Writing Fellows I

Metacognition?

"Thinking about Thinking"

"Going meta":writing about writing, learning about learning, talking about communication

Triple meta: write about the experience of Writing about Writing

Due today:
Bird by Bird chapters: “Small Assignments” and “Perfectionism”

Write Away:
2 quotes from each:
Why did you choose them?
Relevance: To you as a writer? To you as a writing tutor?

Writing Process: Betty Flowers article

Our Objectives:
As Writers: to move from "madman to Archtect"
As Tutors: To encourage, inspire, facilitate that process

Architect GoalS

• Draft Due NExt Week (class 1)
• -"So what"
• -Well-chosen episodes/illustrations
• -Vivid sensory detail (snapshots, thought shots)
• -voice/style

Due tUESDAY:
30 minutes of Architect work on Writing Autobiography

Inside the tutoring session:
Bedford 11-24

Getting Started:
1st priority?

Establishing Rapport:
How and why?

Q: Why is it important to sit side-by-side?

Tutor's toolbox

• asking questions (vs...?)
• Listening actively (vs...?)
• Responding as a reader (vs..?)
• Silence and wait time (vs...?)

finish the sentence:
Questioning is preferable to supplying answers, offering evaluations, or giving general advice because...

it encourages the writer to do the thinking!

The different "hats" of a tutor

• ALLY
• Coach
• commentator
• collaborator
• Expert
• learner
• counselor

Most questions aim to encourage writer to
AMPLIFY
SPECIFY

Write Away:
Craft an ideal vision for a BHS writing center

"DESCRIBE THE VIBE"
What would it look like, feel like, What would be happening there?

What Can a writing center be?

We want to Know

• Website? Their Values/mission statement? Services? Space? How do they work? Inspiration for us?

A: Sitting side-by-side "suggests that you are an ally, not an authoritarian figure."

Today: (MOnday)
-Last Writing Center Discovery presentation
-"Yes PLease"/"No thank you" list
-Core Values and Beliefs

Before We begin:
A Few Minutes to Prepare some talking points

Homework: Based on our core Values ideas generation, draft a mission statement

Today's goals:
1. reflect/debrief: how are you growing as a Writing tutor? What are a few habits or strategies you have learned "on the job"?

First Session Reflection:
Highs and Lows?

Today: The ever-elusive "so what":
What I am really Getting at here is....

Today

• Autobiography of a writer: -Share revision work/progress with partner (20 minutes)
• "So What?"
• How does each episode develop/connect to your "so what"?
• structure, proportion
• Exploded moments"

Yesterday, we...
Discussed and explored examples/elements of powerful narrative

Due today:
30 minutes of personal narrative writing
Focus: vivid, in-the-moment
detail

today, we will...

• tutoring skill focus: helping writers elaborate and refine ideas by asking thoughtful, specific questions

try re-wording:

• a. this is too wordy
• b. this is not clear
• c. this doesn't tell me what the outcome was
• d. this language is too general

steps

• switch writing with partner
• read through, generate 4-5 questions for writer
• confer: use questions to guide
• writers: comment on the usefulness of partner's questions

HW:
1. NArrative goals: amplify, specify
2. Follow up with teacher liasons (cc me)

-thank them
-up-coming assignments?
-Classroom code?
-opportunities to work w/writers?

I thought I heard someone say "We should have a slogan"

LEt's Brainstorm...

• "Write Here. Write Now"
• "Yeah, Write."

Today:

• Pass the mission statement
• updates on goals and projects
• follow-ups with teachers?
• Synchronous Tutoring sessions
• In-person, virtual (make a live virtual appointment.)

Today's Goals:
1. Debrief/Reflect on sessions
2. operation "space clarity"

journal:
1. How have your tutoring skills evolved? What strategy, technique, or practice have you picked up "on the job"?

2. a moment when you were at your best

3. A weird or awkward moment: (hesitation? regret? lack of certainty?)