Wordstock is: Mechanically Inclined
Teachers—spend the day with Jeff Anderson at Wordstock for Teachers
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Phew! We all made it. The first week of school is over. We’re exhausted, but we’re still standing. It was a busy week—Presidential speeches, preparing for the flu season, breaking in new-school-year outfits, getting kids settled and ready to learn. So now, week two: When the teaching really begins. Parents and educators alike are settling in to some of the familiar school-daze quandaries: How do I get my kids to love reading and writing? How can I inspire them?
In anticipation of this year’s very exciting Wordstock for Teachers workshop, we thought we would bring you a few pearls of wisdom from Jeff Anderson, author of MECHANICALLY INCLINED, and this year’s workshop presenter:
Before we can talk about what’s unconventional in the teaching of grammar and mechanics, we have to settle on what’s conventional. I’d have to say death by editing or tough-love-error eradication― you know, papers splattered with red marking off a crime scene of error. We train kids to follow the errors, to become a CSI― crime sentence investigator. That’s been the order of the day. As if students take home the eviscerated essay and consider their pattern of error and use a handbook to brush up on their weak spots. I think they file them away― in the garbage― and then assume the identity that they can’t write.
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I say stray. Stray from the conventional. Stray from teaching students that hunting for errors (Weaver, 1995) is the end-all and be-all of writing. Stray from putting incorrect sentences on the overhead everyday for editing― or is it target? ― practice. Does it make sense for students to stare at wrongness every day (Anderson, 2005)? Really. I am asking. Does it make sense? (From “Stray from the Conventional Wisdom: Show Writers How to Shape Writing with Grammar and Mechanics.” AdLit In Perspective, May/June 2007.)
If your interest is piqued, consider joining us and Jeff for a day-long accredited training (credit is available through the University of Oregon) at the Wordstock for Teachers workshop on Friday, October 9. Jeff will discuss strategies for K-8 teachers on this state-wide inservice day. Plus, the first 40 teachers to register will be able to participate in writing workshop just for teachers on Saturday, October 10 at the festival.