What Student Writing Teaches Us -- Blog Tour and Contest
Read Mark Overmeyer's new book online before it is published in mid-July and then join Mark and your fellow teachers in discussing this new, exciting title during a four-stop blog tour. Participate in our writing contest and win a free, signed copy of the book. (See details below.)
"Assessment, when used correctly in a formative way, can empower students and teachers to not only improve, but better yet, to believe in themselves as writers and teachers of writing. And once you believe you are a writer, and a teacher of writing, any barrier, no matter how imposing, begins to crumble.”
—Mark Overmeyer
In What Student Writing Teaches Us: Formative Assessment in the Writing Workshop, Mark shares his ideas about how teachers and students can use formative assessment effectively in all stages of the writing process. As Mark demonstrates through descriptions, anecdotes, and student samples, formative assessment requires meaningful planning: feedback through rubrics, checklists, conferences, and classroom discussion; and a partnership between student and teacher.
Tour stops
Visit these blogs to submit your questions to Mark and to see what others have to say about it. Then return on the given dates to read Mark's responses.
June 23: http://creativeliteracy.blogspot.com
June 25: http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com
June 29: http://teachingthatsticks.blogspot.com
July 1: http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com
In his new book Mark discusses how a writing prompt that might seem limiting actually helps students focus their writing. He talks about a second-grade classroom where students were excited to write about the following topic: "Your baby brother is inside the house and you are locked out and need to figure out a way to get back in."
Your challenge is to write a quick, piece in 500 words or less for that prompt. Mark will select the winner, who will receive a free, signed copy of What Student Writing Teaches Us. Submit your entries by July 15 to zmcmullin@stenhouse.com. The best entries will be posted on the Stenhouse blog and website.
