Reflection on Day 2

Day 2 of SWIFT began with a journal from Mairead which recalled the activity of Day 1.

On Day 2 Ann and Finin contributed two very different demos.

Ann showed us a short movie - The White Dress - and we discussed the work along a continuum which ranged from bias and trying to interpret the director's motives to examining the piece from a purely technical perspective.  Ann urged us to consider the film in terms of sound, setting, lighting, number and type of scenes, camera angles etc.  In the course of discussing the film we explored the discourse of film; we also read the screenplay for the work which linked nicely with Ferdia and Christina's contribution on Day 1.  Ann finished her lesson by asking us to devise and create tableaux for another scene, a new one that we created in small groups.

Finin's demo reminded us of the strong theoretical framework that can underpin our work and helped us to understand what it is we are trying to achieve.  His emphasis on the work of Vygotsky, the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the More Knowledgeable Other reinforced the social nature of our learning and how teachers and fellow students can stretch and bolster us.  The theory was made practical in part in a collaborative writing exercise in which we built a story (across two flip charts!) with a range of characters, different setting and an outlandish plot line :-)  The prompt for the story was anything that had caught our attention on they way in that morning. These ideas, listed together, these facts, formed the basis for our fiction.

The rest of the day was given over to agreeing guidelines for writers' groups at SWIFT (noted as a separate post) and hearing from two of last year's fellow, Trish and Donna.  Trish and Donna brought us through 'new ways to new worlds' demoing a range of technologies that they employ in their teaching.  For a self-confessed Luddite, it was hard for me to grasp just how much technology exists out there that could be usefully employed to bring more life to the classroom.  Equally, it was reassuring to hear from Trish and Donna that they had successfully negotiated their ways into these world and that on several occasions their students had helped them come to grips with new media.

We finished the day urging folks to complete 15-20 mins of writing that they will present at writers' group on Thursday.

Reflections on Day 1

Monday 20th July marked the first day of SWIFT 2015.  It was wonderful to welcome our colleagues from across the sector and across the country.  We began with some icebreakers and some opportunities to find out who was in the room.  This was followed by an input inspired by our absent friends from the Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) - Berkeley -  Kristen and Greta.  The exercise is called 'Foods from my childhood' and the co-director of SWIFT 2015, Deirdre, very gentled urged the group to list foods they remembered, to talk about them with a partner, to steal good ideas, to develop a couple of items from the list and finally to write about one of the foods that mattered most.  We read these to our partners and some brave participants (Orlagh and Neil) shared their ideas with the group.

The morning continued with the first of our demos, this one from Martina.  Martina spoke of the great work which she has done in St Aidan's in Tallaght on the Make a Book project and she set us all up to write a picture book about a pet.  The results were collaborative efforts which amused all.

After lunch, two of last year's Fellows (Ferdia and Christina) returned to Maynooth to work with us on screenplay writing.  These presenters challenged us with the form of screenplay writing and prompted us to consider how we might integrate either the method or the essence of this type of writing into our own curricula.

We finished the day with Mairead volunteering to provide the daily log which she presented this morning - Tuesday.  She told us that she found yesterday helped her to feel inspired and confident; that she enjoyed the 'pure and distilled form of writing' of screen play.  She finished by boldly articulating that 'Maybe I am a writer'!  

SWIFT 2015 - participants

In this, our second year of the summer institute, we were again spoiled in terms of the very high calibre of the applications.  We are so fortunate that the Institute attracts such wonderful teachers who are dedicated and innovative in equal measure.

After a very difficult process we have now made offers to our 20 participants for SWIFT 2015.

We look forward to sharing the Institute with you through this blog.

Alison

Announcing SWIFT 2015

Maynooth University Summer Writing Institute For Teachers (SWIFT)

In July 2015 Maynooth University will host its second week-long writing institute on campus.  The institute was originally designed in consultation with a range of teaching and learning networks, including Maynooth University Early Childhood, the Further Education Support Service, the Reading Association of Ireland and the Irish Network for the Enhancement of Writing.  The institute draws from the US National Writing Project model and is designed to provide an opportunity for teachers, from all education levels, to meet, share good practice, and learn more about writing and the teaching of writing.

At the institute you will look closely at your own writing and student writing, explore issues and ideas in the teaching of writing, work toward becoming teacher leaders and share classroom practices or activities. 

The institute will take place daily from 10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. from Monday 20^th July until Friday 24^th July inclusive. 

The institute will be free to all participants but places will be strictly limited and allocated across the education levels.

If you are interested in attending this event please contact us for an application form.  The completed form should be submitted to us before Wednesday 20^th May 2015.  All applications must be made by email to writingcentre@nuim.ie. All shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Wednesday 27^th May 2015. 

All queries about the project should be directed to the writingcentre@nuim.ie

Day 5 Summer Institute - the last day.

Day 5  Summer Institute - the last day of the Institute.

On Friday Mary and Ann provided the demos.

Mary began, as all our Fellows had, with an overview of her teacher journey and some comments about what is at the core of her work as an educator.  She noted that she loves teenagers ... 'and that really helps!'  She emphasised how important it is for her to provide a learning environment which is underpinned with a focus on self-esteem, confidence, dignity and respect.

In Mary's demo we considered poetry and talked about 'post it' poems.  We were treated to Randoms, reminded about William Carlos Williams and Raymond Carver, and we experienced Mary in 'teacher mode' giving us WWs - working wells - and reminding us not to drink in class!

We stood up, we watched, we listened, we wrote, we left the room, we returned.

We were engaged in learner-centred, active, values-driven approaches to writing.

In the second demo Ann declared herself a writer, which she said she had never done before.  It was a fabulous moment for Ann and for the group as we felt we had all travelled with Ann on the last leg to the point where she could make this statement.  Ann talked about her work, what had brought her into teaching and how at one point she had got lost as a teacher.  She noted that she had to change her pace - she is famously energetic - and to allow time for feedback and reflection.   She highlighted that her work is influenced by Barrie Bennett.

Ann emphasised the importance of happiness and that, in her experience, as stress reduces, confidence grown.  Given that her first passion is drama she drew on  influences from that world specifically, from Stanislavsky: method acting, emotional memory and the magic IF.

Ann's demo connected us again with imagination bringing us full circle to Monday's sessions and the ideas about imagination that surfaced then.  In her demo we warmed up physically and connected with the range of senses.

Ann remarked that working with colleagues over the week reminded her that she could (should?) write when her students write.  In addition, being at the Institute helped Ann to remember who she wanted to be as a teacher.

Friday, the last day of the Institute, also included author's chair over lunchtime.  During author's chair we listened to pieces that our Fellows had started on Day 1 and that they had worked on at different times throughout the week.  There were five authors who read to us on Friday: Chris, Mary, Eileen, Christina and Patricia.  The works were diverse and engaging - the variety intriguing and the worlds finely drawn.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to listen to these Fellows' writing: a most enriching and enjoyable way to spend lunchtime.

Lunch was followed by an invited contribution from Carmel Lillis, herself a very experienced teacher at many levels including on Toriaocht a leadership programme run by the NUI Maynooth Education Department.  Carmel encouraged all of us to see ourselves as potential leaders and she talked about the necessity to have professional conversations within our education settings.  Carmel urged us to think about how we can affect change and she drew on Alan C Jones' work which notes, amongst other important factors, the need for moral purpose, courage to act, situational awareness, sustainability through empowerment and modelling.  We were left wondering how we could build on what we had learned and experienced during the week once we return to our own settings.

The day finished with more writing and talking and a focus on the need for reflection.

We also began to think about 'what next?'

Poetry prompt - This Is Just To Say

This Is Just To Say

William Carlos Williams, 1883-1963

I have eaten

the plums 

that were in

the icebox

and which 

you were

probably saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold.

Mary told us how she uses this poem when working with Transition year students, helping them to write poetry.

Day 4 of the Summer Institute

Today Claire provided us with a demo that had been inspired by her work with a writing group in her school.  She noted that she draws on Donald Graves work and his four essentials -  All Children Can Write.  She noted those essentials for us:

1. time 

2. child choice 

3. response to child meaning 

4. establishment of a community of learners.

Claire emphasised the importance of play and how at one point she had forgotten that play is important for all our students - for all of us.

She noted how much we need to remember that writers ask themselves questions about the world - not just about big global issues but also about the apparent trivia.  She talked about seeing the world afresh.  It triggered for me that line from Kavanagh which resurfaced now years after hearing it first but which has often echoed: 'And the newness that was in every stale thing.'  

As a group we played an A-Z story making game which led to a lot of laughter from the various contributions.  We followed this with choosing a picture from a newspaper, cutting it out, building a character and putting them in to a story.

Today we also had writing time with our groups in part preparation for the Author's Chair today.

The day finished with a contribution from Lawrence Cleary, from the Regional Writing Centre in University of Limerick who urged us to consider writing processes.  He used some of their wonderful 'How I write Ireland' footage to demonstrate the sort of questions we could ask of ourselves as writers and of our students.  He also provided practical advice about how to make similar videos to what UL has produced.
Tomorrow is our last day  ...