EDWR 5565 - Bringing Joy Into Writing Instruction
Course Description
Writing is fun. Writing is playful. However, this is not the case in most classrooms. Re energize your writing practice with the course text Joy Write: Cultivating High-Impact, Low Stakes Writing by Ralph Fletcher. This course will give you the tools, strategies, and the confidence to teach writing in a fun, engaging, playful way. Show your students that writing is joyful. Grade levels: K - 8
Learner Outcomes
This course will support teachers in:
- Evaluating current practice
- Understanding and implementing informal writing
- Understanding and establishing "greenbelt" writing in their classroom
- Creating an action plan
- Analyzing and understanding the impact of writing instruction formats and restrictions on student creativity and enjoyment
- Understanding that "a central goal of school should be to engender a love of writing and reading." Fletcher pg. 89
Testimonials
I believe that the most beneficial part of the class was getting to practice greenbelt writing strategies with my students. I liked how the class was so applicable to my teaching. I had to use the strategies with my students and observe the results. It got me out of my comfort zone and my students really benefited from that. I think that this class exceeded my expectations. I think that my expectation at the beginning was that I would learn a few new techniques to improve my writing instruction. I am coming away from this class with a refreshed mindset and attitude towards writing. I thought that I needed to teach students how write well for fourth grade and certain genres of writing. Students do need to learn to write paragraphs and different genres of writing but they also need to learn how to enjoy writing. I have rediscovered the joy of writing that I had when I was a child. I believe that joy is rubbing off on my students. - Winter 2018 Student
For me the most beneficial aspects of the class were trying new things. I did a lot of things outside of my comfort zone. I also tried things that I wasn’t sure about. I was really worried about what other teachers would think when I was trying new things from the book. But when I reflected back I always knew that no one who walked into my classroom would question what I was doing. In the end, I had teachers who wanted to come in and see what I was doing. Our technology coach wants to come in and see how I set up our blogging time and watch us blog. I appreciate how I was encouraged to try new things and try things outside of my comfort zone. - Winter 2018 Student
I have a lot more tools in my teacher tool bag after taking this course, and I have the confidence to use them. - Fall 2017 Student