My Writing Workshop Experience
Teaching changes when we turn our classroom into a Writing Workshop and that's exactly what happened when our lecturer introduced us to the Writing Workshop. A Writing Workshop is a student centered framework for teaching writing.Our lecturer facilitated this by having us list topics to write on then scaling it down to three topics from which we had to choose,which left me in quite a muddle because I wanted to write on all three topics but I guess the idea was to write on the one most significant to you or which appealed to you most. Something that was very interesting to me was the "zoom" in Strategy. As we all know ,we will write, then re-write and maybe re- write a third time without really taking an in depth look into what we were doing, after all, its all part of the writing process but when you zoom in on a particular piece or potion of writing it brings altogether new meaning, well at least to me it did.
What I particularly liked about the workshop is that our lecturer was there to guide or scaffold us through the writing process by giving us ample time to write, she also modeled samples of her own writing and conferred with us as we wrote and shared with our peers throughout the entire process. I must say I can definitely see how the Writing workshop would be of great value to the students. It is not easy for some students to come up with topics at the spur of the moment and based on the structure of the writing workshop this will give them the opportunity to select topics in good time.
The teacher plays an important role by reading good examples of writing to students so that their thoughts and ideas can grow. Another aspect of the course I liked was when we had to go out off the classroom to take pictures of different things and select one particular thing to talk about with another person.This to me, creating a topic of discussion will create great interest in the children. I totally enjoyed the Writing Workshop experience and will definitely be using it with my students in the classroom in the future.
Where Writing Hides …
Childhood days
Looking back on my early childhood years, I must
say I have very fond memories. I remember listening to
the rain falling heavily on the silver galvanize during the rainy season, while
huge dark clouds hung over the houses like giant garbage bags in the sky. As
the rain fell, I would hurdle under the warm comforter and put a pillow on my
head, in my childish mind to dim the sound of the heavy rainfall and
intermittent bright flashes of lightening that made me want to bolt from on top
of the bed to underneath it.
The boisterous bellowing of the thunder made it
seem as though the world was coming to an end. I can also recall the little
droplets the rain made, when it was not so heavy, as it fell on the callaloo
leaves standing in the drain in thick bundles that my uncle planted, with
glistering iridescent colors. Next to the house stood the lone sugar apple tree
with thick leaves in two different shades of green, a dark velvety green and
those with areas of dark patches that looked as though the tree really needed a
bath.
I can also hear the musical voice of my great
aunt, calling out to me and my cousin, “Leisa and Ryan it is six o’clock time
to come inside.” Ryan was my favorite cousin his head was hard he didn’t listen
to those in authority and he was stubborn. He was involved in all sorts of
mischief and I was right behind him. Making bow and arrow to shoot lizards. (I
did not shoot any) Hopping motto cars in the road. (I did not hop any) and of
course playing “bow bow” with Smith and Westerns as we called them with blanks,
(bullets) which of course was my favorite game to play. Around the house, through
the callaloo under the sugar apple tree but we dared not venture onto the
neighbor’s property or else Tanty would give us a stern lecture, with each word
falling on ears oh so attentive to what she was saying about “staying in we
place”.
These “bow bow”
games usually took place in the early twilight of the evening, and when Tanty
called it was with a bit of trepidation and we dreaded going inside because we
knew what was about to “go down” bathing time! And when that time came, prepare
to brace yourself because we knew the scrub down we were going to get. Even up
to this day my cousins who came after me still speak of when Tanty hold you” to
bathe you, oh the agony!!!
Ryan and I today!
