Week Five Overview

AZ: Windmill I see on a favorite walk

Focus:  Sharing Writing, Lessons, Ideas

(I realize spring breaks will be occurring over the next few week. I will be understanding if you are traveling. Just catch up as soon as you can.)

Reading: 

• This week's reading includes Chapter 4- 5 Because Writing Matters as well as an article entitled Working with Mandated Curriculum by Lock
•  Also take this opportunity to review Alaska Department of Education Writing Grade Level Expectations.  Those of you who are not English or Language Arts teachers, see how you can apply these standards to your teaching.

Writing: 

• Share a writing best practice from classroom: lesson, idea, strategy, etc.  You may post it under the "One thing that works" on this blog.
• Begin drafting your own personal narrative/memoir. Write a first draft or fastwrite and post it n the Ning group for response. This could be an extension or revision of something you started on one of the Virtual Journal entries.
• Also in your Ning groups,  discuss what makes a writing assignment work/fail in your specific situation; structuring writing workshops, and/or writing across the curriculum.

Virtual Office Hours: Tuesday 4-5  Remember I will be standing by on email or ready for a chat on gmail or the Ning.  Email me with questions any time or comments.  I appreciate the conversations that are taking place this week.  The candid writing about your classrooms has been valuable and introspective. I am hoping that will carry over to the Ning

Keep writing!  We are  half way through the our Virtual Institute.