Audio Entry

Entering the Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project this summer was exciting in spite of some hesitations I was feeling. I had heard so much about the project from some of my colleagues and I had one dear friend who encouraged me to fill out my application. I felt so exhilarated when I first received the news that I had been accepted into the project. I was told by my principal that not everyone is accepted into the writing project and I felt special. I also was feeling a tremendous sense of obligation to produce nothing less than excellence within the Institute. I decided that my work would be stellar quality.  It is so difficult to find words to describe the debt of gratitude I feel toward Jen, Amy, Jessie, Dawn and my fellows in the 2010 Institute. I have developed friendships and have valued the professional relationships that we have cultivated. I have learned so much from my colleagues n regard to writing teaching strategies  and I now even have a confidence that I am a writer. I cannot begin to tell you how exhilarating and fulfilled I feel. I owe KMWP so much and I am so grateful to have found this professional organization of teachers, where teachers teach teachers!

Writing from the heart, sharing from the heart

Today was a great day in the institute! We first heard a song or lyrics written by Pam and set to the tune of “It’s Been a Hard Days Night”. How fun this morning log was and we learned that Pam can sing, as well as write!

We had our writing groups first thing when we first came into the classroom and  we also shared pieces we had been writing with our colleagues. I shared my piece entitled Providence. I loved the piece and I will continue working on it. I wrote this memoir in third person and the piece left the reader with some mystery and intrigue. All the blanks were not filled in and all the information was not given, leaving one with the element of supposition. I love writing, even though I still contend that I am not the best writer in the world. I definitely have more skills to work with now that I am nearing the end of my work with the Summer Institute. Thank you, KMWP!

Language is…

Language is like a tree,

Branching out in so many different directions,

Rooted in a common theme

With matters that relate to the heart.

Language is like a river

Poetic, descriptive, and fluid

Communicating hopes, dreams, and desires

Through every curve and bend.

Language is like a building,

Concrete, sturdy, and something of which we can depend.

It stands tall and erect,

And its foundation is not the sand.

Tremendous Tuesday in the Institute

Tremendous Tuesday

Tremendous Tuesday

Book Sharing Without Delay,

Helen anxiously awaits to test

Grammar Rules, what do you say?

Important or not

The gurus debate,

Helen’s position is absolute without gray.

Teach the grammatical rules,

It could affect your last day!

Marvelous Monday Memories at KMWP

Today has been full of endless possibilities for our remaining learning at the Institute. This is our last week of class and we still have so much more to learn.

Becky had us explore the possibility of incorporating music into our writing in our classrooms. She proposed the idea of having students choose their favorite singing group and have them write an argument letter to the Hall of Fame in Cleveland to have this particular artist inducted into the Hall of Fame. I could see a great opportunity to transfer this idea into my first grade classroom with the creation of an advertisement poster by my students, as a persuasive writing activity. It has been so great how every demo has provided me with ideas I can use in my own classroom. I really enjoyed the presentation.

The book club on our children’s books was really engaging and I loved the book I read a book by Pam Munoz Ryan entitled Riding Freedom. So many points in history were revealed in this book, in addition to societal challenges such as Women’s Rights, bullying, and that ever present strife for freedom or the maintenance of freedoms realized. I could use this book in my first grade classroom, but it would need to be read slowly and with much discussion.

Signing up for the online book club was really great. I am anxious to read so many books this summer and I will begin my summer readings after my work is complete in the institute this week.

As you can see, today was another profitable day in the institute!

June 25, Friday Reflections

I found the demos very valuable!

Kristy and Jessica did a beautiful job on their demo, as they communicated the direct link there is between reading picture books and writing. I was so delighted to have received information on the various books and how a writing lesson could be incorporated into the reading of the book or after the book has been read or studied how writing could proceed. This is very applicable for my teaching situation, but it was adaptable for  high school teachers and college professors, as well. As a matter of fact, some of our fellows who are high school teachers or college professors shared how using picture books as an activating strategy in their classroom is a great way to get students thinking about topics to write. Who would have ever thought that picture books would be so useful in grades preschool through freshman college English classes? I surely would not have had that thought! Thank you, Jessica and Kristy!

Marla gave me great ideas for creating a classroom atmosphere where the students can feel save taking a position with the Four Corner Discussion Activity presented. Learning how to write by taking the side of an argument is challenging for adults, so I am sure it is more challenging for 10th graders. And then taking it a step further by having the students support their position with research truly prepares them for infamous college research papers! Adapting this to my classroom would involve assistance from parents and the teacher. My students could write a persuasive paper, but then researching on the topic for 3 supporting facts would transpire with the assistance of the teacher or a parent. Our younger students still need adult supervision when researching a topic.  Marla gave great ideas for generating discussion of a topic or position. Thank you, Marla!

Janis’s presentation on teaching poetry gave me wonderful ideas and strategies for getting my students started with ideas for poetry writing. I really enjoyed listening to the audio poems by Valerie Bloom. The engaging poetry writing that we did with the word web was the most applicable idea that I can use with my first graders. I will be able to use this idea very easily with my young poets. Additionally, I was pleased with the quick poem that I wrote about my husband. I plan to refine it and then print it on a card for him for our anniversary on July 8th. Thank you, Janis!

Our day at the Institute was rich, with much research, teaching strategies, and activities  shared that will be applicable and easily implemented for every fellow. I have learned so much!

Presentation of Teacher Demo- Kathleen and Nini

Nini and I presented today our teacher demo and we received great feedback from our fellows on ideas to implement script writing in our primary grade classrooms or ideas that our fellows had for adapting our presentation to their classrooms. Listed below are some comments:

Becky said, “I could have freshman composition students write dialogue between two pop culture figures who are normally not related or write dialogues about two sides of an issue.

Tiffany said, “I’m going to adapt your ideas by having my seniors study Shakespeare and then write their own play. Thank you.”

Tommy said, ” My students could write short plays with a rhetorical purpose in mind. Or they could write dialogues in a more philosophical vein, like Plato did.”

Shaun said, ” Your demo activity taught many aspects of the writing process without the labels.”

Kristen said, “For 5th grade, students can take a previous play (like one given in class) and add to it like we did for your presentation. Awesome idea!”

Dolleen said, “Students could be asked to insert what a character might say. In the hook you read, there is plenty of room for more voices.”

I will take these comments and post them on a folder for my personal reference. I will reflect on these ideas and extensions, as I prepare my students for writing dialogue and script in my first grade classroom. Thank you so very much for your comments!