Packing Slip 
item |
ENG 594 The Greater Phoenix Area Writing Project for Maricopa Community College Teachers |
contact |
Yvette Garcia (GateWay Community College) yvette.garcia@gwmail.maricopa.edu |
credits |
Ilene Borse Pam Davenport Darcy Heath Dee Gahn David Gerkin |
college(s) |
GateWay Community College |
discipline(s) |
English, ESL, English Humanities |
summary |
I participated in the Greater Phoenix Area Writing Project (ENG 594) at ASU, along with other faculty from MCCCD. I spent time each day writing and sharing ideas that would be valuable to my students. |
details |
In June, I participated in the Greater Phoenix Area Writing Project (ENG 594) at ASU, along with public school teachers and faculty from MCCCD. The group of us from MCCCD broke off from the large group in order to have more relevant sharing of information. We spent time each day writing and sharing ideas that would be valuable to our students. Each of us presented and “taught” a lesson in our own discipline for our colleagues, and handouts and various materials were provided with each lesson. In addition, we wrote public pieces (which we began in our journals) each week which we shared with the entire class; sharing consisted of reading aloud our finished pieces and providing copies for each classmate. Before sharing with the large group, the Maricopans met in smaller groups for peer editing suggestions, so that we could revise and rewrite our pieces until they were polished and ready for “publication.” The topics about which we wrote follow: • Book reviews and critiques • Beginning and Ending Personal Reflections on Teaching • Reflections on My Name • I Remember Poem • Word Photo • Small Joys, Little Blessings & Great Gifts in My Teaching Life It was a personally and professionally invaluable, energizing experience. ------------------------------------------------------------ Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read. ------------------------------------------------------------ I was able to complete my project as written: I fully participated in the class and experienced personal and professional growth which will enhance my interaction with colleagues and my instruction with students. I obtained many new strategies and lessons for teaching writing which I compiled into a packet and distributed to all of the English adjunct and full-time faculty at the beginning of the semester. Since that time, I have also discussed these various strategies with several colleagues and provided them with reference materials which may also enhance their teaching of writing. I have already used some of the summer lessons in my English 071 and 101 classes and have slightly modified my own philosophy of teaching and writing. My renewed energy coupled with the new strategies are already having a visibly positive effect on my students, who are very eager (yes, eager!) to write their first paper. The only aspect of the class which did not go as well as expected was the time spent with public school teachers. Although they were knowledgeable, professional, and excited about teaching, many of their ideas and lessons were not relevant for the college classroom. On the other hand, the other Maricopa participants were a tremendous asset, and I will continue to benefit from their advice, lessons, and expertise. The biggest surprise this summer was a valuable lesson. I was reminded of what it is like to be a student again, and that experience alone has made me more empathetic towards my students and the small hurdles (administrative, parking, etc.) they face each day. Also, this classroom experience was very powerful, in that our professor was exceptional and I was able to grow personally because of the journaling and the public writing. This personal growth has renewed me, and I am a better teacher and colleague because of it. ------------------------------------------------------------ Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you? ------------------------------------------------------------ The project was invaluable in enhancing my professional growth. Some of the reasons for and the effects of this impact have been mentioned earlier in this report. There are other specific incidents and experiences worth mentioning here. Several guest speakers visited the class and provided us with ideas to contemplate, lessons we could use with our students, and writing experiences that challenged our brains and stirred our souls. In particular, a visiting poet demonstrated some strategies to release creative thought. I am hoping to use some of these strategies to touch the long-forgotten creative spirit in my students. In addition, I have shared some of the pieces I wrote this summer with colleagues and students. In doing so, I am reminded of how vulnerable my students often feel when I ask them to share their writing. I am also reminded of how important it is for me, as English teacher, to be a writer. The class and its participants also provided a long bibliographical list which will be helpful to me and to my colleagues now and in the future. My perspective, as stated earlier, has been changed; I will be a more empathetic, more engaged and more creative writing teacher. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or campus? ------------------------------------------------------------ I used one of the strategies from the class to facilitate a presentation at a Master Teacher Workshop in Prescott in June 2004. I have already provided a large packet of information, including sample lessons, to every English adjunct and full-time faculty member. This packet will become a permanent section in a booklet of materials which are passed out to adjunct faculty at the beginning of each semester. I have also discussed various teaching techniques with faculty and have shared ideas with some colleagues from another department who are working with me on a writing across the curriculum project. The idea for a multi-genre research paper can be shared across disciplines. I will share resources with colleagues at a dialogue and assessment day on November 5th. I have already used several of the strategies and resources in my English classes and will continue to do so. I am having positive results with students. Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback via the comments form below. |
web links |
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/fpg/ |
supplements |
Assignment (document) I Remember Assignment (document) My Name--Personal Writing (document) Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback below. |
shareback |
A "Shareback" cites the places on the web that mention, reference, or use this MLX package, and "shares" that information back here (more about shareback...) Sharebacks can be generated automatically by weblog tools. |
extra |
Last modified: Sep-28-2004 Date created: Sep-28-2004 Visitor count: 3609 Dublin Core Metadata record  This package is included in the Faculty Professional Growth Summer Project Reports special collection. |
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