Is it really OVER?

The class is officially over now and grades are forthcoming.  Congratulations on becoming a part of the National Writing Project (NWP) and the Alaska State Writing Consortium (ASWC).   

This blogsite will be available for at least a year. Then Ning's life is uncertain so be sure and save your writing for yourself.  I will be sending each of you an email with grades  and final comments next week.  Official transcripts must be requested from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

As I mentioned earlier, our ASWC site is becoming more active all the time so checking the website for what is available is always a good idea.  Remember you are able to join the NWP site because you have completed this class.  They have a monthly online journal and current resources that you will find valuable.

I do not think there will be an official evaluation for the class, but  I do value  comments and suggestions, so please feel free to share them with me when you have the time after school is out.  I know you are all on full throttle here at the end of the school year.  You can also email comments and evaluations to our administrator, Mardel at aswcmardell@gmail.com.

Thanks again for being an interested, engaged class. Contact me on email anytime you want to reconnect, ask a questions, or more importantly,  share a writing experience.  I would sincerely love to hear from you. May you continue to write and engage in the amazing work you are doing with students and other teachers.

Have a great end to the year and a wonderful summer!

Final Week! The Homestretch

This is it!  This is the time in the class when I start wishing we had more time to read and discuss the ideas that are emerging.  We have only scratched the surface, and our time is up. 

This week I would like your final response to be to your weekly reading (which is all about technology) and/or anything else you wish to comment on. What still needs to be said about teaching writing? What are you thinking now about teaching writing, online professional development, the structure of the class, future directions for ASWC?  Also feel free to email me ideas for improving the class next year.  I value all suggestions.

Thanks so much for all your contributions.  The thing I love about the Virtual is I always go away feeling we have learned so much from each other just by framing and discussing on the blog.  The class is truly a collaborative effort, and you have shaped it well.

(Post final response here!)

ASWC Opportunities Abound

Two great opportunities for credit and further collaboration with ASWC teachers are available. One is a basic summer institute in Homer and the other is an Invitational Institute in Anchorage for those who want to become even more involved. Completing our Virtual Institute allows you to be among those who are eligible to apply for either.   

Check the ASWC website for more information on both..

ASWC Invitational Summer Institute

WHEN

• UAA Campus June 6 – 24, 2011 (face-to-face sessions)
• Online meetings will start in May with all ISI participants (Dates TBA) - On-campus sessions will meet from 900 a.m. – 500 p.m., M – F & Sat. (6/18).

WHERE

• UAA Campus Classroom (Housing will be provided at the UAA dormitories for member-district participant. For those from non-member districts, housing is available at very reasonable rates, @$35.00/night. Contact Mardell Kiesel, ASWC Director; aswcmardell@gmail.com for more information.)

FOR WHOM

• Educators of all subjects are welcome (elementary through college) who have preferably completed an ASWC Open Institute or who have a strong background of rigorous writing experiences. All applicants must complete the ISI Application 
• A quintessential opportunity is offered to educators who qualify by background experience, recommendation and passionate interest!

ASWC Open Institute Homer

ED 593, ASWC’s Open Institute, will direct K-12 educators from all content areas to examine their work as teachers and writers by writing daily, responding to and analyzing their writing, and examining current research, practice, and assessment models shown to improve student performance. Teachers will also explore strategies for responding to student writing and effective uses of technology, all of which will provide a framework for implementing new strategies within their classrooms. Course delivery will utilize a combination of face-to-face class-time, as well as online discussion. 

Course Information

• ED 593 (through UAF) 
• 3 credits
• Cost: $195 (Registration through course instructors**)
• Target Audience: K-12 Educators across all content areas
• Grading Info: A-F Grading
• Prerequisites: None
• Location: West Homer Elementary School, Homer, Alaska

Implementation Paper Final Draft

Publish the implementation paper here.  Also email a copy to me at sondraak@gmail.com so I can share it with other member of ASWC.

Personal Writing Final

Celebrate and publish your final draft of the narrative or other choice for personal writing here.

Where in the world does it all go?

Here is the scoop on where to post what--

• Ning:   Share your drafts for both the implementation paper and the narrative with your group
• Blog:    Post the final drafts for the implementation paper and narrative online for all to see
• Email:  Email your final draft of the implementation paper to me

You are now a member of the National Writing Project--Write on!

Writing Project Teachers Give Advice, Ideas on Edutopia Blog - National Writing Project
 

As our class comes to a close, be aware that you can still continue the kind of posting and discussions we have been having by engaging in online dialogue with teachers throughout the country who are associated with the National Writing Project(NWP)--funding from which enabled this class and the Alaska State Writing Consortium to operate. You can offically join NWP by going to their website and signing in. A wealth of material awaits.