Final Reflections

What a journey the 2010 summer writing institute has been! This four-week experience has given me the keys to understanding what 'writing' is all about. I take with me all the essentials to build my classroom's house of writing. My mind was stretched, pulled, massaged, and filled with the best of instructors, strategies, and a community of wonderful teacher classmates. A heartfelt 'thank you' to our instructors who have given me realtime writing prowess to help my students to translate their feelings into knowledge as well as evoke their actions to explore what the world of words can express. Finally, The summer writing institute has given me 'that' strong foundation to begin my classroom's house of writing cemented with tools of prolonged warranty: understanding of research, notable theorists, phenominal teacher/authors,and a renewed sense of courage to teach. Muchisimas a todos (A thousand thank-yous to everyone). My journey into the writing world is just beginning.

Digital Story: I Am From

Palmer: Courage To Teach

As a teacher, have you ever sought advice or guidance about your teaching? Yes? And many times over yes is my answer to this question! But, I believe that who and where I sought that guidance made the difference for me the next time I entered my classroom.

During the 2010 Summer Institute, I was introduced to a gentlemen/educator/author named Parker Palmer, who authored "Courage to Teach" which will be an incredible source of sound teaching guidance that I will hold in high regard as I continue to walk into my classroom. "Courage to Teach" has become a special vault of information that continuously requires me to take a relook at why I teach and why I consider myself to be a good teacher.

Palmer's message to educators everywhere is to daily take a self-inventory of our teacher's heart which is what should drive our teaching for it is the condition of our hearts' chambers of identity and integrity that acts as the main connection between ourselves, our subject knowledge, and our students. I read it. I understand it, but how will I manage to best apply Palmer's 'courage philosophies' in my classroom?

Learning what 'courage' meant according to Palmer was everything I believed teaching required of us. "...good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher" (pg. 10). Reading further, I find that there are commonalities among those good teachers who use similar techniques; "a strong sense of identity infuses their work" (pg. 11). What I sense here is good teachers connect theirself, their subject and their students to the real world. Palmer offers a variety of method ideas to make this connectedness. For example, using lectures, experiments, student collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking issues, and more. My mind is busy visualizing using these methods and how students will interact with each other and their learning experiences.

That's just it though. The planning for successful student learning is critical. Palmer agrees, but also reminds teachers that not to be fearful should a plan go awry. Palmer eloquently describes two indiviuals to convey the importance of having genuine identity and integrity, the story of Alan and Eric. I couldn't help but be reminded of the story in the Bible about a man who was granted debt forgiveness but who did not show the same courtesy to someone else; the results were unfortunate for the first man. It turns out that 'Alan' succeeds in his pursuits, where Eric does not. The model of Alan's character speaks volumes to me; I believe that is my whole purpose to teach; to teach the intangibles of identity and integrity so my students will internalize these attributes in order to contribute to human goodness in their life's journey.

"Courage" also tells me that as a teacher I can expect to have good and bad days. We all have limits, right? Students need to know I am human and will make mistakes. But the importance here is that teachers (I) need to figure out how to use those mistakes to improve my teaching for students. Palmer describes this state of emotion like this, "...there are occasions in the classroom when he can hardly 'hold the joy' but refuses to harden his heart because of his love for learners, learning, and the teaching life" (pg.1 ). Those moments of disconnectedness I have replayed in my mind too many times, but I have also used those moments to prompt discussion with my students; 'rewind' is a term I use in the classroom which allows me to reconnect with my students and reopens their heart's critical thinking discerning these situations that arise in our classroom.

Palmer uses the term 'paradox' describing how these moments of disconnectedness may be awkward for teachers; Palmer chooses to use the definition expressed by Niels Bohr, Nobel Prize physicist, explaining further that "paradoxical thinking requires us to view the world in which opposites are joined, so that we can see the world clearly and see it whole...When we think things together, we reclaim the life in the world, in our students, in ourselves" (pg. 69). The extension activity to help understand 'paradox' calls on teachers to remember a moment of teaching when everything went great one day and the next day just the opposite. Extending this activity even further, within groups, asks that teachers focus on the 'great day' and identify the strength that made this 'great lesson' an authentic learning experience (pg. 69); what a great idea to use with my high school students.

Concurring with Palmer on the topic of 'teacher-centered classroom vs subject-centerd classroom', we both agree the subject-centered classroom is the learning environment that signifies student/teacher success. Notice the language 'subject-centered'. "In a subject-centered classroom, the teacher's central task is to give the great thing an independent voice...When the great thing speaks for itself, teachers and students are more likely to come into a genuine learning community" (pg. 120). An example of this that Palmer points out is the use of digital technology to enhance students' learning. I can definitely attest to that. When you are initially engaged in learning, whatever the content, actually using the technology, the learning is everlasting.

More thoughts on building a 'genuine learning community' is appreciated by Palmer's reflections about his mentor mentioned earlier in the book. I like how Palmer describes the seating arrangement in his history classroom. Eventhough students sat in rows, the teacher was not the center, instead was the subject his teacher taught and how the students engaged in the content. The use of drama-storytelling from the lives of great thinkers and explaining their ideas of the time sparked the students' interests. Palmer called it 'active imagination' and strong statement making that spirited their notebook writing. This activity will find its place in my classroom.

As I read more ideas on how community produces successful learning, Palmer addresses what some teachers may feel that does not lend to community in the classroom. For example, "...claim that education will never achieve community in any form as long as teacher-student relations are riddled with inequalities in status and power" (pg. 141). Here it is. A topic all teachers are concerned with, me included. But, it is in Palmer's following statement about grading that hits the nail on the head. "When authentic community emerges, false differences in power and status disappear...Evaluation is one such function in education...When grades are used to make distinctions of this sort, they are simply a replication of the real-world dynamics that this approach to teaching is built on" (pg.141). Do I hear an 'Amen'?

Yes. I am all for what Palmer suggests when evaluating students' performance. For example, inventing grades that focus on learning: "allowing students to rewrite a term paper as often as they like by the end of the course ...final grade is for the last revision" (pg. 141) Palmer continues to express his preference of using student portfolios versus issuing letter grades. Portfolios is a measurement tool that I am learning more about and plan to implement beginning this school year.

In the final sections of "Courage", Palmer's passion continues to direct attention towards educational reform for the sake of human goodness and community as well as identity and integrity; he diplomatically orates the needed conditions for this reform to take place with one of many statements like: "Though the movement for educational reform has yet to achieve major goals, the images and symbols of educational reform are alive and well today in the public arena" (pg. 183). "As we find our place in the movement, we will discover that there is no essential conflict between loving to teach and working to reform education" (pg. 190). My point of view of educational reform is consistent with Palmers, in that, pursuing the identity and integrity of good teaching means always seeking those learning opportunities that will join, with equal purpose, the educational goals of both the students and the teachers.

How much I delighted in the metaphor activity Palmer used with teachers when exploring metaphors and images of who we identify ourselves with when we teach at our best. "When I am teaching at my best, I am like a _______" (pg. 152). As a final thought, I want to be like that sheepdog. As Palmer says it best, "...the sheepdog has four vital functions. It maintains a space where the sheep can graze and feed themselves; it holds the sheep together in that space, constantly bringing back strays; it protects the boundaries to keep dangerous predators out; and when the grazing ground is depleted, it moves with the sheep to another space where they can get the food they need" (pg. 153). I love the 'sheepdog' metaphor as it will be a banner going up in my class. Daily I will be reminded that it is the identity and integrity of a teacher I am called to be.

Digital Story: Where I Am From...

Workshops: What I Learned...

Thank you fellow teacher presenters for sharing. I enjoyed learning from each of your dynamic workshops. In brief, I have listed quick thoughts of each presenter's workshop.

*Cheryl F: Cheryl demonstrated ideas on how to use music to enhance students writing. The parody is on my list to use. Music is a wonderful way to connect with students and inspire their creative writing.

*Cheryl K: Cheryl presented ideas on how she will apply Britton's theory of writing in the different modes of discourse using the historical fiction genre in the content area of Social Studies. Great choice of using the historical fiction novel "Molly" for your theme; students will connect and enjoy their writing with you.

*Audrey W: Audrey shared ideas on how to encourage students to write through using their sensory intelligences. How clever to use the variety of hands-on activities; Your hand activity will be interesting to use in my classroom.

*Virginia E: Virginia offered teachers survival strategies to help children with special needs (Aspergers/Autism) engage in writing. It was through your passion that I could see how special these children are.

*Shannon H: Shannon presented the benefits of journaling for students and teachers accompanied with a detailed recommended reading list. Your students will have loads of fun journaling in your classroom.

*Megan C: Megan introduced and explained 6 Trait Writing concepts and ideas using picture books for student writing. You teach little people with expanding and sincere minds...you are the perfect fit.

Personal Book Review: Ralph Fletcher

After reading some years ago Fletcher's incredible descriptively well-written realistic fiction novel "Flying Solo", which my students absolutely loved, I knew I had to find other works authored by Fletcher. Honestly, my reading muscles were just beginning to develop, and I felt that if an author like Fletcher held my attention in the fiction genre, then I was sure his teacher help books on the topic of 'writer's notebooks' would do the same. "A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You" written by Ralph Fletcher, was my personal book of choice to begin my search for information on the topic of how to use and why use a writer's notebook in the classroom. I would soon find out more about Fletcher and how he would open my eyes to the adventurous world of writing.

And what about Fletcher? I discovered that Fletcher, born in Massachusetts, was the oldest of nine children along with a large extended family; Large family gatherings meant stories and more stories; Fletcher just loved listening to stories or reading stories from books which would later inspire his own journey to becoming one of the nation's noteable prolific writers. As I read more about Fletcher, I began to find the information I was seeking.

During his younger school days Fletcher made this statement after reading "Call of the Wild" by Jack London" saying, "Wouldn't it be unbelievable if I could write a book that would affect other people even half as much as this book affected me! These books taught me many things--mostly the power of words" (website). Fletcher also recalled how he wrote, sketched, and doodled in a writing notebook. Aha!

The idea of Fletcher's writer's notebook finally surfaces. Even then is evidence that Fletcher had some kind of vision as to how important this type of writing would be to him. Years after, Fletcher enjoyed how his methods of writer's notebook would excite children with the desire to write. Since then, Fletcher has written several books for teachers and children, and in all different genre types.

So, how did this book of choice impact me? Writer's Notebook consists of twelve chapters describing everything from the 'how to use writer's notebook' to the 'why use writer's notebook' in your classroom. Fletcher's book maybe only 138 pages, but is packed throughout with 'keys' that will unlock the golden doors to the writing kingdom, and is written in a language that is simple yet sophistitated in manner.

Fletcher opens up each chapter with his own true short story scenarios that just grab the reader's attention which leads to many examples and ideas on how to be successful with writer's notebook in my classroom. For example, chapter 1 is titled "Unforgettable Stores". What a hook! I dove right in to find out what was so unforgettable. I am sure that my students will have their own unforgettable stories to share. This is exciting to me and I just mentioned the first chapter.

Reading on in the remainder of the chapters, I especially liked Fletcher's play on words that continued to again hook me; words like 'fierce wonderings, mind pictures, snatches of talk. To me, this vivid type of language is sure to hook the boys as well as the girls. Fletcher is brilliant with his attention to audience; he is sincere and genuine in finding ways to purposely attract the target audience.

Fletcher's accomplishments are recognized by other notable educator/author/writers and unamiously agree that Fletcher writes a fun-filled, easy to follow, guaranteed writer's notebook guide to use in any classroom with any level of students. Well, this is only proof positive that Ralph Fletcher, the author of Writer's Notebook, book of personal choice, is an author who is also a well-known friend to teachers everywhere, and that is why I will continue to follow Fletcher's authored works.

And finally, I leave you with a taste of Fletcher as he writes about the purpose of writer's notebook. "When I write an idea into the notebook I don't know whether or not I'll end up using it. How can I tell which stuff I'll throw away, and which stuff I'll come back to? I remember what the writer Don Murray once wrote in one of his many books about writing: Remember: It takes forty gallons of maple sap to make one one gallon of maple syrup. This idea is with me every time I sit down to write...you have to boil off lots of water in order to make the syrup of your writing dark, thick, and sweet" (pg. 129).

Andrade: Teaching With Rubrics

The importance of using rubrics became more evident to me this past school year, especially in the English classroom. A special colleague of mine introduced me to how a rubric could be used as well as how to design a rubric to meet the needs of writing assignments. I tried this assessment tool and found 'rubric' was a measurement tool all teachers and students would benefit from.

So, when I read Heidi Andrade's article "Teaching With Rubrics", her researched words of wisdom reinforced how useful and beneficial I initially experienced this tool of measurement could be and more so. Andrade also pointed out some positives and negatives to consider when using using an instructional rubric as an assessment tool of student writing as well as some tips of what a teacher should be aware of when designing a rubric. One key tip Andrade stressed was for teachers to practice the language of the desired rubric with students; do not assume that students understand all the parts of the rubric. And yes, with practice, students then are able to focus on what their writing should look and sound like, and not focusing on the teacher.

Using instructional rubrics is an assessment tool which has and will aid my classroom instruction and communicate to students and parents the assignment expectations which I feel will allow quicker feedback on the progress of the students' writing performance. I found some rubrics were simple to co-design with the student or by myself; including the input from other team colleagues when designing rubrics on collaborative assignments was critical and beneficial. I appreciate the research information, recommendations from other colleagues, and rubric websites on the subject of using instructional rubrics; I am convinced that rubrics are a valid and credible assessment tool to use in the classroom.