Welcome to Essentials of Writing! We look forward to working and learning with you. In order for everyone to get the most out of the course, please be sure to read and respond to each others comments. Please try to keep your responses within one allotted "comment" space to ensure that the blog remains manageable for all participants.
Also, you may want to type your comments in a Word Document and either copy from Word and paste onto the blog or save it in a folder on your computer and then post it to the blog. I have written a couple of lengthy comments that I lost before I was able to post it to the blog. This extra step may save you some frustration later on this term.
Last of all, we will write our comments to your posts on the blog, so you will need to check back to the corresponding week for feedback (and to make additional comments if you wish.)
Let us know if you have any questions. You can email us, but please put the words "Question for Essentials of Writing" in the subject line so that we can respond in a timely fashion.
ASSIGNMENT ONE: Post your Introduction to the course Blog.
Introduction Post- Tell us about yourself. Where do you teach? What grade do you teach? How long have you been teaching? How many students are there in your class? Do you have instructional support? What does your current literacy program look like? (If you aren’t currently teaching let us know.) What is your knowledge/training in the area of literacy (be specific about your experiences teaching writing?) Does your district provide training in literacy –especially writing? If so, what exactly have they offered? Has your district been bogged down with getting students to perform well on state writing assessments – prompts? How do you feel about teaching? Are you happy at work? Also, let us know a little about you outside of the classroom: Interests/ Hobbies/Family Life? What do you hope to get out of this course? Post your reflection to the blog.
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Hi, my name Chrissy Clark. First of all, I would like to appologize for not keeping pace! I will do better. I taught second and third grade for ten years before taking a break when my first daughter was born. I taught for seven years in Bellevue, WA and three years in Beverton at Findlay Elementary. I recieved my Master's in Teaching at the height of the Whole Language Movement. Regie and Lucy Caulkins were my saving grace as I was left to create a literacy program for my students. When I was hired in Beaverton, there was the big push to teach the 7 traits. This was easy to weave into mini lessons. But by my last year, the district had also adopted a new reading program, and "scoring" and post/pre assessments were required for all subject areas. I remember a seven year old student telling me, "Mrs. Clark, I love assessments." This made me sad. He did not even know what the purpose of these "assessments" were. I believe my last year of teaching was my least creative and and effective. I believe innovation and creativity come when teachers are given space for professional judgement; just like any other field. I don't think teaching is a field that blossoms when educators are being micromanaged by state mandates.
ReplyDeleteI miss teaching, it's been ten years and I'm ready to get back on the horse. Currently I spend a lot of time volunteering my services. I assist in the classroom during the literacy block for my second grader, I run literacy circles in my fourth graders classroom, and I co-teach technology to all fourth graders one day a week ( we did not have budget for a tech instructor this year). My youngest daughter was recently diagnosed with dyslexia, so I've been busy reading and learning about this. I just started training under a teacher to learn the Orton Gillingham approach so I can support my daughter at home.
I love working with kids and believe I'm good at it. I look forward to learning from all of you this term!
FYI I'm new to blogging and have not figured out spell check and such. I will.
ReplyDeleteHello Chrissy!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to class. First of all, do not worry about "not keeping pace." This is the beauty of online courses, work at your own pace. The other participants will also be starting now so we can all move through the assignments together. You are not alone in feeling disheartened regarding the micro-managing from outside of your classroom (and school for that matter.) We hear time and again from students in all our classes how frustrating this is.
How wonderful that you are able to volunteer and help your children's school. I'm home with my new daughter this year (and hopefully next) and enjoy popping over to my sons' school. (It's just one street away.)
I've heard great things about the Orton Gillingham approach and think you will enjoy learning about it.
As someone who is "spelling challenged," don't worry about the typos. We all do the best we can. :D
Hello, my name is Marissa. I am a first grade teacher at Hilda Lahti Elementary. This is a k-8 school in a small town outside of Astoria. This will be my fourth year teaching, my first being with first grade. My class is 18 students, yes, small! I received my Masters at Pacific University. Our school, this year is trying to really focus on writing and help develop the steps to the writing process for each grade level. It is difficult when the higher ups want you to improve reading and math, but then also make sure writing is a priority when they really only give you time for reading and math. When I taught third grade, I was somewhat familiar with how to teach the writing process to that age but, with first graders I am really taking a step back and figuring out the proper method for which they can learn writing. Our reading program is Treasures, and though, they have a wonderful writing component, it is difficult to find enough time in the day to include this in addition to every other reading tidbit.
ReplyDeleteAbout myself, I am a wife and mother of three. It has been difficult juggling home and school life. I have a first grader, kindergartener, and a 7 month old. Whew, life is busy! However, I would never change my job for anything in the world. I love being a teacher and a mother. When it comes to hobbies, I really do not find any time to do much of anything besides teaching and my family!
Hello Marissa!
ReplyDeleteA warm welcome to you also! You are busy! We have the same age childre. :D I have two boys, my first and kinder and my daughter, Ellery, turns 6 months this week. As I said above, I'm taking a couple of years off... but my house is a wreck and I haven't found time to exercise, so kudos to you for working on top of everything else. It is an adjustment to move from third to first grade. With third being my favorite level because I felt the students were more independent yet still sweet. First grade requires much more support and repetition. We think you'll find some great strategies in the text to incorporate into your busy day.
My name is Jennifer Easton and I teach 5th grade in Coos Bay, OR. I have been teaching for 13 years, but after spending eight years in Title I, I’m feeling like a first year teacher all over again! I am truly enjoying being back in the classroom, I have an amazing class and am blessed to have a low class size(started with 23 and am now down to 19). But, like all teachers, time is stretched beyond limits and stress is already beginning to overtake me.
ReplyDeleteMy main instructional focus has been reading and early literacy for the past eight years, so in order to prepare for my move into a 5th grade classroom I have been taking some writing classes. I took a 2 credit “6+1 Writing Traits” class that was offered by my district last spring and a 3 credit “Lucy Caulkins Writing Workshop” class through TINT this summer. While both of these classes have given me great ideas and a framework for running a writing workshop, I still feel like I haven’t implemented all the components of a strong writing program into my classroom, yet. I’m hoping that this class will help me do exactly as the title of the text states, “Raise Expectations and Results While Simplifying Teaching.” I usually find Regie Routman’s books to be full of useful and simple ways to improve instruction and am hoping to find it true in the area of writing as well.
When I am not teaching I am busy being a wife and mom. I’ve been married for 17 years and have three sons that are 14, 11 and 5. My oldest is playing freshman football and my husband is a coach for my middle son’s Pop Warner Football team. Most of our time in the fall is spent on a football field, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If time is left over in my week I enjoy reading and running. I belong to two book clubs and just completed my 5th half-marathon.
Hello Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteWe're glad you are joining us. We think you'll enjoy this text and find a framework to develop your writing program further for you classroom.
Hi my name is Brittany and I teach a 3/4 blend in Lake Oswego. Last year I was a substitute so this is my first year with my own kiddos. I'm loving every minute of it :). Currently I have 28 kids with no instructional support. In class I use McGraw Hill for reading and have a variety of different books that I use to teach writing. This week I'm participating in the state writing assessment and am learning so much about the scoring guide. Besides the state assessment my district doesn't currently offer any writing courses that is why I decided to find a course to help me with writing as a first year teacher. This year I have built in several mini lessons in the area of writing and my kids are currently writing their own book. Doing the book project has been eye opening and has really showed me what they know and what they still need to know as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love my job and couldn't imagine doing anything else each day. I am currently extremely stressed because I'm getting married on March 23rd. This year has been a big year and I have really learned to balance. I'm excited to get the most out of this class before my wedding.
When I'm not in my classroom or planning for the wedding you can find me exercising, shopping or out running errands. I'm a very busy person and I love being surrounded by people I love!