I was brainstorming teaching ideas with a couple of colleagues last spring. One that rose to the top was bringing the Village into my sixth-grade classroom. Yeah, that's right. Here's what I'm thinking anyone out there who's interested could help me with. I may hit a few of you up personally, but I'm habitually loathe to ask for help, just ask Julie ;-) (Thanks again for yesterday, Booj!)
--(Away from my school) Take one, two, or more student journals (which contain short writing pieces, often stories based on personal experiences), read them and give some feedback on content and/or edit them more critically, if you're comfortable with that. The main thing is to expand the audience of the students' writing beyond our classroom, and getting some adults in would be cool. This would REALLY help me and my students, and you wouldn't have to commit to much, just whatever you are free to do in the moment.
--(If you're free to come during school hours) Come in and help me work with students on days when we're doing writing, either in or out of the computer lab (talking through topic ideas or helping them edit)
--Come in and read your poetry. Or even someone else's. (Rod...when do you have a day in October? How about "The Raven" again?)
--(A.M. people only) Come in on days when we do drawing in my first period "desert" class (7:30-8:30) to help encourage students.
--Derek, I want to find out more about the company you did the chapbooks with. I'd like to do one for each one of my four language arts classes this year. Maybe even one for the desert class, too.
--Stop by during my free period with coffee to give me. (ha-ha)
--Open to other suggestions.... |