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Questions and Aswers: 1. What will I do during the Summer Institute? As a Fellow of the 2010 MayaWest Writing Project, you will be expected to (a) write and share your writing, (b) read, and (c) engage in a variety of individual, as well as small and large group activities. There will be various opportunities to write in various forms—poetry, essays, fiction, scripts, etc. Ideas for writing may come from peer demonstrations, from guest discussions, as a response to readings, from your journal, or from a writing project that you already have underway. Daily activities include writing a log, participating in a writing response group, keeping a journal, sharing with a research/reading group, and of course, writing and publishing. The major activities will be the presentation of a demonstration and three writing projects that are submitted for evaluation. 2. What is the log? What is a scribe? You will be asked to write the log for one day of the Institute. It will document the events of the day in your own creative style. The log, in part, provides ethnographic data for reporting the institute experience. 3. How are writing response groups conducted? You will be assigned to a writing response group during the first week. The group will meet several times per week. Each member will distribute a hard copy of a draft to response group members and read the writing aloud. Members of the group will provide comment and encouragement. 4. When and what will I write in the journal? You will be asked to observe the designated journal writing time each morning. You may use the journal to record your personal reflection of the institute experience, to gather observations about your writing, and to response to readings. You are encouraged to try a variety of approaches to writing in a journal. Entries may be read to the group, if you wish to share what you’ve written. 5. What is the purpose for the reading group? You will have the opportunity to choose one from a variety of books about writing or the teaching of writing to read and to discuss with others who are reading the same or a similar text. You are encouraged to read the entire text, or a large portion of it, within the first two weeks of the Institute. Keep notes on what you read in order to be able to participate in a book discussion during the second week of the Institute. You will also share information that you find as you research a topic of interest to you. 6. How often will I write and how will I publish? A portion of the day will be reserved for writing, and you are strongly encouraged to publish the pieces you write, but you are not required to do so. You can submit your piece for publication in an institute publication (traditional or online), the MWWP newsletter or website, and/or other professional publications. Also, you will select one of your pieces to be published in the MWWP’s anthology and the MWWP’s website. 7. What are the three writing projects I’ll be doing? You will write (1) an autobiographical recreation of an experience, (2) an experimental piece (poem, short story, one-act play, for example) inspired by the experience, and (3) a piece addressing an issue or issues related to the teaching of writing (a position paper, journal article, draft statement of school writing policy, for example). The third piece as well as the demonstration will emerge from or be related to the topic that you choose to research. 8. How do I find a topic to research? At the Pre-Institute Meeting you will suggest a topic to research by identifying the “burning question” that you have as a teacher of writing. This question or questions will lead to a topic. For instance, you may want to know more about effective ways to teach grammar or you might be seeking methods of using technology. You may be interested in more general topics like current issues in bilingual education or changes in national standards for Advanced Placement courses. 9. What do I need to know about the demonstration I will do? In addition to what we know about the teaching of writing, ie. information that comes to us through major texts and basic and applied research, the National Writing Project believes there is another major source of knowledge that originates in the classrooms of successful teachers. The demonstration in the institute is meant to tap that knowledge and give the fellows an opportunity to present to the group their current thinking about the teaching of writing. You will be asked to select a date for your demonstration on the Pre-Institute Meeting day so that you can begin thinking about a 90-120 minute demonstration on your approach to the teaching of writing. Demonstrations can be thought of as “dry runs” or practice sessions that may be made later in schools as part of MWWP’s in-service program. Time will be set aside during the first week to discuss your outline; however, it may be advisable to contact the director or co-director by phone before that time. They can help you to decide what you might need from your students’ or classroom before you leave school for the summer. They will also “coach” you when you get closer to the date you have selected for the demonstration. 10. Why will I do a demonstration? Demonstrations serve various purposes. In addition to providing an opportunity for you to learn from your colleagues, the demonstration provides an opportunity for you to clarify the rationale behind your approach (how it works, for whom, and why). In presenting your approach to the group, it is a good idea to engage them in an experience, which at the same time serves to inform them of the rationale and practical classroom application. Ultimately, the demonstration is an opportunity for analysis of your practice as well as your teaching philosophy. After your demonstration, your colleagues will submit comments to you. Comments will focus on the approach used and the nature of the workshop. Feedback forms and guidelines for writing constructive comments will be provided. 11. What is the best way to prepare a demonstration? While there is no absolute formula, the most effective demonstrations tend to include some or all of the following:
Try to avoid the following:
You will be supported and coached through the process of preparing a demonstration so that you feel confident and relaxed. The director and co-director will ask questions such as these to prepare you:
Also, suggestions for the addition of technology will be offered. 12. What is a typical day in the Summer Institute? A typical day in the Summer Institute may look like this: 8:30 Morning Munchies/Conversation 13. Who brings the morning munchies? We will set up days for two people to bring food each day by 8:15 a.m. 14. What about lunch? You may bring your own lunch or eat in the student cafeterias on campus. On Thursdays, however, we will have a pot luck lunch. Everyone is to bring something to contribute to the meal. We always invite a local speaker/author to eat with us and discuss his/her writing process and possibly give a demonstration |
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