518+-+Agenda+-+2.6.13

What we learned from LC

 * About student writing: **
 * varies based on student
 * academic and dry
 * supporting details
 * lots of personality
 * outlandish claims with no support
 * generalized claims - all, everyone
 * word usage - several vs. many
 * no punctuation vs. too much
 * sentence structure and grammar seemed to be equal to level of work
 * funny, imaginative, creative
 * lack of focus is common
 * grammar issues
 * handwriting issues
 * run-on sentences are common
 * some have very clear ideas, direction, organization - others do not
 * it starts with a strong thesis
 * some used "concede and counter" strategy well
 * task was boring and hard to write when you don't care
 * kids say what they want
 * every student has a unique voice
 * not judge writing by handwriting
 * difference of quality of writing - honors vs. non, practice of writing, language usage, formal address


 * About assessing writing:**
 * hard to be consistent when the papers were so inconsistent
 * organization and content vs. grammar
 * assess from one standard to one essay
 * align to standard
 * what are we grading? The prompt and rubric have to align
 * it's hard
 * easier to assess by comparison to other students
 * consistency and fairness? How do we judge different students?
 * desire to feel bad for/ go easy on poor writers
 * hard to know where to start with feedback
 * communicating feedback is difficult, possibly unclear
 * scaffold for feedback
 * grading and assessment method was arbitrary
 * tough to make consensus decisions about grading - a lot of us would have graded differently
 * we learned that those tests are designed to allow kids easiest possible path to passing - 8th grade level for 10th graders
 * hard to do blanket assessment - each kid is different
 * hard not to default to evaluative feedback
 * following the rubric to grade is hard when it's someone else's
 * how much time it took!



1:00 - 1:05 - Swap Shop

 * Chris

1:05 - 1:45 - Workshop Lesson Plans
> ELL Module 1 - http://gonzagateach.wikispaces.com/ELL+Module+1 (due Friday-ish) > One writing plan due Monday; second writing plan due by next Friday
 * Housekeeping:**
 * Post any video-related questions here: http://gonzagateach.wikispaces.com/Videotaping+Tips

Discuss AL brainstorming Workshop lesson plan Writing thoughts from LC (one on email) Writing video from Ashley