Editing and Writer's Workshop

Since the Writing Institute at Columbia I have been reading several books. One of them is Jeff Anderson's Everyday Editing. Conventions, grammar, editing, you pick the label, as been an area of contention among our administrations and instructional staff. Jeff's book has helped me articulate my position and philosophy towards grammar instruction and how to build it into writer's workshop.

I feel it is time I clearly state my position on several areas of literacy instruction. It's time the administrators know the message I will share while coaching their teachers. I will be quoting several of Jeff's statements.

First, I learned that editing questions on the SAT and state assessments are not based on parts of speech and don't have multiple errors. Students are asked to make sentences clear and correct which connects to grammar and editing.

I am grateful that Jeff included quotes from Writing Next (Graham and Perin 2007). The reports tells educators what NOT to do and what research says does work. Students should spend their time focusing on function and practical application of grammar WITHIN the context of writing. Alternative procedures are more effective than traditional approaches. We need to teach function rather than the traditional method of memorization. Now I have research to quote while conversing with administrators.

I look forward to learning more from Jeff's Everyday Editing. Next, in chapter one, which makes me realize just how much I learned from Jeff's introduction alone, is the definition of everyday editing. Can you image what I will learn from the entire book? I love expanding my knowledge and understanding. Why? Because I will have so much more to offer my students.

Closing Session: Bolder Revision, More Ambitious Writing

Maggie Beattie

Five Ideas to Enhance Revisions

• Sometimes it takes some time
• Sometimes it takes a really good study of another writer
• Sometimes it takes a risk
• Sometimes it takes exploration
• Sometimes it takes a plan

Revision Tips

• Make clear what you mean by revision: more modeling, demonstrate how tough it can be
• Address the common belief that good writing comes naturally and does not need to be revisited
• Focus your comments on the revisions that will be most beneficial: give them the issue and how to fix it
• Avoid abstract terms when giving feedback
• Provide your students with specific strategies and models
• Motivate students to revise
• Make sure there is adequate time for the hard work of revision: plan celebration on work backwards
• Encourage students to get feedback on writing from multiple sources

Quotes from Day One

Day One: 29th Annual Summer Institute on the Teaching of Writing

The Reading and Writing Project Teachers College Columbia University

Quotes from today's sessions:

"The words that come first are any one's words. You need to make them yours." LC

"The first draft reveals the art, revision reveals the artist." Michael Lee

Slice of Life Tuesday

Holy Cow! It took me 20 minutes to remember how to navigate my blog since I haven't posted in over a year.

Ruth has inspired me! (She's really good at that.) I've been reading her posts thinking, 'I need to write.' I have been talking myself out of writing long enough. I even had an excuse for today, two post-graduate projects due this Friday. (I'm completing an EdS degree in leadership and administration at GVSU.)

I decided after reading several comments on today's slices that I needed to quit making excuses. So here I'm ending the excuses.

To help end my writer's block I decided to start with a list of future topics:

• Becoming a triathlete
• Being productive this summer (First step: no sleeping late. Alarm remains set for 6:45)
• MY FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE, Germany this August
• Summer Writing Institute is right around the corner
• All the projects I hope to accomplish this summer
• Taking guitar lessons this summer
• Defending a Writer's Workshop approach to teaching writing
• Tending my flower garden

Here's to a summer full of writing.

Just something extra.

I found a picture of my horse.  I had hoped to post it with my slice about my saddle, but couldn't find it.  Well, here's the picture of my best friend for 11 years.  We lost her at the age of 21.

31 out of 31 (I missed two so it should be 29 out of 31) SOL

We have come to the end.  I've been pondering this last SOL all day, thinking to myself; you've got to come up with something really cool for today's last Slice of Life.  Well, that didn't happen, but I did spend some time thinking about the journey.  Here's a rambling list of my rambling thoughts:

• It's not easy to write EVERYDAY.  This makes me think; how do my students feel?
• I have no idea when to use a colon or semi-colon.  This made me realize colons and semi-colons while I was reading.  Reading improves writing.  Now I'm on the hunt for those pesky punctuation marks.
• Writing involves taking a risk.  This is important because life is about taking risks and one does not grow as a person unless they take risks.  
• I revise immediately, almost sentence-by-sentence.  Might the reason for this be that it's difficult for me to express myself in writing.  (I just changed that sentence.)  I'd rather talk any day.
• I'm a copy cat.  I see a style or an approach to a writing task and I mimic that example.  I need somewhere to start.  
• My poor spelling abilities prevent me from writing more.  It's a HUGE frustration to have a thought and not be able to put it down on paper because I cannot spell a word I wanted to use.  This makes me think; if it's hard for me than how do my students feel?
• I can't write on the fly.  It takes me several attempts before I feel ready to put my writing out there.  Writing is a painstakingly, time consuming task for me.
• Writing is HARD and the teaching of writing is even HARDER.  

We've come to the end of our time together (so to speak).  It has been an incredible month. Thanks to everyone who commented on my slices and especially the encouragement about my parents' divorce.  You are all an amazing group and a true inspiration.  Thanks for taking this walk with me.  See ya on Tuesdays.  

30 out of 31 SOL

Again, I was inspired by Ruth and her inspiration from Rebecca Cooper. 

Remember Kelly-

• You live life full throttle; it's part of who you are.
• Life is about possibilities.
• You define who you are; not society.
• It's okay to let go.
• You can make a difference.
• You don't have to be anybody, but yourself.
• Life is not about being perfect.
• You're loved by many.