Mobile Bay Writing Project

Rhode Island Writing Project Director: What New Teachers Need

2008-03-12T21:59:00.004-05:00

This is interesting...take a look and listen!

A Blog Post Worth Reading

2008-03-09T22:09:00.004-05:00

Read Will's sentiments about 21st century skills for educators...I agree! ~Paige

http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/urgent-21st-century-skills-for-educators-and-others-first/

"Which leads to the second question which is how in god’s name can we talk seriously about 21st Century skills for kids if we’re not talking 21st Century skills for educators first? The more I listened, the less I heard in terms of how we make the teaching profession as a whole even capable of teaching these “skills” to kids. Sure, there were mentions of upgrading teacher preparation programs and giving teachers additional time in the school day to collaborate, etc. But the URGENCY was all around the kids. Shouldn’t the URGENCY be all about the teachers right now?" ~ Will Richardson

Metro Mobile Reading Association's Young Authors' Conference

2008-02-18T20:25:00.003-06:00

The MMRA Young Authors' Conference was well attended and well supported by MBWP. Arthur Dorros was an informative, interesting, and entertaining author and illustrator.

Writing

2008-01-29T21:08:00.001-06:00

Testing

2008-01-29T20:58:00.000-06:00

Web Resource: Read * Write * Think

2008-01-29T20:34:00.000-06:00

There's so much on the web these days that it is difficult to sort out the useful resources from the junk. At ReadWriteThink (resources for reading and language arts), the International Reading Association (IRA) and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) do the quality control for us. If you haven't surfed this site lately, I think it is worth a look. The lessons, web resources, and student materials may add some inspiration to tired lessons or refresh strategies needing a new twist.

http://www.readwritethink.org/index.asp

Putting the "Author" in "Authority"

2008-01-29T20:19:00.000-06:00

I think this would be a great way to promote writing with our secondary students. Check out the full article.

Putting the “Author” in “Authority”
Publication: Eureka Reporter Date: November 2, 2007

Summary: In this issue of his monthly column for the Eureka Reporter, Bob Sizoo of the Redwood Writing Project tells how he inspires students by revealing that they can gain authority over their lives through writing.

While pointing out that the words “author” and “authority” come from the same root, Sizoo quotes George Orwell to his students: “If you can not write well, you can not think well, and if you can not think well, others will do your thinking for you.” He then explains to students how their writing skills will be critical to their college experience.
Sizoo codirected the Redwood Writing Project at Humboldt State University (HSU) in Northern California for 20 years. He is now Writing Programs Codirector for the site, coordinating their annual writing retreat each summer. For the last three years, he has been the Early Assessment Program Coordinator at the university, working with high school students and their teachers to reduce the need for remediation in college. He also teaches education classes to prospective elementary teachers at HSU, and supervises student teachers. With the goal of encouraging a more “college-going culture” among local youth, he writes a monthly column for the local newspaper, the Eureka Reporter, entitled On College Going.
Read the full article in the Eureka Reporter.

http://eurekareporter.com/node/93722

Getting It Just Write

2008-01-29T20:07:00.000-06:00

On January 20, 2008, The Washington Times published an article of interest quoting our own National Writing Project executive director emeritus. It is worth reading.

Summary: In an age of high-tech communications and declining newspaper sales, it may seem as if good writing is a thing of the past. But Richard Sterling, executive director emeritus of the National Writing Project, says cutting-edge technology—contrary to what some might think—has only improved writing.

Excerpt from Article:
If anything, [Sterling] says, the general state of writing has only improved since more and more people are going to school: In the 1950s, just 50 percent of children graduated from high school; now close to 90 percent do. Also in the 1950s, just 15 percent of the population went on to higher education; now that number is close to 70 percent.
"I think the idea that writing used to be better is pure nostalgia," Mr. Sterling says.

Read the Full Article
Read "Getting It Just Write" in The Washington Times.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080120/FAMILY/355878473/1016

Busy MBWP Fellows in 2008

2008-01-24T22:38:00.000-06:00

The New Year has kicked off with more MBWP professional development facilitated by Dr. Mary Beth Culp. Mary Beth assisted as I presented Integrating Art and Writing: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words at Orchard Elementary School in Mobile; Sondra Thomas and Shana Collins presented Tone and Voice at Baker High School; and Maryetta Holcomb presented The Multi-Genre Research Paper at Baker High School.

In December, Tracy Davis presented Relax, Relate, and Write at Orchard Elementary School: couldn't we all use that?

November Professional Development

2008-01-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

November was a busy month for MBWP Fellows: Janet Bridges presented Integrating Science, Math, and Writing at Maryvale Elementary; Bonita Harris presented Using Trade Books and Writing at Maryvale Elementary; and Jackie Wesson presented Teaching Vocabulary, Grammar, and Usage at J.E. Turner.

Mary Beth Culp and I attended the County Lead Writing Teachers' Meeting at Dodge Elementary School to share MBWP news with all who were there.

In Baldwin County, Angie Crawford presented Where We're From: Creating a Community of Writers, Collecting Authentic Voices at Rosinton Elementary School while Regina Dosset presented Where We're From: Creating a Community of Writers, Collecting Authentic Voices at Delta Elementary School.

GREAT WORK FELLOWS!

Kudos to Christa Stanley!

2008-01-24T22:09:00.000-06:00

MBWP 2004 fellow Christa Stanley recently received the Partners in Education Liaison Award ~ 6 out of about 100 were chosen. She recruited 15 new partners for Semmes Middle School which had no partners before her involvement. Christa received a plaque and had her photo taken with Dr. Dodge at the annual Partners in Education breakfast at the Mobile Convention Center. Additionally, Christa has compiled binders of Character Education lessons for all 90 faculty members at Semmes Middle. This included some original lessons she wrote, in three different sets for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Thank You Dr. Mary Beth Culp!

2008-01-04T23:10:00.000-06:00

As we begin a New Year, I would like to thank Dr. Mary Beth Culp who has served as Mobile Bay Writing Project founder, director, adviser, advocate, and friend. Without Mary Beth, MBWP would not have been created and continued. I look forward to working with Mary Beth and all fellows & friends in 2008 toward the goals of teaching, learning, and enjoying through various forms of literacy.

2007-12-18T08:12:00.000-06:00

I would like to wish all of our MBWP friends and families Happy Holidays. I hope you experience peace, joy, and rest :-) during this season and I look forward to a great 2008!

Lady Lester's "Write Group"

2007-11-28T20:39:00.000-06:00

As I enter data in our inservice and continuity MBWP spreadsheet, I'm reminded of the great work our own Lady Lester does to encourage us to take time to write personally. If you have not attended a Write Group Meeting, you are missing a real treat! Lady facilitated an art themed meeting with Ron Polizzi sharing his ideas in September and had our MBWP founder and co-director Dr. Mary Beth Culp share the history of the project and "new beginnings" with fellows in October. Thank you Lady and all who attend. I'm looking forward to our next get-together!

NWP Tech Matters Reunion in NYC

2007-11-20T00:41:00.000-06:00

I was able to catch up with my NWP Tech Friends at John's Pizzaria. The eggplant parmesean was delicious, but not surpassed by the fabulous company. These ahead-of-curve teachers from across the country are doing so much to promote the learning and teaching of writing with web 2.0 tools!

Alabama Writing Project State Network

2007-11-20T00:15:00.000-06:00

Among the many wonderful events I participated in at the 2007 NWP Annual Meeting, I joined our state network at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Restaurant to catch up on the writing project happenings across the state of Alabama. Our state director Lisa Williams (sitting next to me on the right) is from Jacksonville State University Writing Project. This was a welcoming group from which I can learn a great deal. I'll be sharing the ideas and future events they presented as I learn more details

Preparing for our NWP Presentation

2007-11-16T00:01:00.000-06:00

I've never had such a wonderful time preparing for a conference presentation. It could have been the flat in New York, quiche, sushi, wine & cheese; or maybe it was the great company! Cynthia, Tracy, Jason and I have spent over a year, since meeting in Chico, California, collaborating and supporting the technology and leadership endeavors we individually and collectively set as goals through our technology minigrant. As I experienced all year, the group came together with the whole being so much more than the sum of its parts. I'm looking forward to sharing our journey tomorrow with writing teachers from across the country.

http://commonthreadsnyc.blogspot.com/

Awards and Accolades

2007-11-15T23:58:00.000-06:00

Read the latest Awards and Accolades at the National Writing Project Site. Mobile Bay is at the TOP.

Co-Director Angela Crawford's Wiki Wonderland

2007-11-15T14:55:00.000-06:00

Angie Crawford, MBWP co-director, tech team member, and English teacher at Spanish Fort High School has taken our summer institute tech focus and run with it. In addition to using Google Docs, and finding a home for my Art Talk wiki, Angie has developed her own wiki, http://sfhsaplit.wetpaint.com/, which is fast becoming an integral part of her classroom. Angie claims that "her students love it" and she is constantly searching for ways to maximize its use.

Angie integrates art and music within this digital learning collaborative (and of course I also value these capabilitites). I agree with Angie who expressed "it's fun for me too." So Angie has definitely crossed over to the wonderful world of being a digital teacher/learner!

I'm really looking forward to Angie's research goal of surveying her students to see how much the wiki improved their engagement in the curriculum. Her anecdotal observations indicate that students enjoy"playing" on the wiki and may "accidentally" be more apt to do homework or engage with the curriculum because they ARE digital learners.

Teaching Foreign Language in a Digital Era

2007-11-13T15:35:00.000-06:00

Another example of MBWP TC's leading the way through literacy and technology...

Jessica Montalvo, 2005 Fellow and Team Leader, conducted a workshop for the UMS Foreign Language Department last month: Teaching Foreign Language in a Digital Era.

Jessica expressed that the participants were very receptive to learning about incorporating technology into the curriculum and particularly how to develop strategies for promoting writing in the target languages they teach (Spanish, French, Latin, Greek). Jessica found that the technology integration was for her, "the best part of MBWP."

Thanks for sharing this with us Jessica and keep up the good work!

National Writing Project Meeting in New York

2007-11-12T21:02:00.000-06:00

I have the pleasure of traveling to one of my favorite cities to present with some of my favorite people. I will leave for New York Wednesday to attend the National Writing Project Annual Meeting and present with my friends, self-named "Common Threads." Cynthia Calvert, Alcorn Writing Project; Tracy Duckart, Redwood Writing Project; and Jason Shiroff, Denver Writing Project are fellow technology liaisons from across the Technology Liaisons Network who will join me in telling our leadership-building stories, from participation at the 2006 Technology Matters Institute in Chico to minigrant development and implementation. We will share our resources, such as tech institute agendas, and methods of communication and collaboration, including Skype conversations and Google Tools. I met Cynthia, Tracy, and Jason at Tech Matters in Chico, California during the advanced NWP tech institute summer of 2006. We had the good fortune of being grouped together for reasons still unknown to us (pictured above working on a podcast in Chico) and the rest of the story is history. We supported each other in the process of mini grant implementation throughout the year with the use of web 2.0 technology. Tracy has developed a BLOG (still under construction) to share our presentation resources which I will post here as well as highlights of what I learn during the NYC adventure. Stay tuned this week....Paige

2006 Voices From A Safe Harbor ~ Published!

2007-11-12T12:43:00.000-06:00

VOICES FROM A SAFE HARBOR

Congratulations to Dr. Daphne Hubbard, editor and contributing authors:

Cindy Adams, Paige Baggett, Barbara Bateman, V. Battiste, Deanna Beck, Torrey H. Berry, Beth Burke, Leslie Carson, Gail Cates, Mary Beth Culp, Sylvia D. Cummins, sandy Davis, Tracy Davis, Kimberly Endt, Kelly Evans. Gail Filotei, Ardith Goodwin, Maureen Glavey Goodwin, Patsy Hamilton, Patsy Hamilton, Helen Hare, Adrienne Haynes, Linda Helton, Donna Hildreth, Shayna Hollowell, Barbara House, Daphne W. Hubbard, Sonja Hughes, Lady Lester, Stephen McClurg, Kathy McLeod, Angela Merrick, Marcelle Rathele Naman, Carly Marie Nelson, Diane Oliver, Teffine Petro, Luann Rice, Robin Rivers, Fran Roberts, Beverly Rossini, Sondra Thomas, Audrey P. Tucker, Debbie Tuggle, Molly Wagner , Kristy Weatherford, Jackie Wesson , Della White, and Jayne Yarbrough.

The anthology is a collection of poetry and prose written by fellows of the 2006 Mobile Bay Writing Project Summer Institute.

Although I take no credit, I know from first-hand experience the time and effort that went into developing the personal pieces, editing, and bringing this manuscript to publication. I applaud the WRITERS who participate in the National Writing Project Summer Institutes across the United States.

"Better writing and bold leadership are the core of local summer institutes, conducted each year by nearly 200 National Writing Project university-based sites. Participants in four-week institutes (accomplished, thoughtful teachers) prepare for leadership roles by demonstrating their most effective practices, studying research, and IMPROVING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WRITING BY WRITING THEMSELVES."
~from the National Writing Project 2006 Annual Report

I applaud the Mobile Bay Writing Project authors for the time and effort put into this publication.

Please contact Dr. Paige Baggett if you would like to purchase a copy of Voices From a Safe Harbor ($15.99 + tax) or order online at www.kyteflyte.com

Share your Literacy Teaching/Learning Ideas

2007-11-03T20:51:00.001-05:00

What have you been doing lately to facilitate writing in your classroom? Please share your ideas with us.

I created a new wiki to share art resources among graduate students, undergraduate students, and teachers who want to facilitate understanding and responding to visual arts. Check us out and add some ideas at http://arttalk.wetpaint.com/

Writing about personal interpretations of visual arts is one of my favorite ways to inspire students to explore multiple literacies. Of course add technology in the mix and all my professional passions are integrated.

MBWP Awards and Accolades

2007-11-03T20:35:00.001-05:00

What have our MBWP Fellows been doing?

Please add your awards and accolades as comments so I can submit them to the National Writing Project! I won't know if you don't tell me.

Janis Price and Wynter Galloway, 2007 fellows, along with director and technology liaison Paige Baggett presented Mobile Bay Writing Project (MBWP) Teacher Consultants Use Web 2.0 Technology to Communicate and Collaborate in the K-12 Classroom at the University of South Alabama Technology Fair on October 26, 2007 sponsored by Biomedical Library, Faculty Senate Technology Unitization Committee, and University Academic Computing Committee, with a Grant supported by National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) Southeastern/Atlantic Region (SE/A).

Sondra Thomas, 2001 fellow, was named Theodore High School's Teacher of the Year in 2006, and then awarded the High School Teacher of the Year for Mobile County. Much of the information in her portfolio was based on her teaching of writing.

Regina Dossett, 2007 fellow, won the University of South Alabama Stokes Scholarship for Poetry as well as for Fiction this year through the University of South Alabama English Department. She also published a story entitled "Red Wrong" in the Oracle, University of South Alabama’s literary magazine. Her unpublished novel, Mayonnaise Sandwiches, was chosen as a semifinalist in the William Wisdom Faulkner Novel Writing Competition for 2007. And she will be writing and reading a poem at the Mobile, AL Saenger Theater for the Martin Luther King celebration in January.

Ron Polizzi, 2007 fellow, had two short stories published recently. One in Bewildering Stories, and another in Crimson Highway.

Paige V. Baggett, Director of the MBWP received the University of South Alabama Lisa Mitchell Bukstein Foundation Scholarship for Developing Faculty in Education. Paige received this for her pursuit of promoting literacy, creativity, and artistic expression through digital storytelling. This project was initiated through her work as technology liaison which was facilitated by the award of the NWP 2006 technology mini grant.

Carol Case, 2000 fellow, recently had a poem published in Whatever Remembers Us. This is Dr. Sue Walker's Poet Laureate project. She has collected poems by and about Alabama. Carol's poem is entitled, "Wildlife Sanctury."

MBWP Tech Team Presents

2007-11-03T20:20:00.000-05:00

Janice Price and Wynter Galloway, joined me to present their technology products from Summer Institute at the University of South Alabama Technology Fair in October. They shared their digital stories and how they currently use technology to enhance the teaching of writing in their classrooms.

Women in Art...could we write about this?

2007-07-31T20:32:00.000-05:00

Press the play >button and enjoy!!!
What writing ideas could this facilitate?

Writing Resources

2007-07-31T00:25:00.000-05:00

I really loved the primary colors and black and white "composition notebook" looking pattern in this work of art...so I added it to this blogpost in the spirit of "Back to School."

I also just found a new (to me) site I will use this semester and it should be great for writing teachers!

http://dictionary.reference.com/
Dictionary.com Word of the Day
At this site, a new word is presented every day with its definition and example sentences from actual published works. I especially like the example sentences from published works!
Our own Jackie Wesson shared that she uses this site in a number of ways:
Jackie said: "The Thesaurus on the site is an excellent way to have kids find their own WOW WORDs. They just type in an overused word (such as big) then use a better one from the list given." She also uses this to make synonym posters for each classroom, "making a list of synonyms for each overused word and adding these lists to the WORD WALL. This site also offers a language interpreter that will transpose whatever you type into another language. Then it can be cut and pasted into WORD. The kids love seeing funny sayings like "kiss my grits" as it would appear in Chinese or Greek."

The MBWP Website is "Under Construction" but meanwhile, I know there are other favorite writing resources you could share with us as we prepare for the new year. Feel free to post them here under comments!

MBWP ADVANCED Institute Feedback

2007-07-25T23:14:00.000-05:00

Hi Advanced Institute Participants, please respond to the following:
What/where do you teach? What was personally most rewarding about the MBWP Advanced Institute experience?
What did you learn, view, and/or engage in that will be most useful to your future teaching? How do you plan to implement these ideas?
What do you suggest for continuity of what we established in the MBWP?

MBWP 2007 Summer Institute Feedback

2007-07-25T03:27:00.000-05:00

With your help, I am in hopes of resurrecting this old Blog with new friends and ideas. I am interested in feedback from those of you who participated in the MBWP advanced or summer institute this year and invite others to comment on the posts as well.

Please respond to the following:

What/where do you teach and what was your role as a MBWP participant this summer?
What was personally most rewarding about the MBWP experience?

What did you learn, view, and/or engage in that will be most useful to your future teaching? How do you plan to implement these ideas?

What do you suggest for continuity of what we established in the MBWP?

Back in Mobile...Reflecting on Chico

2006-07-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

As I begin to reflect on all I learned in Chico, California, I continue to realize what a rich experience it really was. The National Writing Project Technology Team is one of the most incredible groups of people I have ever worked with. Each member, from the fabulous TM 06 facilitators to the NWP team and friends, brought us to a valuable event that was extremely well planned and provided a wealth of ideas and expertise from which I did and will continue to draw from in my own personal and professional life. The numerous e-mails showing up in my box from the TM06 discussion board is just more evidence that I am not the only one significantly impacted by this positive experience and who hopes to keep the connections alive. I look forward to the future collaborations that will occur as a result of this phenominal week in Chico!

Blogging

2006-07-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

One of the many multimedia communication tools I have come to better understand this week is the blog.

This is a powerful communication tool which is relatively easy to set up and responses are very motivating.

Multimedia Resources

2006-07-21T17:29:00.000-05:00

The following Educause Resources have been very useful as we explore the multimedia technology at Tech Matters 2006

7 Things You Should Know About PODCASTING
7 Things You Should Know About WIKIS
7 Things You Should Know About Collaborative Editing
7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking
7 Things You Should Know About Screencasting
7 Things You Should Know About Videoblogging

The "Swimming Hole"

2006-07-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

Today at Bedwell Park Chris pulled a bike out of the "cement pond." We now have all the equipment for a triathalon.

A "Funny"

2006-07-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

Questionable Biathalon Trio

2006-07-20T16:59:00.000-05:00

Lizzy, Chris, and I headed out at 6:00 am this morning for a run to Bidwell Park in Chico. I was told we were running to a "cement pond," in which we could swim. Boy were they right. We now try to claim that we did a triathalon this morning, but of course there was no bike riding; although we did drink coffee. Does a stop at Starbucks count? Lizzy and I claim it was a biathalon when Chris is not around to add that doing a cannonball into the pond does not constitute a swim. Stay tuned, I am on a mission to take pictures of the "pond" tomorrow!

My New Blogging Friend in Chico

2006-07-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

I want you to meet my new friend Maria Angala. Maria is a special education teacher and the technology liaison for the DC Area Writing Project. Maria has done a wonderfu job of creating a very professional looking blog which you can view at www.teachersol.blogspot.com Check it out!

As a result of my experiences in Chico, I have big plans for professional development that will share the wonderful things we can accomplish with technology; for our site, our students, and personally. You'll be hearing from me AD (after dissertation).

I'm Here! Greetings from Chico...

2006-07-19T14:05:00.000-05:00

It has not even been 24 hours and I have so much I want to share with you. Can we start SI all over? There are many tools we can use for continuity and collaboration that I am learning about. You'll be hearing form me this year...blogs, wikis, podcasts, skype...get ready!

MBWP Final Week

2006-07-14T21:16:00.000-05:00

The MBWP 2006 SI participants are the best! I hope you have a wonderful final week.

I know your mini conference will be very successful and wish I could join you.

Remember that you have valuable information to share with other teachers and collaboration is what it is all about.

If they give us time to breathe in Chico, CA. I will post an update and pictures, so check back!

I'll miss you all, Paige

Start your engines...Mobile Bay Writing Project Summer Institute

2006-06-28T00:11:00.000-05:00

2006 Summer Institute MBWP participants are off and running.
I loved your automobile metaphors and look forward to our weeks of cruising through the writing prompts, shared feelings, ideas, and demonstrations. So what are your initial reactions of the SI experience so far?

MBWP Advanced Institute

2006-06-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

Under the direction of Dr. Mary Beth Culp, MBWP Advanced Institute is well on its way. Fellows, please share with our future fellows what you are up to this week.

Advanced Institute Art Integration Resources

2006-06-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

These images are from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. I was thrilled to visit this Museum with Daphne when we attended the 2005 NWP Conference in Pittsburgh! Below are hyperlinks to some of the resources we discussed in Advanced Institute today.
Paige

Craig Roland’s Art Integration Ideas: It’s the Thought that Counts

National Art Education Association

Teaching the Art of Writing by Beth Olshansky

First Time or Experienced Bloggers?

2006-06-19T20:54:00.000-05:00

Traycee has reminded me that this is a first blog for many of us (including me). My daughters are MySpace users and I check out their "blogs" quite often :-) Now I've joined the ranks of having my own MBWP blog. Any experienced bloggers out there, please share your expertise. Whether it be for personal or educational purposes, its all about communication through WRITING.

Posting from across the US!

2006-06-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

Hi MBWP Friends,
Of the many potential purposes for this blog, personally, I hope to use it to communicate and share with you my adventures from Chico, CA. I will attend "Tech Matters," an advanced technology institute for NWP Tech Liaisons. I will be in Chico from July 18th to the 24th and will use this as a forum to share all the great technology integration ideas I will learn from other tech liaisons across the US.

Paige

Welcome

2006-06-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

Hello Mobile Bay Writing Project fellows, future fellows, and friends,
This BLOG is a space where we can share our thoughts and pictures. I'm looking forward to viewing all that you share...have fun!

Your BLOG moderator,
Paige