Nashville 2006
This year HVWP brought a great delegation to the National Writing Project’s Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. In the following set of comments, each of us will post a brief narrative about our experience and a specific idea or two that we took from the “network” and can bring back to HVWP.
Check out our photos of presentations, dinner celebrations, the conference itself!
TOM: I had a chance to co-present in a workshop with Jackie Denu, Eric Savelson, and Erica Chanowsky. In our workshop, we were making the case the young writing program at HVWP has served as a multi-dimensional type of professional development for the TCs who have been involved over the years. For example, we’ve learned from co=teaching, having access to English Language Learners, doing research, etc. At our session, I was inspired by a couple of other models presented by other NWP sites:
a . At one site, they run a 2-week summer professional development program. For one-week, teachers participate in an “open” institute where they learn several strategies for writing instruction in TC-led workshops. In the second week, the teachers teach in a YWP, employing strategies that they learned in the first week. A TC oversees the teaching and supports the teachers in their planning, delivery and reflection.
b. At another site, they run an intensive professional development program for teachers in learning about ELL. Part of the curriculum is very much like any “open” institute. They read, write, and attend TC-lead workshops. Part of the curriculum also involves observing within a YWP so that they can see what they’ve been learning about /experiencing.
This conference was different, but a good one for me. I loved presenting with Tom, Kerri, Patti Stock and the Chico site that was coincidentally, the site of the Tech Liaison Institute this past summer. So I knew Peter Kittle as our site host. reconnect with him in a
It was a demanding process to prepare for. Tom and I spent many phone conversations talking through the evolution of our site’s move from the Demonstration/Presentation to the more challenging, Teacher Inquiry Workshop. So preparing for the workshop, forced us to an exciting reflection on our own site practice. And Kerri, as a participant, and as a returning fellow provided us with TC insights that gave our presentation more credibility.
Tom was the first to begin the online discusssion among the participants from both sites and with Patti as the facilitator, bringing home the power of creating online communities. Both sites offered participants in this 3 hour workshop an opportunity to study the work of two sites and reflect on their own. As we came to the end of our time it was exciting to see that many people remained in our small room to continue conversations.
The group of TL’s that I met in Chico and communicate with in our online community were very welcoming and comfortable to be with. One workshop, in particular was structured much like the one we presented, where the presenters worked together from different sites to offer participants a fully integrated workshop. Many of our issues in technology: creating an interactive website for the site, creating online blogging communities, etc. continue to be areas of challenge and the continued conversations helps us all.
One thing that I heard that stayed with me, was that the place for experimenting with technology is with YWP’s. The lab environment is a place for teachers to learn, instead of teachers learning and then bringing their work to the classroom. Interesting!
And even though, Tuvia didn’t get to share Nashville with me because of a snafu with Continental, it was fun to experience the Grand Ole Opry with Erica, Don, Margo and Kerri.
And who is up next?
This was my first annual conference and one of the most immediate benefits that I noticed was getting to know all the awesome TC’s in our project better. It’s amazing the expertise, experience, and enthusiasm that folks possess and bring to the table. I guess what i am trying to say is I was inspired by the conference and hanging with all the good HVWP folks.
so many blogs, so little time
Like Eric I was excited to reconnect with many of the TCs at the meeting. I also ejoyed presenting with Tom and Bonnie. don and I went to a workshop about eliminating the achievement gap and althouth the workshop wasn’t everything I hoped for, it did get me thinking about what the “gap” looks like and how it plays out in my school.The New York Times magazine ran a cover story on the gap this past weekend. Check it out, it is a bit depressing but worth the read.
Kerri