What Next?

I collected a writing circles assignment this week. Hopefully I will see something I haven't seen before. We did a lot of modeling and discussing, there was conferencing too. The disappointment was when I asked the students what could happen to make the participation part easier for them they seemed totally confused...disconnected would be the actual word. It was as if the entire exercise had nothing to do with them. Again, another assignment they do because they are told. They disconnect, do, and then do not even know what they have done.

Before we started I discussed what I saw going on, I told them they could be broken up into 3 groups: the naturals, the won't do, and the do it as fast as we can so we can talk. They laughed, they got it, then proceeded to breakdown into the 3 groups I mocked. It was as though they understood but did not relate to it personally.

My big question - how do I get them to discuss their own writing critically?

It is an age old question. Which brings me to my next thought. After reading blogs and posts I realized how much more I was inspired by questions than answers. I am diving into a personal issue but I think it is important as I grow professionally. It occured to me that I get really annoyed with "the answers". They seem like something else to me that everybody has...hmmm. Anyway, I was thinking about my co-workers, veterans and new, and I realized that it is the ones that have questions that I find myself drawn to naturally. If I meet a veteran teacher and they ask questions about what I am doing or what they are doing, I find them inspiring. If I meet a new teacher who asks thoughtful questions, I find myself respecting them as a thinker. When either comes across as lecturing or 'know-it-all' I turn off almost immediately.

So what does this have to do with anything? I have decided to take a dive into the student driven evaluation. Next week I intend to ask them how they would like workshops to go. What would they like to write? How should they be graded? I want to set up norms and see what happens. This goes back to Ch 3 I think. I think I need to put my trust back into the students and see what happens.

If any one has any experience with this I would love basic input. I will be jumping in without the proper knowledge - shhhh don't tell :)

Notice to All Blog Buddies

I want my blog buddies to know that I am becoming increasingly aware of my typo-itis. I have decided to ignore it, move on, and hope you all "know what I mean".

I am discovering other patterns in my informal writing too, but those are for another blog!

Note to self

Research should include: lit circles, student driven assessment, portfolios in the classroom, writing workshop techniques, and...crap, I knew I would forget!

Rice Cereal Stuck to My Pajamas

It is 9:13. I am tired, but I am afraid if I don't use it I will lose it. "It" being my understanding of how to blog.

I have been trying to collect student data for my writing circles. There are so many questions and things I want to try that I know it won't all happen this year. My hope is to get two good workshops in before the end of the year. One is with poetry and the other will be a narrative (I think?).

The struggles I come up with are always the same: how do I get them to discuss the writing, how do I get them to truly revise their work, how do I assess discussion. I will be trying a question sheet specifically about their writing circles experience tomorrow.

The permission slips will go out tomorrow too. I wonder what the response will be.

After reading COA's chapter 3, I really think a lot of my answers are going to be with student self-assessments - giving more control to them. I think conferencing is a must. I would like to let them create their own writing assignments, but I won't be able to do that before the year is out. I will try letting them create groups by the roles they want to take next time - one corner organizational editor, another corner voice finder, etc. - then create the groups based on their role preference.

I hope some of this makes sense. My son is asleep and I think it is time for me to scrape the rice cereal off of my pajamas ( I am too lazy to actually change!).

My first blog posting...I shoudl say something deep, meaningful, on-topic at least...I got nothin.

Hi! I am Renee and I am going to research my idea of writing circles. There are lots of questions and I do not know where to begin. But - nothing ventured, nothing gained :)

I figure if I research and work really hard I can win nothing instantly.