We are smarter together! Please share an idea, a resource, a skill, or a strategy which you discovered or developed that others should know about. Keep the conversation going with thoughtful questioning.
My contribution: the power of celebration. I don't know if I've learned it recently, but definitely more deeply and with greater appreciation. When we notice and name what's going well, students/teachers feel affirmed *and* we clarify what quality is within literacy.
While at WSRA I learned from Matt Glover the power of having choice of genre. Choice of genre being even more powerful than choice within genre. I think sometimes teachers are so lock step in programs that require only genre study, that they aren't even exposed to the possibility that any other type of study exists. In reality, a unit of study could be on many things; punctuation, illustrations, craft and process, ect...
Matt taught me that you will never run out of ideas on potential teaching points for a child, regardless what genre the child might be writing in. AND...that a child fixated on one topic could write virtually any genre on the same topic-LET THEM...
Excellent! I'll mark it on my calendar. I really enjoy the #G2Great chats, but sometimes have difficulty keeping up!!! Such a wonderfully rich learning space.
Thanks to both of you for joining me. I know feel more confident moving forward with another resource to offer my faculty as we discuss schoolwide ELA expectations.
I also heard Matt Glover at WSRA and appreciate his wisdom too! Voice and choice are so powerful. Did Matt talk about a way to frame these responsive units of instruction, so they are not too rigid but still give the teacher some structure?
Yes, and it varies per grade level. For example, 3 genres is sufficient in kindergarten with another 2-3 units on craft/process. I also took away that genre studies shouldn't last more than 6 weeks. I left my notes at school but there was something about guiding questions and goals to help frame the units.
Thanks Ryanne. I have one of his previous books, Projecting Possibilities for Writers, that I liked. If he has a more recent resource he wrote on this topic, please share if you think of it.
I’m sorry I’m late but just arrived in Philadelphia. It’s not so much what I’ve learned recently as what I learn anew every day. Even after 47 years in this profession, I’m humbled each day to acknowledge that I still have much to learn and it is my honor to seek new understandings along the way. I know with absolute certainty that the minute we think that we have reached a so-called point of arrival, we are either deluding ourselves or have lost the spark of inspired curiosity that makes me want to jump out of bed each morning. I think that this applies to our teaching as well. If we think that we have the perfect lesson and that perfection is even possible, then we have probably missed the point. In my mind the real power of our teaching is to be willing to wade in the muck and mire of uncertainly or what Dorothy Barnhouse calls the NOT KNOWING. It's a very exciting place to reside because it comes with so many surprises - and always new learning opportunities
This is what every teacher needs to hear. Thank you for saying it Mary! I think so many, especially new teachers, think they need to be perfect. Have the perfect lesson, the perfect classroom display, etc... but I agree with you. The real power of teaching and learning happens in the NOT KNOWING, or as I think of it...just outside our comfort zone.
My contribution: the power of celebration. I don't know if I've learned it recently, but definitely more deeply and with greater appreciation. When we notice and name what's going well, students/teachers feel affirmed *and* we clarify what quality is within literacy.
YES! And no matter how small it may seem it ALL counts and can become a stepping stone to something new and wonderful (and big)
It definitely takes a "long view" attitude and a leader willing to commit to building the culture over years (5-7), but it can last.
I think it’s just the only way to get lasting change!
While at WSRA I learned from Matt Glover the power of having choice of genre. Choice of genre being even more powerful than choice within genre. I think sometimes teachers are so lock step in programs that require only genre study, that they aren't even exposed to the possibility that any other type of study exists. In reality, a unit of study could be on many things; punctuation, illustrations, craft and process, ect...
Matt taught me that you will never run out of ideas on potential teaching points for a child, regardless what genre the child might be writing in. AND...that a child fixated on one topic could write virtually any genre on the same topic-LET THEM...
I lovve that Ryanne. Matt's book is positively brilliant. He's going to be on our #G2Great chat to explore is book twitter style 4/9/20 8:30 EST
Excellent! I'll mark it on my calendar. I really enjoy the #G2Great chats, but sometimes have difficulty keeping up!!! Such a wonderfully rich learning space.
Thanks to both of you for joining me. I know feel more confident moving forward with another resource to offer my faculty as we discuss schoolwide ELA expectations.
I also heard Matt Glover at WSRA and appreciate his wisdom too! Voice and choice are so powerful. Did Matt talk about a way to frame these responsive units of instruction, so they are not too rigid but still give the teacher some structure?
Yes, and it varies per grade level. For example, 3 genres is sufficient in kindergarten with another 2-3 units on craft/process. I also took away that genre studies shouldn't last more than 6 weeks. I left my notes at school but there was something about guiding questions and goals to help frame the units.
Thanks Ryanne. I have one of his previous books, Projecting Possibilities for Writers, that I liked. If he has a more recent resource he wrote on this topic, please share if you think of it.
Craft and Process Studies- so far I am finding it valuable
TY
I’m sorry I’m late but just arrived in Philadelphia. It’s not so much what I’ve learned recently as what I learn anew every day. Even after 47 years in this profession, I’m humbled each day to acknowledge that I still have much to learn and it is my honor to seek new understandings along the way. I know with absolute certainty that the minute we think that we have reached a so-called point of arrival, we are either deluding ourselves or have lost the spark of inspired curiosity that makes me want to jump out of bed each morning. I think that this applies to our teaching as well. If we think that we have the perfect lesson and that perfection is even possible, then we have probably missed the point. In my mind the real power of our teaching is to be willing to wade in the muck and mire of uncertainly or what Dorothy Barnhouse calls the NOT KNOWING. It's a very exciting place to reside because it comes with so many surprises - and always new learning opportunities
You are never late here, Mary. "Not knowing" sounds refreshing. Thank you for sharing.
This is what every teacher needs to hear. Thank you for saying it Mary! I think so many, especially new teachers, think they need to be perfect. Have the perfect lesson, the perfect classroom display, etc... but I agree with you. The real power of teaching and learning happens in the NOT KNOWING, or as I think of it...just outside our comfort zone.
Yes IMperfection truly is a gift!