embracing creativity...

1. embracing creativity... engaging families in authentic writing

2. embracing creativity... engaging families in authentic writing

3. How does offering an authentic writing forum empower families to cultivate their own child’s engagement and success? Dilemma:

4. Assumptions • Families want to be engaged in the learning process, but are struggling to help their children write. • Parents feel unwelcome, unprepared or embarrassed to participate in classroom and school activities. • Children whose families feel they are part of a community will value the process and are more likely to be successful in school.

5. “I conclude the Miss Gordon episode with just one observation… For some miraculous reason, it’s a wonderful feeling having a school teacher you’ve seen dance naked in front of a mirror.” Woody Allen “Radio Days” 1987

6. Including the community… • As a social justice educators, we need to consistently ask, • “Whose voices are left out of our curriculum ?” • Authentic family writing commits time to the community’s work and experiences that are important to and relevant to their lives. 

8. Community Reluctance “I’m afraid I will sound stupid.” “I feel out of place around those stuck-up PTA b_____s.” “I’m so busy, I don’t want it to be a waste of time.” “I don’t speak too good English.”

9. Stand up and shout…“I am!” Group Poem Activity Each partner writes an “I am” declaration. TALK! DISCUSS! Learn about each other. Partners write a “We are” declaration together. Make two lines, partners across from each other. Adapted from Kelly – “Writing with Families”

10. Why the creative arts? • Is it brain-based ? • Is it culturally relevant ? • What’s the down side ?

11. The Rhythm of Language Notice how, this sentence is particularly; difficult! to, read because, I; have put in, punctuation, marks that, disturb the, basic, flow of what I am, trying to, say?

12. Stand up and sing…“We are!” Group Rondo Activity Partners post their “We are” declarations. Assign rondo parts Unite our voices in song! (with a little help)

13. What do we value ? community vs. prescribed curriculum test scores vs. meaningful learning

14. Transformations: Hopeful Results • Students will grow and develop both as writers and human beings • Students’ leadership skills will emerge and shyness will be overcome. • The community will expand, there will be raised conscientiousness and trust.

15. Common Core Anchor Writing Standards Text Types and Purposes (K – 12) W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. Production and Distribution of Writing (K – 12) W.1 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. W.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

16. Common Core Anchor Speaking & Listening Standards Comprehension and Collaboration (K – 12) SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas (K – 12) SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

17. “Joy does not come to us only at the moment of finding what we sought. It comes also in the search itself…”

18. Paulo Freirer “The Pedagogy of Freedom” “…and teaching and learning are not possible… without the search, without beauty, and without joy.”

19. Thank you! Now go forth into the community and… CREATE !