Fall 2008

Super Saturday Fall Program

All sessions are conducted by San José Area Writing Project Teacher Consultants

Registration Fee:

Preregistration, although not required, helps us anticipate participant numbers and plan more effective programs. You can register online; see links below. Payment is collected on-site.

One (1) upper division/graduate level semester unit available for $100.00, and…

• Attending 2 of 3 Fall 2008 Super Saturdays (September 13, 2008, October 11, 2008, November 8, 2008) and writing a five–page paper, or…
• Attending all 3 Fall 2008 Super Saturdays and writing a three–page paper.

Overall Theme: Better Modeling than Done on a Paris Runway

Throughout the Super Saturday Series, Teacher Consultants will demonstrate teaching writing, using modeling and mentor texts.

September 13, 2008

Theme:
Across the Great Divide: Writing with ELs

San José State University,
7th and San Carlos Streets

Check In & Registration:
8:30 AM–9:00 AM
TBA

Theme Setting:
9:00 AM–9:30 AM

Super Saturday Workshops:
9:45 AM–12:00 PM

Collaboration & Application:
12:00 PM–12:30 PM

Buffet Lunch (Included in Registration Fee):
12:45 PM–1:30 PM
(Ongoing, informal discussion with colleagues, workshop presenters & writing project facilitators.)
TBA

You must RSVP for lunch by Tuesday, September 9, 2008: e-mail Mary Warner or call (408) 924-4417.

Free parking on 4th Street, just north of San Carlos Avenue
(San Jose City parking—free on weekends)

Parking at the 7th Street (& San Salvador) Garage (located right beside Sweeney Hall):
Bring five crisp one–dollar bills for the ticket machine.

Opening Speaker
&
Theme Setter

"Across the Great Divide": Writing with EL Students
Marie Milner
Santa Teresa High School
East Side Unified School District
Associate Director
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:00 AM
to
9:30 AM

Location TBA

Engaging English Language Learners and…YOU!

For K–3rd Grade Teachers

Effectively engage your ELs with brain–based strategies that promote cooperative learning, community building, culturally responsive teaching, and explicit instruction. Learn how to plan lessons with the three variables of language acquisition: language input, language output, and supportive context. Expect an abundance of movement and collaboration.

Maria Smith
Literacy Coach
Berryessa Union School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Location TBA

Building Confidence and Community
in the EL Classroom

For 4th–8th Grade Teachers

This hands-on workshop focuses on teaching strategies—including interactive skits/dramas, poetry, vocabulary games—to use with EL and non-EL students alike. We will also learn how to adapt Cornell notes for EL students. Participants will learn ways to build community in the classroom, creating an environment that is fun, inviting, and challenging.

Lindsey Stewart
Piedmont Middle School
Berryessa Union School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Location TBA

They're Poets and They Don't Know It:
Using Poetry to Enhance Comprehension
in the EL Classroom

For 9th–12th Grade Teachers

Poetry is a particularly versatile tool in the EL classroom. Students can demonstrate a clear grasp of characterization, setting, theme, parts of speech, vocabulary, and descriptive language through writing their own poems. This workshop provides dozens of poetry–writing ideas you can use with all students to enhance or assess learning.

Debra Navratil
Silver Creek High School
East Side Union High School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Location TBA

October 11, 2008

Theme:
One Step Closer to Knowing:
Expository/Essay Writing

San José State University,
7th and San Carlos Streets

Check In & Registration:
8:30 AM–9:00 AM
Sweeney Hall
Room 229

Theme Setting:
9:00 AM–9:30 AM

Super Saturday Workshops:
9:45 AM–12:00 PM

Collaboration & Application:
12:00 PM–12:15 PM

Buffet Lunch (Included in Registration Fee):
12:15 PM–1:15 PM
(Ongoing, informal discussion with colleagues, workshop presenters & writing project facilitators.)
Sweeney Hall
Room 229

You must RSVP for lunch by Tuesday, October 7, 2008: e-mail Mary Warner or call (408) 924-4417.

Free parking on 4th Street, just north of San Carlos Avenue
(San Jose City parking—free on weekends)

Parking at the 7th Street (& San Salvador) Garage (located right beside Sweeney Hall):
Bring five crisp one–dollar bills for the ticket machine.

Opening Speaker
&
Theme Setter

Margaret Tomita
Middle Grades Specialist
San Jose Unified School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:00 AM
to
9:30 AM

Sweeney Hall
Room 229

Taking the First Steps
into Expository Writing

For K–3rd Grade Teachers

It's possible to have fun teaching while incorporating expository writing into your classroom! This workshop will focus on strategies including 'color sentences' that help to introduce paragraph writing to your K–3 students. Many different strategies will be discussed that teachers can use combined with current best practices.

Jennifer Kim
Pearl Zanker Elementary School
Milpitas Unified School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Sweeney Hall
Second Foor

or
Call (408) 924-4412

It's a Small World After All:
Blending Social Studies and Writing

For 4th–8th Grade Teachers

Step into expository writing through the focused lens of world citizen awareness in social studies. This workshop provides a step–by–step model of building critical thinking through expository writing while inspiring students to see worldwide issues with the goal of making positive change. Curriculum integration with the social studies texts serves as the basis for the writing model.

Julie Jenkins
Springer Elementary School
Los Altos Elementary School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Sweeney Hall
Second Foor

or
Call (408) 924-4412

Get Them All on the Same Page!—Expository Writing

For 9th–12th Grade Teachers

Learn strategies for bringing all students up to speed on paragraph writing and for enhancing students' multi-paragraph essay writing skills. Students can write stronger, more meaningful introductions. They can blend quotes into their paragraphs consistently and well. They can draw meaningful conclusions. Excellent early–in–the year ideas for students entering your classroom from all different learning environments!

Nancy Kennett
Piedmont Hills High School
East Side Unified School District
Teacher Consultant
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Sweeney Hall
Second Foor

or
Call (408) 924-4412

November 8, 2008

Theme:
"Get Your Head in the Game"
Writing on Demand

San José State University,
7th and San Carlos Streets

Check In & Registration:
8:30 AM–9:00 AM
Sweeney Hall
Room 229

Theme Setting:
9:00 AM–9:30 AM

Super Saturday Workshops:
9:45 AM–12:00 PM

Collaboration & Application:
12:00 PM–12:15 PM

Buffet Lunch (Included in Registration Fee):
12:15 PM–1:15 PM
(Ongoing, informal discussion with colleagues, workshop presenters & writing project facilitators.)
Sweeney Hall
Room 229

You must RSVP for lunch by Tuesday, November 4, 2008: e-mail Mary Warner or call (408) 924-4417.

Free parking on 4th Street, just north of San Carlos Avenue
(San Jose City parking—free on weekends)

Parking at the 7th Street (& San Salvador) Garage (located right beside Sweeney Hall):
Bring five crisp one–dollar bills for the ticket machine.

Opening Speaker
&
Theme Setter

Marty Brandt
Independence High School
East Side Unified School District
Associate Director
San Jose Area Writing Project

9:00 AM
to
9:30 AM

Sweeney Hall
Room 229

Memory Writing for Primary Students

For K–3rd Grade Teachers

Mem Fox's book, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, is used to spark personal memories. After reading the book, students talk about their memories, draw pictures, partner share, and write. The strategies used in this workshop—including lesson plans, graphic organizers, and additional suggestions for picture books related to childhood memories—help students bring their ideas from their heads to their pencils. Participants are encouraged to bring and share their favorite picture books relating to the topic.

Coincidentally, you can meet the author, Mem Fox, at Hicklebee's in San Jose, California at 7:00 PM, October 18, 2008, and at 2:00 PM, October 19, 2008.

Cindy Cohen
Teacher Consultant
Valle Vista Elementary School
Mount Pleasant School District

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Location TBA

or
Call (408) 924-4412

The Whole is the Sum of the PARTS

For 4th–8th Grade Teachers

The best way to be proactive about writing on demand in contexts like the CST is consistent and explicit writing practice. However, specific test–related strategies can give students the confidence to succeed. In this workshop Brenna Dimas guides participants through several activities that promote writing fluency and introduces the PARTS—Purpose, Audience, Role, Topic, and Strategies--for addressing any writing prompt.

Brenna Dimas
Teacher Consultant
Rancho Milpitas Middle School
Milpitas Unified School District

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

Location TBA

or
Call (408) 924-4412

Clues for Careful Reading:
Strategies for Success with On–Demand Writing

For 9th–12th Grade Teachers

Successful writing in timed settings begins with reading exercises that build up students' confidence to apply their individual writing processes to any prompt. In this workshop, participants will experience strategies that will strengthen students' reading comprehension skills, audience awareness, and writing processes. In addition, participants will gain insight into the holistic assessment of student essays written for college–level prompts used in exit exams for developmental and transfer–level college courses.

Tina Golaw
Teacher Consultant
West Valley Community College

9:45 AM
to
12:00 PM

TBA

or
Call (408) 924-4412

Spring 2009

Super Saturday Spring Program

Overall Theme: Better Modeling than Done on a Paris Runway

Throughout the Super Saturday Series, Teacher Consultants will demonstrate teaching writing, using modeling and mentor texts.

March 7, 2009

Theme:

"Can You See the Real Me?": Narrative Writing

April 4, 2009

Theme:

Rant and Roll: Fluent Writing

May 2, 2009

Theme:

Everyday I Write the Book: Reading Like a Writer

Will Hobbs
Young Adult Author:
Crossing the Wire, Down the Yukon, Leaving Protection, and others.