Reading Journey

Student computers were collected a little early this year, so our final assignment for Language Arts needed to be analog. Below is what we asked students to do and a picture of some of the results. Imagine that the books that you've read independently this year have been part of a reading journey. Perhaps you …

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Oh, the Places You(r Writing)’ll Go

Several years ago I wrote an article for English Journal on disability and being a classroom teacher, "Doubly Vulnerable: The Paradox of Disability and Teaching." (I'm not aware of a full text of the article freely accessible online, but I'm happy to share it, if you contact me.) Writing the article was itself an act of vulnerability, …

Leaving and Taking

As part of this morning's improv activity, we were invited to think about what we would take away from the UNCC National Writing Project Summer Institute and what we would leave. I decided to use those categories for my reflection on SI. What I'll Leave The feeling that if I don't do it it won't …

Writing at Ikea

"I know we don't need it, but it's still pretty cool." -IKEA shopper I'm wondering about the reactions of the shoppers as we sit here in a living room set writing. Do they think we're store employees? Paid actors? Squatters? Performance artists? I imagine writing in this space as a quiet protest against the necessity …

Writing in History Class

Over the first days at the Summer Institute, I've been thinking about the differences between teaching Language Arts and History, specifically how teaching those different subjects has affected how I teach. In some ways I felt more freedom as a Language Arts teacher, because I felt like I wasn't really sure what I was doing …

Writing Timeline

Today at the Summer Institute we made timelines to record significant events/relationships where writing played a role. Magazines to cut pictures out of were provided, but I decided to make paper cutouts. I got kinda into it and continued working on it during lunch to give it a title. I was kinda pleased with how …

Disciplines

In response to a recent post, a former colleague wrote the following. Rather than just respond via email, I thought I'd post his thoughts (with his permission) and my response here. One line especially piqued my interest -- I’m not ready to argue for the elimination of discipline-specific teaching, but I do think that the …

Evidence of Struggle

Yesterday, Jim Burke began his presentation at NCTE with this slide. I thought- Thanks, Jim. That's exactly what I need, more pressure when it comes to writing. If writing is a public performance of my intelligence, then what does it say for all the times that the page is filled with garbage, or even worse, blank?  …

Honoring the Writing Journey- NCTE 2011

Looking forward to our presentation tomorrow at NCTE. Below is the info for the session and my slides. Click on the title of other panelists presentations for more info. Handout with presenter contact info and links Session: I.22 - 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm 11/19/2011 Format: Panel Room: Chicago Hilton/Waldorf Room, Third Floor Topic: Writing …

Reflecting on the Fly

It's been almost a month since I've blogged. One of the frustrations of this year is that I've felt that I've had so little time to reflect. Reflection is one of those activities whose absence one doesn't necessarily feel immediately. It's like sliding by on too little sleep; you can do it for a bit, …