Author Residency Writer's Workshop
Description
- Geared for 1st – 8th grades.
- Group size of approx. 20 – 25 students.
- Ongoing 30 - 40 minute visits over several weeks of a unit.
- NY Capital Region Area only.
- Fees depend on number of sessions. Minimum 4 sessions.
I am a big fan of the Columbia Writing Workshop, and I look for opportunities to work with students on enlarging their understanding of the concepts behind it.
What interests me about the program is that it acknowledges that the skill of writing involves many individual processes: narrowing one's focus, articulation of ideas, planning a narrative, sequencing, visualization, modeling, listening to mentor texts, and technical skills like spelling and grammar.
It also brings to the fore a more subtle point, which is the validation of personal stories -- something that I have long held to be critical in self esteem and self confidence.
What interests me about the program is that it acknowledges that the skill of writing involves many individual processes: narrowing one's focus, articulation of ideas, planning a narrative, sequencing, visualization, modeling, listening to mentor texts, and technical skills like spelling and grammar.
It also brings to the fore a more subtle point, which is the validation of personal stories -- something that I have long held to be critical in self esteem and self confidence.
This workshop is designed to deepen the experience of the Writing Workshop. The host teacher and I discuss his or her goals and classroom methods, and then we team-teach sessions over the course of several weeks. I lead units with the students on:
New York Learning Standards
- Finding small moments
- Stretching out a moment
- Ingredients of a story
- Digging for details
- Great beginnings and endings
- Celebrating and sharing our stories
- Presenting your story
New York Learning Standards
- Visual Arts, Standards 1-4
- English Language Arts, Standards 1-4