When Writers Become
TEACHERS Planning a Writing Workshop Exhibition Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
Providing writers the opportunity to share their writing with an appreciative audience is essential to becoming a writer, and yet many teachers struggle to support students through the exhibition process. Instructional time is tight, and sometimes, sharing is a less than rewarding endeavor. The structure below was designed to attend to these issues by enabling writers to celebrate their works in progress and their growth as writers with audiences who are truly interested in hearing from them, even when time is tight. If you use this approach to host your own exhibition, I hope you’ll let me know. I’d love to hear about your experiences and what you may have done to adapt this structure. Enjoy! Warmly, Angela Preparing for a Successful Exhibition: You’ll want to do a bit of planning and preparation prior to the big day. Attending to the following tasks will ensure that your celebration is a success. ____ Students will need to understand enough about each writer and his or her piece to create a list of those that they are most interested in learning from. To that end, invite writers to pitch their work and themselves in ways that are both simple and creative. Writers could create autobiographies, advertising posters, brochures, video trailers, book jackets, summaries, or reviews. They could also provide elevator pitches orally or post them online, where others can listen to them at any time. Even a simple tweet will do. You can make this part as simple or as complex as you wish. ___ Invite students to consider each writer’s pitch and determine which writers they want to learn from most. Use the sample groupings on the next page for further guidance. ___Once students have shared their top choices with you, you will use the findings to place each student in one group during each time slot provided. ___Secure a space that is large enough for your exhibition. Writers will need enough space to share without having to talk over other writers who are sharing. ___Record yourself leading your own exhibition, share it live, or share a video recording of students who celebrated their work previously. Ensure that writers know what a quality exhibition looks like. The last page of this document provides guidance here. ___Coach your students to be a great audience. The last page of this document is a good resource for students if they require explicit instruction here. ___Prepare signs that can be used to distinguish one table or presentation area from another on the day of the celebration. ___Determine if you will invite parents, other classes or administrators, or community members. Extend invites, if necessary. ___If you are able to invite a visiting author or other speaker to your event, this makes the day even more special.
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
Organizing Your Exhibition These scenarios are examples only and meant to be adapted. Some alternatives: Increasing or decreasing the amount of time in a rotation will increase or decrease the number of days devoted to exhibition. Increasing the number of groups presenting at once may decrease the number of days the exhibition requires. It also decreases group sizes. Let students know that while you will do your best to honor their requests, it may be possible that they will be assigned to a writer that they did not choose. It’s important that you ensure that every writer has an audience, even if their pieces weren’t named in any students’ top ten. Increasing the number of groups and rotations can also increase the likelihood that audience members will get to visit with those they chose, even if they are assigned to an author or two that they did not choose. You could also invite students to publish their works for real audiences that exist outside of the classroom. Please visit this resource to access other publishing opportunities for writers: http://tinyurl.com/c7ucc33. Decreasing the number of writers who present on the day of the exhibition decreases the amount of time it will take. Some writers prefer to share their work quietly while others seek global audiences. It’s important to provide this choice. Number of Students
Amount of Time
Number of Rotations in Single Class
25-30
40 minutes 60 minutes 80 minutes 120 minutes
2 fifteen minute rotations 3 fifteen minute rotations 5 fifteen minute rotations 6 fifteen minute rotations
Number of Students
Amount of Time
Number of Rotations in Single Class
20-24
40 minutes 60 minutes 80 minutes 120 minutes
2 fifteen minute rotations 3 fifteen minute rotations 5 fifteen minute rotations 6 fifteen minute rotations
Number of Groups Presenting at Once 6 6 6 5
Number of Days the Celebration Requires
Number of Groups Presenting at Once 6 6 5 4
Number of Days the Celebration Requires
3 2 1 1
2 2 1 1
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
A Peek into a Writing Celebration In this example, a writing teacher hosts an exhibition with 24 students over a two day period. Prior to the celebration, students provide two minute pitches, which they share orally. Then, they tweet their pitches using 140 characters or less. Students have three days to create a list of ten writers that they wanted to hear from most, using these resources as a guide. These findings are used to create groups. When writers arrive on the first day of the exhibition, they are provided a schedule which reveals who is to report to each of six tables in the room and when. Six writers present first, each taking a seat at one of six tables in the room (they are represented in yellow below). The remaining members of the group serve as the audience for this first fifteen minute rotation, choosing who they will learn from. At the end of the fifteen minute time period, six different writers are tapped to present, each taking a seat at a completely different assigned table. Remaining members of each group serve as the audience. This two rotation structure is repeated on the following day, ensuring that all 24 writers have the opportunity to present over two days.
DAY 1 ROTATION 1: Kira
James
Mary
Carlos
Joel
Angel
Grace
Jillian
Deanne
Drew
Georgia
Marc us
Jorge
Eileen
Lauren
Julian
Vasili
Elyse
Samson
Margaret
Andrew
Bryce
Hallie
Brian
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
DAY 1 ROTATION 2: Andrew
Lauren
Samson
Jorge
Bryce
Mary
Deanne
Joel
Hallie
Kira
Brian
Marc us
Vasili
Angel
Carlos
Eileen
Grace
Margaret
Drew
Georgia
James
Elyse
Kira
Julian
Considerations: While these groups are evenly balanced, some may be smaller or larger depending on your students’ interests and your own needs. If needed, increase the number of groups and decrease group sizes in order to ensure that more students are sharing in a shorter period of time. Make sure that learners have access to just-right tools during the exhibition. If some need to stand, move, or use specific resources, work this into your plans. Finally, the focus in this type of celebration is on the growth of the writer, the discoveries made through the process, and on their works in process. It isn’t merely a celebration of finished work. The document on the next page, which I share with writers, can help to transform your celebration into an exhibition. This inspires deeper learning.
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
PREPARING FOR A FABULOUS EXHIBITION Engaging Your Audience: Begin by discussing how your piece evolved. Where did your ideas come from? How did they change over time? What were the most important moves you made as a writer? What new strategies or approaches did you try? Which resources did you rely on? Teach your audience as much as you can. Describe your challenges and your victories as a writer. What was difficult? How did you overcome those difficulties? If you could make one more improvement, what would it be? What would you like to try next as a writer? Answer any questions from your audience. Finally, share your piece with your audience.
Being a Great Audience Member: Listen as the writer describes the evolution of the piece. You should be silent, your hands and feet should be still, and you should be looking at the writer as you listen. Ask at least one question or share one reflection. Use any of the starters below to help you if you get stuck: o I’m wondering… o What you said reminds me of…. o Can you tell me more about…. o This is what I found most interesting…. o Have you ever thought about trying…. Listen as the writer shares his or her piece. Use the prompts above to help you pose one question or reflection.
+ Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
A former English teacher, Angela Stockman is the founder of the WNY Young Writers Studio, a community of writers and teachers of writing in Buffalo, New York. She is also an education consultant with expertise in curriculum design, instructional coaching, and assessment. You will find Angela on Twittter at @angelastockman and chatting in the #MakeWriting stream.
Available Now: http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34
Designed by Angela Stockman, 2015 http://angelastockman.com
Make Writing: 5 Teaching Strategies That Turn Writers Workshop into a Maker Space , Times 10 Publications, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/pr23p34