Vicki Sherbert <vickisherbert@gmail.com>
Welcome to FHWP's Tenth Invitational Summer Institute! Daily Log, Monday July 11, 2011 1 message Vicki Sherbert <vickisherbert@gmail.com> Draft
Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 7:56 PM
Because we elected to conduct our Pre-Institute Meeting digitally via emailed documents, today's Daily Log will be more of a "Welcome" than a "Reflection". We hope that everyone received the document packet and has had a chance to become familiar with the details of what constitutes "Camp Flint Hills". Detailed in the packet of documents were: Camp Rules and Regulations Packing for Camp A Sample Day Camp Activities Teacher Demonstrations/Inquiry Workshops Reading Activities Writing Activities Portfolio Writing Marathon Camp Showcase/Celebration
In preparation for this special summer, I've been rereading Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools, an important book published by the National Writing Project. Another NWP publication, Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments was published last fall. I would like to share a few passages that spoke to me from that book: p. 119 "...according to Elyse Eidman-Aadahl (2009) at the 'Digital Is...' Convening: 'When we think back on experiences that really led to powerful learning for us, they have the same characteristics we advocate for students, including an emphasis on real engagement. But sometimes we take such a serious and instrumental approach to professional development that we forget, or even suppress, the need we all have to play and experiment as we're learning something new. It seems counterproductive, sometimes, for busy people like teachers to slow down, play, and experiment, but the insights we learn when we do are what help us teach for depth understanding.'" [italics mine] p. 119 “For teachers of writing, this means the opportunity to work as a writer in a community of writers. Eidman-Aadahl continues, ‘We wouldn’t want a science teacher to just lead students through a set of steps in an experiment with no deep engagement with science and the scientific method guiding their work as a teacher. Same with writing: it is often the experience of writing, creating, and inquiring, along with reflection on that experience, that helps move us beyond superficial instruction.’ Experience as a writer and participant in digital environments is foundational to the high-quality professional development that improves digital writing.” [italics mine] p. 120 "Shelbie Witte, director of research for the Florida State University Writing Project, has been studying what happens when teachers are welcomed into spaces where they can learn about digital writing by doing it and reflecting upon it.....Witte notes that 'being immersed in the technology and being surrounded by like-minded people who care about writing give participants the confidence to take a step beyond their comfort zone.'" [italics mine] Shelbie is part of the FHWP family and was the Co-Director of the 2007 Summer Institute. This summer, as we seek to grow as writers and teachers of writing, may we experience the encouraging, inspiring, restoring, and confidence-building support that is "Camp Flint HIlls". Vicki Sherbert "Gratitude lifts our eyes off the things we lack so we might see the blessings we possess." - Max Lucado