Delaware Writing Project Summer Institute 2013

1. Delaware Writing ProjectSummer Institute 2013 Teaching Nonfiction Writing With Style Heidi Cebula, MI, NBCT Robyn Howton, Med, NBCT

2. WELCOME • Make your name plate – please write your name large enough for everyone to read. Decorate with illustrations of four of your favorite things! • Quick Write – Describe your BEST moment as a teacher – either from last year or from your career. You have five minutes to write.

3. Portfolio Elements • Note taking/reporting • Wikkispaces – Online component • Letter to Principal • Unit Development • In class writing activities to be included in portfolio • Daily Reflections

4. 10 minute break

5. What is a Socratic Seminar?? • Elements of Socratic Seminars • The Text – texts are chosen for richness in ideas, issues, and values and their ability to stimulate extended, thoughtful dialogue • The Question – Opens with a question that has no right answer- it reflects true curiosity and leads back to the text. • The Leader - is both the leader and a participant. Major responsibility is to keep discussion focused on the text and dialogue going. • The Participants – share with the leader the responsibility for the quality of the seminar. Must study text closely, listen actively and share their ideas and questions

6. The Text • Group One – Premise 1 in the first chapter of Write Like This – page 8 • Group Two – Premise 2 in the first chapter of Write Like This – page 15 • Develop 3 opening, 3 core, and 3 closing questions before the starting the Socratic Seminar – add more questions that occur to you during the seminar even if you don’t get the chance to ask them

7. You have 30 minutes to read the text and prepare your questions

8. Inside/Outside • You will be assigned a partner in the other group. Please complete the partner observations sheet for your partner during the Socratic Seminar

9. Reminders • Listen – No one can speak while someone else is speaking • Build - Speakers must try to build on what others say, not debate their views • Refer to Text - Speakers must refer directly to the section of the text from which their ideas come rather than making general comments or observations

10. LFS Lesson Plan Format • On the Wikkispaces resources page are templates for the lesson plans. If you are not familiar with LFS format of lesson plans, there are descriptions of what goes into each part of the lesson plan on the template.

11. BRAINSTORM Your unit will be taught during the month of September to allow for reflection/revision and final submission by the October 15 deadline. While this unit focuses on the writing of a nonfiction piece (addressing voice/author’s choices/style) it will include the reading of mentor texts. Begin brainstorming – what writing piece do you want to feature? Possible mentor texts? Which parts of the Common Core do you want to focus on? Remember – this is just the beginning of developing an idea…..

12. Daily Reflection • Please fill out the back of your name plate – • What questions do you have after today? • Comments – what do you want us to be sure to address in upcoming sessions?? • Online Daily Reflection – check for your invitation to join our Wikkispaces. Add a reflection for today on the Wikkispaces page.