Poetic License: Middle School Writing Workshop to Promote Student Voice and Powerful Poets
Coaches: Rosemary Barilla, Area One Reading Coach Adaptable for grade levels: 6-8 Key Subject Area(s): Language Arts Also incorporates: Art, Music, Drama; Interdisciplinary
Study Group Teaching Method Description:
Go beyond the typical poetry unit to obtain high-quality poetry from all your students and to develop your own confidence in writing and teaching poetry. Through Writing Workshop and a number of other instructional strategies, Team Members will learn how to build their students’ free-verse poetry writing and comprehension, as well as enhance their appreciation of this type of poetry.
This Study Group teaches its members how to engage their students in a writing workshop activity that is structured around mini-lessons, independent writing time, and conferencing. With this teaching method in the classroom, students will be encouraged to incorporate poetic style into their writing, listen to and appreciate poetry as a form of oral performance, and read and analyze a variety of contemporary free-verse poem exemplars. Come explore the exciting world of promoting student voice through poetry with this Study Group!
Illinois State Standards and Benchmarks:
State Goal 1: Read with understanding and fluency State Goal 2: Read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras, and ideas State Goal 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes State Goal 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations
About the Coach:
Rosemary Barilla is a Nationally Board Certified teacher with over ten years of classroom experience in grades 5-8. In her role as Area One Reading Coach, Rosemary Barilla works extensively with teachers to observe, plan, and collaborate on a variety of instructional practices, as well as provide teachers with formal professional development on specific literacy practices. Rosemary’s many leadership experiences include mentoring National Board candidates, a Teachers Network Leadership Institute (TNLI) Fellowship, CFE Small Grant winner, and Oppenheimer Award Winner. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture program at the University of Illinois At Chicago.
Meeting Times:
The Study Group meeting schedules are determined together at the Study Group Program Kick-Off Dinner on Thursday, June 4, 2009.
