Steve Peha was the first teacher to help me realize the potential for visualization to serve learners. His Draw, Label, Caption strategy is still a favorite of mine, and I use it in varied contexts. You can find it by visiting Teaching that Makes Sense and downloading the Writing Teacher’s Strategy Guide. While you’re there, peek into some of his other resources. I know few people as generous as he is with his thinking and…
By day, I’m a consultant in school districts throughout Western New York. Summers, weekends, and evenings often find me writing and learning beside kids and teachers at the WNY Young Writer’s Studio though. I founded Studio five years ago, and we’re expanding our fellowship program, workshops for kids, and professional development offerings. Take a peek at what we’re up to this summer and join us!
In addition to sharing as much as I can about my work with the CCLS inside of schools this year, I’m also taking more time to reveal the workings of the WNY Young Writers’ Studio over here. Studio is a writing community comprised of teachers and writers of grades 1-12. We also identify mentors within our program who are interested in becoming teachers themselves one day, and we provide them opportunities to learn and apply…
The WNY Young Writers’ Studio opens it’s fourth season in just two weeks at the Kenan Center in Lockport. Sessions are also held at Union East Elementary School in Cheektowaga, New York. Last night, our crew of mentors and tech intern Andrew Toney spent the evening reviewing our curricula, evaluating iPad apps, and learning how to provide high quality feedback to elementary writers. Next week, I’ll be meeting with the teachers who will be joining…
Just a quick post to update those who are interested in learning more about the WNY Young Writers’ Studio and what we are up to this spring: First, registration for our fourth season is now open. You can register online or download our snail-mail form right here. Information about who we are, what we do, and how our fellowships work can be found at our website as well. Next, we’ll be leading some fun activities…
Over the last three years, some of the high school fellows of the WNY Young Writers’ Studio have identified perseverance as a Disposition they are most eager to grow. Like many writers, they often begin the process bolstered by great ideas and a certain enthusiasm for their work. Eventually, this honeymoon period often draws to a close though. Sometimes, this happens when they finish their first drafts and find themselves daunted by the reality of…
Earlier this month: I shared a bit about where I’ve landed in terms of my own learning and work over the last few years. I spoke about my experiences as a facilitator of change and my interest in helping young people assume greater role in leading it. I suggested that an important part of such an effort involves empowering children to advocate for themselves, and I identified reflection as an entry point. And then I…
As teachers, we are often far more sensitive to the weaknesses that learners possess than we are to their strengths. Once we’ve targeted a weakness, it is common for us to slide into problem-solving mode. This inhibits us from empowering kids to identify what they are good at so that they may use their strengths to contribute to our classrooms and our communities. Have you considered how many young people graduate from our high…
Some of the conversations that I have with young writers are inspired by the work of Christopher Johns, whose framework for reflective practice enables them to identify their needs, advocate for themselves, and use what they’ve come to understand to be of service to others. Sounds heavy, but it really isn’t. Consider this: Inspiring those you know to do the same can happen when you invite them to think about, discuss, and craft responses to…
Today’s post is the fourth in a quick series relating what I’m learning through my work with the WNY Young Writers’ Studio, how this is informing my perspectives about change in the field of education, and where my efforts might be best placed as someone who hopes to inspire it. My discoveries are taking me down a path that wasn’t necessarily intended: toward kids, their needs, and the potential to help them advocate for themselves…