Week 5: Final discussion of Because Writing Matters

Both sections of our class will meet for final, collaboration conversation about our text this week.  Please join the conversations and post under Weekly Resources, to Week Five 3/12.

Week Four: Chapters Two-Three

Big Island Sunset

Chapter 2 and 3 of Because Writing Matters is your reading assignment this week. (Plan to finish the text by week 5.) Big questions are raised in this section.  Do you agree with the premises presented in the book? Why or why not? 

Many of you have commented that you are determined to make more time for writing in your classes.  Look for support in chapter three. 

Because you are also working on the Virtual Classroom Tour,  feel free to add only one analytical post and comment on two others more briefly.

Week 3: Our Text Because Writing Matters

I hope you all have your text by now so we can begin our discussions of the ideas there. You can get a Kindle Edition. This week we will focus discussion on the Introduction and Chapter One

Guiding Question:

• In Because Writing Matters, Nagin starts by asserting that "writing is a complex activity: more than just a skill or talent, it is a means of inquiry and expression for learning in all grades and disciplines." How does this view affect the way we might approach our teaching? Why is writing so complex and what challenges does it pose on our schools?

Do not let my questions limit your discussion. They are meant to be just suggestions that might help start a conversation.

Week Two: Let's blog about the readings!

Which of the Eleven Elements of Effective Adolescent Writing Instruction from Writing Next do authors of Edutopia discuss? How does your own role as a writer fit into your classroom practices?  How or where do you find the time to do it all?  What gets left out? 

Remember each of you needs to post here three times this week.  Your post may be a part of a conversation with other classmates or a general response to this article.

Week One : Let's Blog about the readings...

View the video and read the week's assignments.  Take time to begin or contribute to a conversation about one of the readings.  Do you have any rules for students communicating online? How will our communication here differ from those in a regular classroom? What do you think of Richardson (Digital Footprint) on technology in education?  I am interested in finding effective uses of technology that augment our teaching of writing rather than just adding more for the sake of technology.  What do you think?  Ponder a bit!

    The report Writing Next published by the Carnegie Corporation is a heavy read, but one that we might consider referring to throughout the course.  The "meat' of the material is between page 11 and 34. You can skim the rest.  It contains eleven key recommendations that are worth "unpacking" as we move through our discussions. The report is considered one of the most comprehensive reports on writing since the 1990's. It makes a good companion to our text which we will start reviewing in a few weeks. Does this report contain ideas particularly true to your experience, ideas that you find puzzling, or ones that run contrary to your beliefs?
And last but not least, comment on  the many hats we must all wear as teachers of writing as described in Raising Writers.