The presenter, Maggie Beattie Roberts, is dynamic and focused. She tells great stories, but stays on track. Day One was beautifully paced and jam packed with information, modeling and interactive learning.
It was a refreshing surprise to get new information that I had never heard of before. After 21 years of teaching, workshops get frustrating when the same concepts you learned in college (1980s) are still being taught.
For instance, I had never heard of Cambourne's Seven Conditions of Learning. Although this is not shocking information, it is always helpful to reflect on these lists.
1. Immersion: content and context
2. Demonstration: practical, concrete models
3. Expectations: clear
4. Responsibility: accountable learners
5. Approximations: find approximations in student work; determine what they are trying
6. Practice
7. Feedback, support, celebrations: should occur continuously
We went over the principles for Writing Workshop and the bottom lines for Writing Workshop. New to me was the phrase "approximation." It is what we do instinctually as teachers. A student is not exactly on target, but we can see what he was trying and what he got from the lesson. Helps to guide our teaching. I also liked the idea that you are not just teaching the writing, you are teaching the writer.
We explored classroom environment including finding room for a meeting area for workshop. I am rethinking how my room is set up and I may move my desk to the back of the room to make more space for a meeting area.
Of course, we talked about the writing process and we learned how to start the first writing unit, personal narrative. The afternoon was walking through a workshop session and writing.
The day flew by! We had to read a few pages for homework and write three beginnings for three personal narratives. Looking forward to tomorrow's session.
