Delaware Writing ProjectSummer Institute 2013

Teaching Nonfiction WritingWith Style

Heidi Cebula, MI, NBCTRobyn Howton, Med, NBCT

WELCOMEO Make your name plate – please write

your name large enough for everyone to read. Decorate with illustrations of four of your favorite things!

O Quick Write – Describe your BEST moment as a teacher – either from last year or from your career. You have five minutes to write.

Portfolio ElementsO Note taking/reportingO Wikkispaces – Online componentO Letter to PrincipalO Unit DevelopmentO In class writing activities to be

included in portfolio O Daily Reflections

10 minute break

What is a Socratic Seminar??

O Elements of Socratic SeminarsO The Text – texts are chosen for richness in ideas,

issues, and values and their ability to stimulate extended, thoughtful dialogue

O The Question – Opens with a question that has no right answer- it reflects true curiosity and leads back to the text.

O The Leader - is both the leader and a participant. Major responsibility is to keep discussion focused on the text and dialogue going.

O 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

The TextO Group One – Premise 1 in the first

chapter of Write Like This – page 8O Group Two – Premise 2 in the first

chapter of Write Like This – page 15O 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

You have 30 minutes to read the text and

prepare your questions

Inside/OutsideO You will be assigned a partner in the

other group. Please complete the partner observations sheet for your partner during the Socratic Seminar

Reminders

OListen – No one can speak while someone else is speaking

OBuild - Speakers must try to build on what others say, not debate their views

ORefer to Text - Speakers must refer directly to the section of the text from which their ideas come rather than making general comments or observations

LFS Lesson Plan Format

O 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.

BRAINSTORMYour 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…..

Daily ReflectionO Please fill out the back of your name

plate – O What questions do you have after

today?O Comments – what do you want us to

be sure to address in upcoming sessions??

O Online Daily Reflection – check for your invitation to join our Wikkispaces. Add a reflection for today on the Wikkispaces page.