Digital Applications

To complete the memoir process (and yes, these are long processes from brainstorming and drafting to the final presentation, but that is what it looks like in a K-12 classroom), you all did various digital applications. What type of response did you most appreciate? The Bitstrips? The movie trailers? Soundtracks? The websites? Other options you think folks could have done? Share your ideas on what you liked, what you think about what you did, and how you think you could use this in your future classroom... Please post by Tuesday, Nov. 11th and respond to 4 classmates by Thursday, Nov. 13th.

Radical Revision of Memoirs

Take the first 1-3 paragraphs (or first 1/2 of page one) and radically revise it. Think about how we wrote scenes from different POVs in Finding Nemo and CSI (even the gun's POV!). What can you do so drastically different that would make your piece read completely new? It will feel uncomfortable and you may hate it. The point isn't necessarily to find a new way to tell your story but to experience how revising radically feels. You want to know what your students are going to feel, because many will write only first person through their own eyes. When you get them to step out of their comfort zone, you need to know how they will be feeling. And perhaps along the way, you might find a different way to tell your story. What if you keep your POV but insert another between sections? These are ways to revise radically. Change the narrator, change the tone, but do something completely different. Post your radical revision to our blog by class time tomorrow. We are not meeting for class (I'm at DESE), but you can use that time (or any time) to respond to at least 3 people's memoirs you had read before. Make constructive comments (PQP)!

Blog #7: Ch. 6 in Gallagher

•       What did you learn in this chapter that would improve your writing (about purpose or audience)? What is something you learned in the chapter that will help you become a better teacher? Address both concepts in your post; be sure to respond to at least 4 classmates. Post by Tuesday Oct. 21, reply by Sunday, Oct. 26^th

Blog #6: The Memoir Process Part II

Editing or Revising...which do you like better and why? Share as a writer first, but then if you want to add more as a future teacher, think about how you would package/sell this to your future students! :-)

The Memoir Process Blog #5

As you work on Draft #1 of your memoir, address both parts of this:

1. How is it going? What is easiest for you? Hardest for you?

2. What part of this process/assignment will you use with your future students? Or if you're in a content area, how could you adapt this for your classroom?

As always, be sure to respond to at least 4 classmates' blog posts.

Symposium Reflection

Share what you saw, heard, read, observed...

:-)

Looking forward to reading about the sessions you all attended!

Ch. 2 in Gallagher

Skim the chapter... What catches your eye? What could stimulate great conversation among future teachers?

Pose a question to the group from this chapter, from something Gallagher says or doesn't say. Can you make your classmates think?

Writing Inventory

In reviewing your responses to the writing inventory, how would you define your overall attitude toward writing? Can you capture that sentiment in 10 words or less? Respond to at least four classmates’ blogs.

Reflection on Write-Around...

I look forward to getting to know all of you and to reading what you have to say! The beauty of a blog is that everyone has a voice (shy and outgoing alike!), and it also allows you time to think and then share your thoughts.

Your first blog will be to discuss the Write-Around. There were several things we talked about in class: experience starting a story, writing the middle of a story, and ending a story. Then we shared. How do you think this activity would be beneficial in a secondary classroom? In other words, why do it? Why do you think Gallagher recommended doing it on Day One of any secondary classroom?