http://www.angelastockman.com/blog/2009/05/26/inspiring-great-ideas/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:42:47 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.angelastockman.com/blog/2009/05/26/inspiring-great-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-2078 Steve Wed, 27 May 2009 10:20:07 +0000 http://www.angelastockman.com/?p=999#comment-2078 I've been struck in the past couple of days about what Susanne mentions: the power of a 'real' audience. Of course we're part of a real audience too, as are the students' own classmates. But just yesterday a respected outsider (who has come in last week to talk to our students about his love of Homer) joined our class ning and started to respond to some of the students' writing. The students and I weren't expecting this, but I immediately felt the power of it. It's too early yet to say whether it will lead to an obvious raising of the standard amongst the students, but I'm imagining it will. I’ve been struck in the past couple of days about what Susanne mentions: the power of a ‘real’ audience. Of course we’re part of a real audience too, as are the students’ own classmates. But just yesterday a respected outsider (who has come in last week to talk to our students about his love of Homer) joined our class ning and started to respond to some of the students’ writing. The students and I weren’t expecting this, but I immediately felt the power of it. It’s too early yet to say whether it will lead to an obvious raising of the standard amongst the students, but I’m imagining it will.

]]> http://www.angelastockman.com/blog/2009/05/26/inspiring-great-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Angela Tue, 26 May 2009 14:55:53 +0000 http://www.angelastockman.com/?p=999#comment-2067 Susanne-- I'm interested in learning more about your approach around the genres. Many of the teachers that I work with find that when they allow full choice around genre within their workshops, students don't yet understand enough about HOW to write each genre. There are different ways to provide kids these learning opportunities--from individual conferences to center-based experiences to whole-group direct instruction. Each experience allows for a different level of choice. Eager to hear, from your experience, what works for your students.... Susanne–
I’m interested in learning more about your approach around the genres. Many of the teachers that I work with find that when they allow full choice around genre within their workshops, students don’t yet understand enough about HOW to write each genre. There are different ways to provide kids these learning opportunities–from individual conferences to center-based experiences to whole-group direct instruction. Each experience allows for a different level of choice. Eager to hear, from your experience, what works for your students….

]]> http://www.angelastockman.com/blog/2009/05/26/inspiring-great-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-2066 Susanne Nobles Tue, 26 May 2009 13:24:59 +0000 http://www.angelastockman.com/?p=999#comment-2066 Mine is a tried and true method -- giving students choice over topics and finding a real audience for them as best I (or they) can. I teach an intro to genres course in which the students write every genre. While they have to write a particular genre, I do not limit topics. I also work into each study of a genre as authentic an audience as I can find beyond me the teacher. The students enjoy having their own topics and knowing that someone else is really reading their work -- plus, experimenting with each genre helps them find styles they like too. This is an important aspect I think to choice -- allowing choice but also pushing students in new directions they do not even know to choose yet. Mine is a tried and true method — giving students choice over topics and finding a real audience for them as best I (or they) can. I teach an intro to genres course in which the students write every genre. While they have to write a particular genre, I do not limit topics. I also work into each study of a genre as authentic an audience as I can find beyond me the teacher. The students enjoy having their own topics and knowing that someone else is really reading their work — plus, experimenting with each genre helps them find styles they like too. This is an important aspect I think to choice — allowing choice but also pushing students in new directions they do not even know to choose yet.

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