Let's continue our journey together...

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Institute for Professional Writing. Our last session was a fabulous wrap-up with special guest, Anne Whitney. I hope everyone will keep us posted on the writing process - especially the part where you submit your work!

Thank you

Tuesday, December 7th was such a refreshing & relaxing day. Sara is right - we should have a retreat every Tuesday! Thank you Kristy and all my fellow Advance Institute participants.

I am in the process of finishing up my online writing class: Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff by Christina Katz http://christinakatz.com/

It is a course designed for moms (non-moms like me can also take it!). Basically, it is designed for people who are busy. The instructor, Christina Katz, is encouraging and gives you deadlines. I am thinking of sending 2 pieces of writing to different magazines. In addition, I am going to take another course called Personal Essays that Get Published by another instructor in January. As I get to know who I am as a writer I realize more and more that I need structure and therefore truly benefit from taking classes to keep me on track.

Check out the site if you get a chance! Lynn Caggiano actually recommended the class to me at the Summer Retreat. We had a lovely conversation when everyone left on Sunday. I am grateful for her recommendation.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Calls for Manuscripts

If you're wondering who might be interested in your professional article, here is a quick-start list of possibilities:

English Journal

Voices from the Middle

Teachers & Writers Collaborative

Scholastic's Instructor

NJEA

Working Together in Response Groups/Writing Time

Despite some traffic delays, Session 2 of the Professional Writing Institute at Rutgers University is off to a great start! My two main objectives for participants in today's session are to 1. allow time for working together in response groups, and 2. provide a big block of time designated for independent writing.

Before the groups started to give feedback today, we took some time to establish some "dos" and "don'ts" of Response Group Protocol. Here's what participants had to say:

DO - Listen/Comment on what's working/Offer advice, guidance, examples if the writer is open to it/Establish "what's on the table" with a Writer's Memo/Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal comfort cues/Use "I" statements/Focus on content

DON'T - Focus on mechanics with a first draft/Talk when receiving feedback/Judge/Cry :(

There are three response groups in the room right now. The energy is palpable. Teacher-writers are listening and sharing their progress since the last session.

I decided to give back the index cards that participants composed at Session 1. I figured the index cards would serve as reminders of our original intentions on that first day. I even hear one participant say, "I was trying to think of a title for my article... and here it is on this card from last time!" Perfect.

Changing Course or Chickening Out?

So, I've been at this professional writing thing for a month now, and I've written thousands of words for my article, but now I'm feeling like my idea is not going the way I thought it would. I feel like I'm not really bringing anything new to the table in terms of my approach to teaching writing (which seemed really revolutionary when I started it last year!). Now, I'm feeling like I have a better idea (similar to my first idea, but not similar enough to use any of what I've already written). My dilemma is this: am I really and truly finding that my original idea was just not meaty enough yet for an article and, thus, rightfully and intelligently changing course, or am I just chickening out and retreating into something new to avoid pushing through the tough stuff? I've seen students abandon essay after essay in favor of a different, more promising topic because they feel that each previous topic was "not working." Nine times out of ten, starting over is a bad idea because it's not the topic; it's the writer. What to do from here? Keep pushing the original idea, or store it away for future use and pursue the new?

"Words, Words, Words."

During the last NWP Saturday meeting, a few of us were sharing ways to use Wordle. Here is a user friendly PowerPoint from Slideshare that I found helpful. Please feel free to comment on how you use Wordle in your classroom.

Do our students need us (and their parents) too much?

It has recently come up in my department meetings (special education) that perhaps our department is doing TOO much to support our students. Are our students at a disadvantage because we over-help them? Are students given enough opportunities to make mistakes without the safety net of their parents and teachers? I am thinking of looking into this topic as I examine the workings of my building's special education department. But first, I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts.....