Embracing Imperfection: Ideas to help build on the strengths of imperfect writing

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Embracing ImperfectionIdeas to help build on
the strengths of imperfect writing

• Ruth Ayres
• rayres_at_wawasee.k12.in.us
• http//twowritingteachers.wordpress.com

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Writers Notebook Entry

• Write the name of a teacher who influenced you.
• Jot down a list of everything you remember about
  him/her.

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Perfection is Overrated

• One of the things I share in my workshops is the
  idea that it is OK to let go of that high-school
  English teacher who lives in your head. The one
  who's always correcting your sentence structure,
  making sure you have a proper noun and verb in
  every sentence, reprimanding you when you don't
  follow the 'rules.' Maybe it's even time for you
  to have a short conversation with that teacher
  (in your own mind, of course). Mr. Or Mrs.
  So-and-So Thank you for your time, but I am
  done with your services now.
• -- from Life Artist by Ali Edwards

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Invite Imperfection

• What can you do with the physical space in your
  classroom to make it a refuge for your students?
• How can we make students feel that they are okay
  just the way they are?

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Physical Space
Stacey Shubitzs classroom
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Student Choices
Stacey Shubitzs Class Writing Center
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Conscientious Conferring

• WN Entry (Part One) Take a moment to write down
  one thing you do really well as a teacher of
  writing.
• WN Entry (Part Two) Now what are the things you
  would like to improve?
• Reflecting on both sides of this list, what is
  the most important thing to recognize on the
  positive side and what is the most important to
  thing to improve?

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Conscientious Conferring

• Seventh Grade Student Sample Teens Tell
• Chart /-

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Make a Chart

• All the things this writer does well ()?

• Things this student could do better (-)?

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Conscientious Conferring

• Of all the things this student does as a writer,
  what one quality should be appreciated?
• Of all the things this student needs, what is the
  one lesson that will impact him the most?

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Conferring Charts

• Find these at -- http//twowritingteachers.wordpre
  ss.com/presentations
• OR
• Email me rayres_at_wawasee.k12.in.us
• Use your handout to note which charts you would
  like to print!

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Status of the Class
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Conferring Record Boxes
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Conferring Record Columns
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Stacey Shubitzs Conferring Record
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Individual Conferring Record
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Physical Space
Stacey Shubitzs Student Tracker
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Writers Notebook Entry

• Think of the last time you shared your writing
  with another person.
• What kind of feedback were you wanting?
• Jot down a quick list.

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Peer Conferring

• Explicitly teach how to confer
• Listen
• Compliment
• Suggest
• Peer conferring forms should help students work
  through the process they should not hinder the
  process.

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Peer Conference Rubric
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Physical Space
Stacey Shubitzs Conferring Center
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Writers Notebook Entry

• Write down three wishes you have when it comes to
  assessing student writing.
• Disclaimer

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Assessing Imperfection

• Assess the process of your students.
• Have students complete writing analyses.
• Assess the content.
• Assess the conventions
• Balance writing opportunities
• Rubrics can be found at
• http//twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/presentati
  ons
• OR
• Email me rayres_at_wawasee.k12.in.us

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General 3 Grade
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Stacey Shubitz adapted this rubric from Calkins
Martinellis Launching Writing Workshop
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Writing Analysis Example
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Primary Writing Analysis
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Rigor Freedom

• We can have both!
• Value the thinking behind the writing
• Value the product
• Value the children who are taking risks to become
  better communicators.

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Physical Space

• Interactive Process Chart
• Exit Slips

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Exit Slip
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Do not let your fire go out, spark by
irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of
the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the
not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul
perish, in lonely frustration for the life you
deserved, but have never been able to reach.
Check your road and the nature of your battle.
The world you desired can be won. It exists, it
is real, it is possible, it is yours.

• Ayn Rand