VATE Professional Writing workshops

VATE OfficesWednesday 28 August 2013

Schedule

1. Welcome; and framing the workshop2. Stories from another time and another place– Sarah Rutherford, Brenton Doecke, Nikki Aharonian

3. What brings you to this series of workshops?

4. Introducing the new stella 2.0 website

5. Talking and writing (using a prompt, if you like)

6. Sharing some writing; planning ahead

English/literacy teachers’ professional writing workshops:

Stories from another time and another place

What brings you to this series of workshops?

www.stella2.org

Some writing prompts (if you like)

At the end of Sarah Rutherford’s ‘original’ STELLA narrative, she writes: “I think we all have mornings like the one I have described here.” Tell us about a recent morning in your school or institutional setting.

* * * * *

At the end of Doug McClenaghan’s STELLA narrative about some inspiring ‘oral work’, he regrets that “Back in regular English classes things didn’t change much for these boys”. Is this a question that you, too, grapple with in your day to day teaching? How do you deal with this in your work as a literacy and/or English teacher/educator?

* * * * *

Mark Howie asserts, in his STELLA narrative, “English teachers understand that context is everything.” How do you respond to such a statement? What 'contexts' do you feel most influence your work currently? How have these changed over time for you?

* * * * *

In their discussion paper, Brenton, Monika and Paul suggest that “Traces of the meanings that others ascribe to [the word ‘standards’] inevitably inhere within it, even when you wish to use it to mean something entirely different” (p. 2). Are there some ways that you feel comfortable with the language of standards as it is used in your school or institution? Are there some ways in which you feel this language is “foisted on” you and/or does not sit comfortably with you?

* * * * *

 Or one other…

Write about a moment in your professional/academic life when you thought of yourself as a teacher-writer.

Finally …

• Sharing

• Posting and responding on the stella 2.0 website

• Next workshop: Wed 2 October (10.00am or 6.00pm?