Student+Work

Here I would like to list my favorite venues and occasions for student work, with some evidence.
 * A few 8th graders were far beyond needing daily MUGS. So, with their teacher's blessing, we have a MUGS extension system, featuring weekly options. The main resources have been that Strunk & White classic, __The Elements of Style__, as well as that zinger of a modern fount of knowledge, Grammar Girl! [|Grammar Girl] What I particularly like about this is that students wend me their responses weekly, and I comment. We keep the teacher in the loop. Often, what happens is a quick email conversation about the finer points of grammar. Fun! Parent are also pleased that nobody is languishing (in fact, this all started in response to a parental plea at our fall open house). Sample work available upon request!
 * Legenda is one of my favorite things, for the excitement it engenders, for the true editorial work required of the 8th grade staff. We are fortunate to still have the budget for this (keep me posted! maybe we can fundraise in future years, if necessary).
 * Fifth Grade Writing Club meets after school, once a month. This year, the ticket to coming is to hand in a piece of writing - any writing- before the meeting date. This has worked well, since we no longer see 30 students who come for whatever reason, but instead see about nine each time (including some regulars). This smaller group is by and large focused on actually writing. We've romped through poems and stories. Right now, our focus is the annual //Harrison Middle School Survival Handbook - "written by fift graders for future fifth graders."// Other writers will be invited to submit to this, to flesh out our staff.
 * One of the things I try to help with is connecting students and teachers to avenues for outside publication. This year, we've had a lot of success, with students publishing in venues as diverse as the Widgery Wharf blog to KidSpirit Magazine. Here's a link to some of the options:[|Publishing Opportunities]
 * My schedule permits me to visit language arts classrooms. This year, I've been particularly constant in 7th grade rooms. Students frequently send their work to me for feedback. When I respond, I cc: the teacher, and we all have a good conversation about the finer points of plot, or the brilliance of a particular metaphor, or the niceties of punctuation - in person or electronically. We are so fortunate! I'm particularly pleased that all 7th graders are publishing their year's work in a portfolio sort of magazine....it's worthy of their hard work, which deserves a true audience. This is so different from work coming only to a teacher's eyes.
 * I love my small groups and the work we do in units as widely ranging as Metaphor, Obfuscation, Linguicism, Poetry, Short Stories (both written and read) and far more. Oh, the flexibility! Am I the most fortunate teacher here? It's entirely possible.