This year summer vacation has a completely different feel. Instead of the escape activities of past years, this summer I have been immersing myself in education. You are aware that I finished up the Multiple Intelligences class that week after school was out. Since then, I have been attending the Oregon Writing Project. We discussed this project at my last conference.
The Oregon Writing Project (OWP) is affiliated with the National Writing Project that includes 160 projects in 43 states and abroad. Based on the California Berkeley/Bay Area model, this program has achieved national recognition for improving students' writing by increasing teachers' knowledge and instructional skills for using writing to increase learning in all subjects. It certainly has increased my knowledge and skills.
Our Oregon Writing Project is meeting at the University of Oregon at the CATE (Center for Advanced Technology in Education) center. Here we are able to explore the theme "Writing in the Internet Era". Each participant has a laptop computer and net access. We are a mostly paperless class. One of the purposes of the project is for teachers to do their own writing to rediscover the importance and maintain positive attitudes toward writing instruction and their own capabilities. We write a paper weekly and use peer editing and revision to help in our own writing. The final draft goes into the instructor's folder for final review. Other participants have the opportunity to view work also. Using computers in this way increases my desire to have an on-line computer lab available for scheduling by classes, other than the computer class.
We have had interesting outside speakers that have presented great strategies or ideas for instruction--combining sentences, poetry, and cyberschool. We take notes and file them in our computer. Each participant has presented a teaching unit also. These have been extremely practical and helpful for me. They have included strategies that can apply across curriculum. We have also been reviewing books on a variety of writing topics. This has given me the motivation to look at some more ideas and strategies.
I would like to meet with you before school starts to talk about how I might share some of this information and excitement with the staff in our building. I am thinking that I will be able to incorporate many ideas in the internet training that is being scheduled. Also, I am wondering if myself and maybe someone else that has writing ideas might use a building in-service day to have the staff participate in some writing experiences. Perhaps we could also connect with CIM requirements in our review of the writing. Writing should be a total staff concern if we are going to increase student ability and meet the CIM requirements.
I will be back in The Dalles after July 18. I will get in touch after you return in August and then we could discuss the logistics.
Sincerely,
Anita
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Letter to a colleague.
July 12,1997
Dear Susan,
Having a great time! Wish you were here! Literally, I wish you were here so we could work on some these ideas together. The Oregon Writing Project is meeting at the Center for Electronic Learning so we may use their internet server, and borrow their PowerBooks. It has been a great, almost paperless experience. You know how intimidated I was with the idea of sharing my own writing, but it has been a very positive experience. People are sensitive, yet very, very helpful. I have learned tons about my own writing and how to improve. Of course, that gives me confidence as to how to help students.
I have some ideas to share about teaching writing. We have discussed this so often that I wish you were here to share some of my ideas. Of course, you know that I will fill you in as soon as I see you. We listened to Bill Strong speak on Combining Sentences. Here I have some good suggestions and think we will want to pursue some ideas for our building. We also heard Ingrid Wendt talk about teaching poetry. You probably remember how I have been building ideas and how Brenda was able to start my classes in that area last year. I bought Ingrid's book and she gave us a handout that will be helpful. I am happy to share if you are interested. Another speaker was Tom Layton with Cyberschool. It is very intriguing to see what is available on-line for students. I am talking about credit classes for high schoolers. Tom also helped us make a web page using Clarisworks Home Page. I am eager now to see if Zip has our home page set up and if we will each be able to set up a page for our class. You would love this. You and I might think about writing enrichment units to put on our school site. This could be fun. Again--more later.
Each participant has presented an idea for writing instruction. These have covered a variety of areas. More ideas! Each presentation has been excellent, helpful, and fun. It seems as if these have been tailored to me. I have been thinking about doing a news flyer for our school next year. One presentation was on writing news. Another person shared ideas on debating controversial issues. This could work well with our tolerance, etc. segment of Character Ed. Others were using visuals for prompts, scientific observation, writing and art, and more to be presented. A first grade teacher did a writer's workshop presentation that really stimulated me in that area.
We are also doing book reviews which have been a great opportunity to read the kind of material that I have in the "sometime I will get to this" stack. Nat Teich, our instructor, has provided a library of interesting materials. I have finished my required reviews and am doing recreational reading now. (Wouldn't you love to have me in your class?) I am currently reading Nancy Atwell's In The Middle, Writing, Reading, and Learning with Adolescents. I feel like a sponge. I hope that I will be able to wipe some of this information around and not dry up with the enthusiasm caked inside somewhere.
I hope we can get together when I get back. Maybe I will have high tea for the CMS ladies. That would be fun. I will check with you later.
Enthusiastically yours,
Anita
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Summer 1997
Dear Seventh Grader,
Welcome to Language Arts 7! Is it hard to believe that you are already in the Seventh Grade? Two more years and you go to HIGH SCHOOL. Doesn't it seem as if you just started 5th grade? That was only two years ago.
I like to think of this class as a Language Arts class because we will be looking at a variety of language activities. My goal is that you will use words through reading, writing, speaking that will increase your knowledge, and your skills at communicating what you know.
I will be a better teacher this year. I have been going to school and have been increasing my knowledge and instructional skills for teaching language arts. I have a new understanding of what it is like to sit for hours in a classroom setting. I also have gotten a glimpse of what kind of activities can cause a student to forget how much they are sitting and want to be involved in the learning.
We have been learning how the computer may be used to enhance learning and I wish we had more access to computers. I will try to work where I can to see that you get some time using the computer as individuals, or that we as a class will get some projection of the computer screen. There is so much to learn in this world.
The one thing that has made my schooling this summer so fantastic is the cooperation of the students. We have all been considerate of each other, interested in each other, willing to help each other, and willing to share with each other. We are committed to helping each other become better writers, and teachers. I am asking you to commit to each other. If everyone in this room will be polite to others, allow others to share without negative comments or gossip later, will try to understand and accept each other, then you too will be able to become better writers and people.
I am looking forward to knowing you and learning with you.
Mrs.Donivan