Comments on: Educating Everybody’s Child

By: rebekahfoster

rebekahfoster — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:52:09 +0000

Well, I am quite excited about our schedule change because now I have a chance to add in something new. We have each day 30 minutes added on to a class (and that changes every day) for Enrichment and Intervention. For the enrichment portion, I am excited to be adding in even more writing time and most importantly, every once in a while an Author’s chair. With the old schedule, I would never feel comofortable giving up instructional time for something students may or may not want to do; however, with enrichment, I can schedule in advance when we will have an author’s chair, thus hopefully enticing students to want to share. If they don’t, we can use the time to write. If my attempts aren’t successful, I don’t think I’ll feel too horribly as it is merely the 30 minutes of enrichment. That is what I am most excited about in terms of adding writing into my curriculum. Plus, it will give me a chance (force?) me to share my own writing with them. I think the strategy of physically seeing and hearing me as a writer will produce wonderful benefits. Thanks for listening/reading–Rebekah.

By: carolinehatcher

carolinehatcher — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:20:27 +0000

Hi Amy!
So, I am glad you asked that question, because honestly, being new to my school last year, I did little to no creative sacred writing, but now that I am part of NNWP SI, I have borrowed a lot. I have already started a place on my bulletins for what one of the books talked about as “Power Lines” where students will pick out what they deem quality or good writing quotes, phrases, etc and post them- these can be in their own writing, books, stories, even TV or movies and we’ll refer to them and analyze what the “author’s craft” (no pun intended, Amy) is. I also started author’s chair already this week and had at least one volunteer per class. So, in my new found “Goldberg Zen of Writing” (see my book choice), we are going to reach within us and shout out our stories!
How about you? I am sure you have awesome ideas…..what are your plans, and also, how do you fit it consistently into your schedule?

By: kwulfing

kwulfing — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:21:46 +0000

Thank you for the information on this book. I too have this book, but have yet to crack it open. Now that I know what it has to offer I am even more eager to take a peak at it. The writing strategy I plan to use is not actually within a classroom (since I am not in one), but instead I will be conducting on my own. I plan to use a daily journal, taking full advantage of sacred writing time. This is going to be very focused asking specific questions pertaining to my coaching position and the teachers I work with in my school. I anticipate using the question/dialogue I have written as a qualitative analysis for a research class I am taking. Therefore, this does have to be very focused, with one major theme of educational research. This will have to happen later in the evening after I get home, or if time provides at the end of my work day. I plan to use my laptop since I can barely read my own handwriting and will need to analyze what I have written later. If you have further suggestions of how I might be able to enhance this experience I would welcome them.