English Language Arts Meeting Minutes

We had a really brief meeting, I think there might be a bit of an exhaustion problem going on with some of us (at least there is for me).

The definition of a writing workshop is somewhat up in the air. Smagorinski suggests that running a writing workshop where students do extensive solitary work, and mentions that Nancy Atwell (I think, my notes are elsewhere) has done a great deal of work on the process (this work was done in the nineties).

There are a couple of books that have wound their way into my thought process. The other language arts book from our ELA class (Within the writing process, I believe) and Steering the Craft, by LeGuin.

We discussed that we've done all of the thought for the contract as well as what we think the feedback should look like.

Vida has typed up the notes on the feedback form and sent it to Jon. Reprinted here for those who may want one stop shopping:

Feedback form for how co-learners organize time, teach, and structure writing workshop
Relevance:
Pacing, time adjustment to student needs
Comfort for all levels of writer – differentiation based on student readiness
Clear and concise instructions/delivery of instructions:
Adherence to standards:
Clarity of lesson goals:
What did you learn from this lesson:


We are not meeting today (clearly), and I am working on rewriting the contract as I write this. Let's start a dialogue about meeting times either here or via email.

I suggested a prompt for our first piece of writing, to be due next week:

1) How do you write?

2) What has your experience been in writing classes, throughout your education? What worked, what didn't?