity to participate in an online book club to discuss Ralph’s new book: Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft that Sparks Writing. The book club will offer four opportunities to comment/discuss the book from July 12- August 2.
What a fun way to do some professional reading and collaborating this summer! ACS teachers attending TCRWP with me this June- I’m certain we can pick up a copy of this book while we are there.
For more inforamtion and to register, check out the Stenhouse Ning here.
Isn’t it amazing to think that there is a whole world of people out there writing, posting, commenting and in general sharing through blogs on the internet?!
Today I received an email from one of my favorite writing blogs, Two Writing Teachers. They asked if I would be interested in writing a post as a “guest blogger” on their blog this summer. How fun!
I know these ladies just finished their first book for Stenhouse. If you haven’t already, check out Two Writing Teachers.
Today I checked out the blog thxthxthx: a thank you note a day which features a series of thank you notes written to “everything and everyone”. What a simple, easy way to generate shared writing opportunities in your classroom!
Here is my first “thx” writing piece:
I miss teaching.
There are many, many days when working with adults is so much less… fun.
Especially here at the end of the year, when the students are showing such growth and achievement. They are excited and proud, capable and ready for what is next. I used to love this time of year. Sure they had spring fever and ALL would benefit from an extra recess (or two). But the excitement! The buzz in classrooms as kids become right-before-your-eyes what you’ve been working so hard on helping them become all year.
It really is magical.
