Take 6 teachers. Give them 2 days. Set them to work with the best practices in teaching K-2 writing, with oodles of opportunities to brainstorm and bond.
Emerson, meet our K-2 writing workshop wizards, our own Sigrid Bower, Marcia Keys, Jill Nolan, Jennifer Conn, Barb Grabbe, and Ruth Wilson
In July the six teachers attended a professional development workshop, Writing Write From the Start: The Primary Workshop in Asheville, NC. The workshop is by Heinemann, a nationally distinguished provider of professional books and resources for teachers. Ask the Emerson attendees to describe the experience and you’ll hear some powerful adjectives — “phenomenal,” “fantastic,” “inspirational.”
Whether taking on an entirely new writing program, or tweaking an existing one, each teacher is committed to a goal: “Help kids do bigger work and develop stamina for writing.” Understanding composition, decision-making, genre, purpose and audience are key components. Students will learn to “read like writers and write like writers,” by using mentor texts.
The workshop was a golden opportunity for collaborative thinking and planning. In a new initiative, Emerson K-2 students will all be “making books” this year.
Maybe the best story around is the energy, expertise and teamwork their teachers bring to the classroom.
