This has been an incredible week so far. Yesterday I was visiting with Alyson Whyte, John Pennisi, and other site leaders at the Sunbelt Writing Project in Auburn. Today, I met with Ellen Shelton and members of the University of Mississippi site. I'm not finished with my rounds yet (one more day in Oxford tomorrow, and another in Auburn on Thursday), but I've learned so many wonderful, fabulous, fantastic, mind-blowing, hey-I-just-feel-so-friggin'-energized things that I've got to write them down.
I'm in my hotel room (it's a Holiday Inn Express, so I feel like the savvy traveler), and I've yet to compile my notes but here are a few points of interest that I felt just couldn't wait until our meeting on Friday:
1.) Much of what we do (e.g., daily minutes, writing sessions, lesson plan modeling) is being done by the Sunbelt and U. of Mississippi sites, so we're clearly on the right track.
2.) Both sites have introduced a new element to their course requirements--teacher inquiry. Summer Institute participants first research, then present on and/or write about issues related to their writing instruction.
3.) Directors of both sites stated that they view Summer Institute fellows as invaluable resources. Ellen Shelton stressed the importance of taking a "de-centered" approach to site structure and organization. The dynamics of each site also seem friendly and productive.
4.) Both sites, the U. of Mississippi site in particular, are taking some innovative approaches to peer review workshops and methods of response.
And finally, leaders and participants of both sites were simply delightful to work with. They've made me feel very welcome, and I've enjoyed meeting them, writing with them, and listening to their ideas and suggestions so much.
Monday, June 22, 2009 at 10:12AM 