1. Here and Now (H & N): When you enter the room each day, there will be a "Here and Now" prompt written on the board. This topic will be related to living, learning and literacy. You will have 15 minutes at the beginning of each class to begin writing your response and then you can continue writing outside of class. Please label and date each "Here and Now" and give them to me at the beginning of the next class meeting. When I return them to you, please place them in your writing portfolio in the Teacher as Writer section. Please save any discussion/chit chat for a later time-- this is a time for quiet, sustained writing and reflection. If you are absent from class, there is no way to make up the missed Here and Now.

2. Explorations and Inquiry (E & I): Each night you will bring to class your explorations and inquiries about the Kirby, Romano, and Supplemental text readings. You will choose someone from your group to facilitate the discussion of these E & I’s. Following the small group discussion, this person will synthesize and report the highlights of your discussion. These responses should be turned in at the end of the small group discussion each night. When I return them to you, you should place your written E & I’s in your portfolio in the Explorations section. If you are absent from class, your responses must be in my office by Friday afternoon of the week when due in order to receive credit. You may turn them in for late credit by Friday afternoon of the week when due in order to receive half the points possible. These must be typed.

3. Professional Articles: One professional journal article must be photocopied and responded to on each of the following topics:

A copy of each article with your typed response should be given to me on the scheduled due date. At least one article should come from the Internet. Your responses should be of E & I quality, and should include how the concept can be applied in your classroom. After I have checked for completion, I will return them so that you can put them in the Explorations section of your portfolio If you are absent from class, your responses must be in my office by Friday afternoon of the week when due in order to receive credit. You may turn them in for late credit by Friday afternoon of the week when due in order to receive half the points possible. These must be typed..

(2 articles at 10 points each = 20 points)

4. Writing Workshop: Each class will contain some writing workshop components: mini-lessons, writing times, peer responses, revision/editing or sharing/publishing. All drafts of your writing should be kept in your portfolio in the Teacher as Writer section of your portfolio. Each person in the class will workshop many pieces, revise a minimum of 3 pieces, and then choose to publish at least one piece of writing to go in our class memoirs. The finalized pieces will be graded with your portfolio at the end of the semester. All pieces should be typed and free of errors.

5. Mechanics Mini Lesson: In groups of two, you will be responsible for doing a mechanics mini lesson. You will choose the topic based on Painless Grammar assignments (i.e. grammar, punctuation, capitalization, word usage, etc.). This presentation should show evidence of other research on the topic assigned, because you will become the "experts" on this particular aspect of grammar. You must provide some sort of informational handout on your topic for all class members. You should also provide some sort of "practice" for us within the context of your lesson, to make sure we can apply the concept you are teaching. All typed lesson plans, handouts, etc. for this mini lesson should be given to me at the end of your mini lesson. After I have checked for appropriateness and completion, please place them in the Teacher of Writing section of your portfolio. These must be typed.

6. Group Demonstration of a Writing Activity: Each group is responsible for doing a demonstration which will involve the entire class in a writing activity based on an assigned aspect of writing. As a group you are free to choose what strategies you will use to teach this concept. Your textbooks will provide much of the information needed on your topic, but you are not limited to these texts for ideas. These demonstrations will be done in class and should be no longer than one hour. Each group member should have an equal voice in the presentation. A handout and model will be provided by the instructor to further define requirements for the demo. Every class member should receive some sort of handout from your demo to use as a resource later. I should receive a lesson plan for your writing demonstration and each group member should place a copy of the plans, handouts, etc. in the Teacher of Writing section of the portfolio. These must be typed and presented in a professional format.

7. Professional Growth: The Professional Growth section of your portfolio should include articles you have read, cartoons, quotes, handouts from seminars/workshops, conference notes, etc. This section is up to you to create throughout the semester. There will not be assigned work for this section. Rather, you should be finding writing and teaching of writing related artifacts throughout the semester.

(Professional Growth = 25 points)

8. I-Search: See handout on page 5 for information and guidelines regarding this paper. More information and handouts will be provided in class on 9/1.

In class sharing of I-Search papers "in-progress" will be as follows:

Brainstorm possible topics 9/1

After your I-Searches have been returned, place them in your Teacher as Researcher section of your portfolio.

(I-Search Paper at 250 points)

9. Portfolio: Your portfolio should have the following sections:

Each of these sections have been clearly described and delineated in the 5 sections listed above. Your portfolio needs to be organized and ready for presentation to me on 12/1. In place of an exam that day, you will turn in a self-assessment and reflection of each section of your portfolio. Specific details will be given to you about this at a later date.

(Portfolio/Assessment at 200 points)

***Excessive tardiness and early departure will be considered as absenteeism. Attendance is reflected in your participation grade - if you are absent it is difficult to participate.