The Joy of Writing

Friday, November 11, 2011

Presented by The Green Mountain Writing Project at UVM

University of Vermont, Davis Center

Early Bird registration- $85.00

After October 31st - $95.00

Student registration - $50.00

Online registration available http://www.regonline.com/joyofwriting

Co-sponsored by The Young Writers Project, Winooski, Vermont

Workshop choices

THE JOY OF WRITING

November 11, 2011

1. Jennifer Albright

Painting Pictures with Words: Photographs as a Springboard for Writing

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Photographs are evocative; many complex ideas can be conveyed in a single image. Using images and visual literacy in the writing classroom can help students awaken their senses, open windows on the lives of other people or cultures, and tap into ideas and feelings that may help them to write about the world in new and interesting ways. This practice of writing what one would like others to see provides opportunities for collaboration and individual artistic expression. We’ll explore some techniques for painting pictures with words and creating images from the words of others.

2. Eve Berinati

Revolutionaries in the Classroom: The Writer's Manifesto

In this inquiry-based demonstration, participants will seek to answer the question: How does creating and posting a writer's manifesto affect self, subject and society? The Writer's Manifesto first appeared in my Advanced Composition class in the spring of 2009, occurring as a spontaneous response to text-formative assessment. Sustained student pride and interest in the project convinced me that there was more to the manifesto than I first assumed. In this workshop we will delve into the theoretical basis for such a practice and discuss possible extensions for our classrooms. We will explore the manifesto as a basic writer's initiation, and we will write, post and reflect on our own manifestos in the process. Viva la revolucion!

3. Jim DeFilippi

E-Publishing: The Inmates Have Taken Over the Asylum

For centuries writers have been frustrated by the mechanics of publishing: dealing with publishers, publishing houses, acquisition editors, agents, and other middlemen. The Internet has changed all of that; the entire world of readers is now immediately accessible to any writer.

It is easy to learn: how to format your book or written work for E-publication; where to sell or simply display it; how to get your work reviewed; how to publicize it; where to join communities for advice and support.

E-publishing is the best thing to happen to writers since the invention of the printing press.

4. Marty Gephart

How the Common Core Standards Should Affect Curriculum and Instruction

Common state standards in English Language Arts (and mathematics) are in place in 48 states? Yes, indeed! The Common Core State Standards, adopted by the State Board and slated for implementation for the 2013 school year, will signal a major shift for education in Vermont schools. What changes can we make now in our curriculum and instruction to ease the transition as we prepare all students to be college and career-ready? This workshop will focus on an interactive look and thoughtful discussion of the instructional shifts implicit in the Common Core Standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language.

5. Geoff Gevalt

Welcome to the Digital Classroom!

Participants in this 90-minute session will learn what some of Vermont's best teachers are doing with online classrooms and will experience an online classroom first-hand. Geoffrey Gevalt, an award-winning journalist and director of the Young Writers Project, will give a multi-media presentation of some of the things teachers are doing to engage students to write, create multi-media, blog on the news and give each other authentic feedback in safe, civil online spaces. These examples will show how teachers have conquered fears, survived inadequate equipment and used digital technology to extend their classrooms. Participants should bring laptops in order to engage in a writing exercise online that will include giving and receiving comments. This exercise will show participants what it's like to be a student in this online space. Participants will walk away amazed at the potential of digital learning and at what students are creating—now—online in school!

6.Geof Hewitt

Write It and Slam It!

It's important to recognize that "slam" is hype. Tender poems often do as well as hip-hop rants; the idea is to engage the audience with a "poem" (stand up comedy to mournful epic and anything else using words or human sound) that lasts three minutes or less. In this workshop, we'll all write, and volunteers will present their work while others serve as judges in a light-hearted slam that will generate joyful buzz: just right for the classroom! Work written in advance of the workshop is welcome, as long as the slammer is its author. Very modest prizes for the top two slammers!

7. Nelson Jaquay

Above Ground Archeology

A box of Aunt Mary's childhood treasures found in a closet after her death will find us asking questions about the artifacts we all pass around and, ultimately, leave behind. In this workshop, we'll write about such artifacts, and briefly discuss applications for inspiring students of all ages to write.

8. Charlie Rathbone and Lisa H. Italiano

Ten Things Every Teacher Should Know About the Brain

This workshop highlights the connections between learning and the brain and how we can improve our teaching practice with greater understanding. We’ll explore the geography as well as the mechanics of the brain and provide some images and facts that you won’t soon forget!