Implementation Paper

Greetings--This is the spot to post your implementation paper! The last weeks have been exciting reading posts. If you have problems, just email me a copy by April 30 when I will turn in grades.

Week 8 : THE End!

I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. This is your last week of formal assignments and working on the blog even though you do not have to turn your Implementation paper in until April 30. Be sure and note I have set up places for you to post your writing (memoir or other) and a sample of writing from one of your students here on the blog.

The topic this week for technology. I have posted two articles in your assignment section for you to consider. You have also been exposed to a bit of technology by taking an online virtual and creating a virtual tour. Some of you have started your own blogs. I am interested in how you see technology working positively in your classes.

• Consider: How do you use technology in your teaching? What is meaningful integration of technology?
• Reflect: What have you found valuable about Writing Matters? Post a reflection on your role as a writer in this online class.
  

Looking ahead: Next week you will be asked to fill out a formal evaluation for the class and post your Implementation Paper. I am hoping you all finish strong.

Share and discuss student writing samples

Post an anonymous piece of student writing here. You might chose a piece that you would like others to help you with or one that you would like others to read because it is so good. Also include the following:

• grade of student and any other helpful information
• an explanation of your criteria for the assignment
• the method you use(d) in evaluating the writing
• any special considerations or questions you would like others to comment on
  
• at least one comment on a piece of student one of your classmates has posted
  

Final Memoir, Poem or Group Book....

Share your final product here!

Unfortunately, you cannot attach a document so you will have to cut and paste it in the text box. I am looking forward to reading your work. Due date is Monday 4/20, but I will accept postings until Wednesday 4/22.

If you have emailed your final to me, please post it here as well so everyone can read it.

About the reading....Week 7 April 13-20

The discussions were particularly rich last week. Maybe you are all inspired by testing! Continued your conversations about the Six Traits,assessments, and grading practices. Consider posting a writing/project rubric, idea for approach to grading, or a successful strategy for responding to student work. Share what works for you.

Thinking ahead....We will save our online discussion of student work until next week. Be thinking of a piece of student writing you might like to share with the class for discussion or guidance. Next week, each of you will post a anonymous piece of student writing including an explanation of your criteria for the assignment and the method of evaluating that piece. If you have a rubric, include that.

Writng Continues: Week Seven April 13-19

Only two more weeks of class! Unbelievable. Where has the time gone?

No Ramblings again this week as you hone the drafts for your writing in your response groups. Use the response groups to help you bring your writing to the “finished” draft stage. Post your final draft on Monday April 20.

This week you will also begin writing the implementation paper, your last major assignment. This one page essay--approximately 400 words-- is simply a reflection on what you plan to do next year as a result of what you have been reading and writing in this class. Are there ways you can improve your teaching or assessment of writing? What have you learned about yourself as a writer? Have you learned more about any technology that you might find useful next year? Consider the text, readings, class discussions, assignments, and lessons shared by your classmates. I suggest you begin by a fastwrite/brainstorm “ Next year I will…” I am asking that you share that first draft or fastwrite of the implementation paper with your response group this week. Collaborate with your group in any way you wish.

The Implementation paper will be due after the class is finished any time before April 30. I must submit all grades to the University of Alaska on May 1.

Want to PUBLISH?

Class,I have copied an email from ASWC/NWP that might stimulate interest in some of you to publish some teacher centered writing. This is also a good source for thoughtful materials.

Dear NWP Chapter Leader,

As spring begins, we know that many members of your past summer
workshops must be interested in having some of their work published,
but perhaps their pieces don’t fit within the scope of traditional
education journals, and similarly, many of your participants in this
coming summer’s workshops will be in the same position. That is where
FacultyShack (www.FacultyShack.org) steps in. For seven years we have
published many pieces by NWP members and others looking for a venue
that matched their creativity.

To our knowledge, FacultyShack is still the only education journal of its
kind, publishing jargon-free, thoughtful ideas in creative formats written
by teachers from all areas of the education world. Now, we are branching out
into new territory. Recently, we unveiled an expanded version of our site
which includes blogging capabilities as well as social networking tools.

We believe that we are a perfect match for the work done by the
thousands of NWP participants each summer. In our effort to push
forward with our new plans to spread the word and recruit writers,
NWP members continue to top our list as our most desired participants
and suppliers of articles.

We are not a commercial site with huge funding, so we appreciate any
efforts you have already made or will make to let Writing Project
members know about the opportunity to submit articles to our magazine
and to join our blogging and social networking communities. On the
flip side, we believe that we provide a valuable service for the many
NWP members who have had the opportunity to publish their work in our
magazine, particularly for the authors whose pieces would be
considered too unconventional for other journals.

We are eager to continue the connection with NWP, so please encourage
the members of your Writing Project chapter to submit pieces, and
please visit the site and let us know what you think. If you like what
you see, help us in our outreach effort by letting others know about
us and by joining our community. It is totally free, we will only send
you notices of new issues, and we will never give your address to
anyone.


Thanks for your support and keep in touch,

Jonathan Maier
Editor
FacutlyShack Magazine
www.FacultyShack.org

Week 6: About the Reading and Personal Reflections

April 6-12
Your readings focus on assessment and grading this week. Here are a few guiding questions to start the conversation.

• Do state assessments reflect the achievements of your student?
  
• What assessment and/or grading procedures do you use?
• How can we differentiate between grades and assessments? What do you see as the value/shortcomings of each?
  
• What type reports, information on acievement or report cards do you share with parents and students?
• Do you use the Six Traits to teach or evaluate writing? If so, what do you find effective? What issues to you have with Six Traits?
  

Week Six April 6-12-Instead of Rambling.....

So what in the world are you going to do this week? Proceed with the writing! This week each of you will post your writing—a memoir or the alternative decided upon by your group—and you need to respond to what others in your group write. Plan to post your first draft by Thursday so that responses can be made by Sunday. It is important to be timely with these posts because others are depending upon you.You will post both drafts and responses on your group blog, google docs or via email, again depending upon what means your group established last week.

Being a good responder is not easy. For response, you need to offer specific comments on the writing that lets the writer know what you think is working well, what moves you, or what you relate to particularly. You should also make honest suggestions for improvement, clarification or extension. As a writer, you need to let your responders know what you want from them. For example, you might ask the group for help with your beginning or conclusion. Thus they become more empowered to comment on that section. The writer can then accept or ignore the suggestions, but at least, s/he has had other viewpoints and affirmations before completing the final draft which will be due the end of next week.

Status of the class ending Week Five beginning Week 6

I thought you might all appreciate a status of the class.

What an intersting week this has been on my end. My mailbox has been filled with well over two hundred emails:I quit counting. These emails outlined your progress in finding a space and getting started on the response group projects. The process has been so fascinating and varied. Some groups are using blogs, one google docs and one may be just using emails. Two groups are planning group projects while the other two are doing independent writing and getting response from other members. I am still confused on the final name selections so if one person from each group would respond to this email and let me know what your handle is and if I have all information correct, I would greatly appreciate it. Here are the specifics as I see them:

The Canniest Composers are working on creating text for Flotsom. They are using Google docs to communicate. The group includes Jeanne, Lance, Debbie, Darla, and Jan. Their organization so far has been outstanding.

The Poets are also working well together creating work modeled a bit after Silko’s “Sky.” They created a concordance of words to use in their personal writing. The group includes Dawn, Robert, Ruth, Molly and Shelly. I believe they do not have a site but are just using email for communications. Is that correct?

Creed, Janet, Sandy, Deanna, and Jerrilyn are using another blogspot. One has even posted a piece of writing for response. Be sure and check out the blog at aswcmemoirs.blogspot.com. Good work! I am not sure yet what name they have selected. (Update: Alaska Gems)

Another blog has been set up on Wordpress which gives us a chance to check out places to blog. AK Writers, Caitlin, Cortney, Kylie, EJ and Marlie, are in the group (sorry I am unsure of the name) that has akwritersblog.wordpress.com as a home. Be sure and take a look at their neat layout which looks like it will work well. (Update: Alaska Writers Blog)

I am pleased with every group and the coordination that has gone on. I have observed good initiative and leadership in every group. That said, unfortunately, some of you have not been actively involved. This process requires that each of you do your part. That will be doubly important next week when all of you will need to post and respond to others in a timely manner. This is a priority. If you have back assignments, leave them behind and work with your group.