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Writing Conference Interruptions. Can They Be Productive?. Mike Wenk, Literacy Studies PhD Candidate The University of Colorado at Boulder. What would Carl Anderson say? (WWCAS?).
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Writing Conference Interruptions Can They Be Productive? Mike Wenk, Literacy Studies PhD Candidate The University of Colorado at Boulder
What would Carl Anderson say? (WWCAS?) “I also let them know they should never, ever interrupt me to ask for help while I was conferring with one of their classmates” Anderson, How’s It Going?, page 168)
What can happen during a conference? a student who is stuck needs help a student requires assistance with a computer a student’s off-task behavior needs to be redirected a student falls out of a chair a moth flies through the room an aide asks for the lunch count
Making a Distinction… When is an interruption not productive? When is an interruption productive?
Three ways to deal with interruptions… • Mitigate interruptions. • Minimize each interruption. • Maximize “good” interruptions.
Mitigate Unproductive Interruptions • Create Ideal Classroom Conditions for Conferences • Fletcher/Portalupi • Glasswell • Anderson
Minimize the impact of interruptions (part 1) Refer the student to resources Ask the student to type or write Ask the student to revise Ask the student to think
Minimize the impact of interruptions (part 2) • Point at the place on the paper • Touch the sleeve • Rephrase what was said • Other scenarios? • Turn and talk to a neighbor • Share your wisdom with the entire group
Maximize learning through productive interruptions. • Joe Joins the Conference • transcript of an actual conference! • Mark Overmeyer’s “Stacking the Deck” • from When Writing Workshop Isn’t Working
Maximize learning through productive interruptions • Miguel Interrupts • transcript of an actual conference!
Conclusion Establish conditions to mitigate unproductive interruptions. Employ strategies to minimize the impact of unproductive interruptions. Embrace opportunities to maximize learning through productive interruptions.