TEXAS TEACHER INSERVICES & STUDENT WRITING CAMPS

TEACHER INSERVICES

Your teachers can come to our Kemah Conference Center or we can come to your School or District!!

STAAR Narrative Inservice, Day 1 (PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

The STAAR Narrative Day is dedicated to brain-based strategies and activities which include 3-D paper folding activities that teach students how to write a one page composition that is interesting and concise.  Teachers participate in     tactile-kinesthetic activities that teach students organization, progression, and development of ideas, including voice, which are the key ingredients for the STAAR State Rubric. Teachers will walk away with example “scaffolded”          STAAR-type prompts and sample compositions that they can use with their students. Teachers are introduced to the vertical alignment of The Writing Academy process during this inservice.  Teachers will love the writing activities that lead to a foundation for great writing.  Teachers will be provided with strategies that are grade level appropriate.  Teachers will return to their classrooms with confidence as well as a new sense of purpose in their own role in teaching successful writing.   When teaching is fun, interesting, and engaging, it is effective for the students!  This is a teacher-friendly inservice!  By the end of this inservice it will be transparent that the key to getting students to write like authors is teaching them to think like authors!  (The 9-12 includes the STAAR Literary component.)

STAAR Expository Inservice, Day 1 (PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Teachers will experience hands-on activities and games that will help them explain what an expository composition is and what the writing genres are to their students.  They will experience the “How and Why Café” which teaches students to develop their expository papers by using different strategies that enhance their compositions.  Teachers will experience the difference between teaching how to write an “explain” paper that has steps, and one that does not. Teachers will learn effective methods to teach:  Expository, which includes:  Informative, Procedural, Masked, Classificatory, and Compare/Contrast and walk away with sample papers for each.  The participants will learn how to teach students to write expository introductions and conclusions.  Teachers will participate in and be able to take back to their students brain-based games that make Expository writing engaging.   It will be clearly stated at which grade levels these types of writing are in the ELAR TEKS and at which grade level they will be tested.  The day will be rounded out by ideas on teacher-student conferences and motivational research brochures.  Teachers will walk away confident they know how to teach all of the types of writing their students, at the grade level they teach, need to learn.  They will also walk away with examples, activity sheets, and a manipulative (called an I-WRITE) that will make this necessary form of writing come alive in their classrooms.  Teachers will receive prompts for each type of Expository in the STAAR form of “Read, Think, Write” and example papers to share with their students. (The 9-12 includes analytical writing.)

Narrative 15 Points of Distinction Inservice, Day 2 (1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

We all recognize that there is a difference between good and great writing.  The question is, “What makes a composition great?”  After studying hundreds of papers, Randi Whitney discovered that there are 15 attributes that occur in great personal narrative papers that do NOT appear in good papers.  This six-hour inservice takes the participants through activities for each of these Narrative 15 Points of Distinction.  The activities are oral, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic and are based on the student’s age, grade, and readiness.

Expository 15 Points of Distinction Inservice, Follow-Up (1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

(Participants must have had our STAAR Expository Inservice)

Again, we all recognize that there is a difference between good and great writing.  Teachers experience concepts and activities that will show your students how to write great expository papers.  This six-hour inservice takes the participants through activities for each of these Expository 15 Points of Distinction.  The activities are oral, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic and are based on the student’s age, grade, and readiness.

Project Expository, Day 2 (3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Project Expository is an experience as well as an inservice.  Teachers learn an exciting and innovative way to have their students practice all of the forms of expository writing, as well as various forms of letters, business forms, and persuasive treatments.  Math and problem solving are embedded in this real life experience built around creating, and running a toy store at the 3-5 and 6-8 levels, and a music store at the 9-12 level.  Competition between stores and the results of decisions made within companies lead to great discussions.  The experience culminates in each store (group of students) creating and performing a commercial.  This is a six weeks unit that is completely crafted for the teacher.  Teachers walk away with everything they need including the lessons, activities, forms, and scope and sequence.   If you want to be the teacher your students remember – in a positive way – build Project Expository into your curriculum!!

Four Day Summer Institutes at our Kemah Conference Center

(PK-2 Sessions and 3-8 Sessions)

This is an inservice experience like no other!  Teachers enjoy a tearoom-type setting, complete with a little pampering:  chocolate covered strawberries and other cute snacks, blankets if cold, small fans if hot, a light breakfast, and a vast assortment of flavors of soaps and lotions.  Now, within that setting add the best, most effective inservice experience of your life, including make-and-takes so that you are ready for the year, and you have a Kemah Conference Center Four Day Summer Institute!  This year the institutes are all new, featuring the new STAAR Narrative and STAAR Expository materials.  Teachers will enjoy a couple of hours of interactive inservice presented by high-energy presenters; and, will then be given all of the materials to make class sets, groups sets, and demonstration models needed to implement The Writing Academy in their classrooms.  Teachers will walk away with a suitcase overflowing with materials to use with their students.  They will also leave with a mind full of new, energizing strategies to teach the STAAR Narrative and the STAAR Expository!

We also have a six hour inservices on the 4^th Grade STAAR Curriculum Guide and a six hour inservice on the 7^th Grade Curriculum Guide. 

By August 2013, we will have a follow-up inservice for Expository:  STAAR Expository Across the Curriculum

COSTS for our Kemah Conference Center Seminars:  $145 per teacher/per day.  To see a Schedule of Dates for our Kemah Conferences, please click on “Conferences” on our home page.  For additional questions, please call 281-538-3241, or email dena@twa.net.

COSTS of the Writing Academy Coming to Your School/District (TEXAS)

Our inservices are in grade level groups in order to keep them age/grade level appropriate:

PK-2

3-5

6-8

9-12

For each grade level group we offer:

STAAR Narrative

STAAR Expository

STAAR Narrative 15 Points of Distinction (follow up inservice)

STAAR Expository 15 Points of Distinction (follow up inservice)

For 4^th Grade, we offer a six hour workshop on the 4^th Grade STAAR Curriculum Guide.

For 7^th Grade, we offer a six hour workshop on the 7^th Grade STAAR Curriculum Guide.

By August 2013, we will also offer Expository Across the Curriculum for grades 3-5 and 6-8 (follow up inservices)

Each is a six hour inservice.

Each six hour inservice is $1950 (including travel.)  This price is for up to 50 particpants.  We do 51-75 in a session, but please add $500.00.

Examples:

If you wanted a 3-5 STAAR Narrative, the cost would be $1950.

If you wanted a 3-5 STAAR Narrative and a 3-5 STAAR Expository, the cost would be $1950 X 2 = $3900.00. 

If you wanted a PK-2 STAAR Narrative and a 3-5 STAAR Narrative on the same day, and the next day a PK-2 STAAR Expository and a 3-5 STAAR Expository, the cost would be  $1950 X 4 = $7800.00.

For more information pertaining to us coming to you, feel free to email (cheryl@twa.net) or call Cheryl Fowler, Executive Director of The Writing Academy, on her direct line:  281-470-1111.  Cheryl schedules all of our inservices at schools and districts. 

For more information on the Four Day Institutes, or any of the above seminars at our Kemah Conference Center, please call our main office:  281-538-3241.  For a schedule of our Kemah Conference Center seminars and prices, please click on “Conferences” on our home page.

STUDENT WRITING CAMPS

Teachers can receive CPE inservice hours while their Fourth or Seventh Grade students benefit from participating in STAAR Writing CAMPS!

Our tactile-kinesthetic STAAR Writing CAMPS address both the STAAR Narrative and the STAAR Expository.  All of our student materials for the CAMPS are available in Spanish, at no extra charge.

Half of your fourth grade classes (or seventh grade classes) attend a two hour and 15 minute CAMP in the morning and the rest of your fourth (or seventh) grade classes attend in the afternoon.  (i.e. If you have five classes, three would attend in the a.m. and two would attend in the p.m.  Teachers would stay with their students so that they could continue teaching our proven methods!)

We have a STAAR Narrative CAMP and a STAAR Expository CAMP that was developed for August, September, October, or November involving everything that needs to be taught during the first four months of school.  When teaching the Narrative, students need guidance in how to plan their composition so that they can reflect on their experience.  The Expository essays need to be just as tactile-kinesthetic and fun to learn as our hands-on methods for Narrative in order to be effective.  The Narrative composition and the Expository essay needs to be taught using manipulatives, learning games, and straight-forward teaching during August, September, October, November and December.  That will leave teachers and students January, February and part of March to practice both Narrative compositions and Expository essays and develop the skills needed to earn the highest scores on the STAAR test!

Descriptions of our four Student Writing CAMPS:

Blast Off STAAR NARRATIVE Student Writing CAMP

(August, September, October, or November)

This CAMP covers everything your students need to know and be able to do for the first four months of school regarding the STAAR Narrative.  Students will learn through tactile-kinesthetic activities how to make compositions personal, engaging, developed & reflective-while brief. They will experience the “scaffolded” STAAR prompt, real students’ papers, Pep Rallies, manipulatives, and walk away with materials that their teachers can spring-board off of to continue to teach how to write a high scoring narrative in 26 lines!

Kick the Year off “Write” EXPOSITORY Student Writing CAMP

(August, September, October, or November)

Students will make a manipulative, play learning games, participate in activities, experience “Read, Think, Write” STAAR Expository Prompts, and analyze real student papers.  They will learn strategies for developing their expository paper.   Students will see the six things that kept other students from making high scores on the STAAR Expository essay.  Pep Rallies will be sprinkled throughout!  Students will walk away with materials and their own manipulatives that teachers can have them utilize to continue to teach how to address the different kinds of expositories effectively!

Just-in-Time STAAR Narrative Student Writing CAMP

(December, January, February, or March)

Your students will experience state of the art graphics (visuals for the brain) and unique manipulatives (tactile-kinesthetics for the brain) that teach everything the STAAR test will assess, as well as how to make high scores.  They will walk away with their own manipulative and an understanding of the depth of writing required.  Real student papers will be used as examples.  The CAMP is engaging and covers the types of introductions and conclusions the STAAR test requires within the 26 lines limit, how to tell a personal narrative that is deep yet concise, and how to use literary devices and VOICE to make the highest scores possible!  This insightful CAMP also includes mini-Pep Rallies!  It is an experience that will take your students to a new level of thinking.   Students will be able to take their manipulatives back to the classroom with them so that their teachers can continue the teaching process.

Just-in-Time STAAR Expository Student Writing CAMP

(December, January, February, or March)

Your students will do exciting activities that emphasizes: how to address expository prompts; how to add development and variety to your expository paper; how to begin an expository essay; how to avoid the six things that kept other students from passing STAAR, and how to make the highest scores.  They will experience “Read, Think, Write” prompts and real student papers!  Pep Rallies will be sprinkled throughout the CAMP. Every minute will be spent in engaging activities that ready your students for success in life, in college or career, and on the STAAR test!!!!  Teachers will be able to continue the teaching process when they return to the classroom. 

Each CAMP cost $1950 which includes travel and ALL manipulatives and materials.  All your students need to bring are two sharpened pencils! Call Cheryl Fowler on her direct line (281-470-1111) to schedule one, two, three, or all four CAMPS!

For information on our Student Writing CAMPS, please click on “Student Classroom Lessons and Writing CAMPs” link on our home page.

Seminars in States Other Than Texas

Narrative Inservice (PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

The Narrative Day is correlated to the Common Core Standards and is dedicated to brain-based strategies and activities which include 3-D paper folding activities that teach students how to write interesting compositions.  Teachers participate in tactile-kinesthetic activities that teach students organization, engaging introductions, progression, transitions, the development of ideas, including voice, and memorable conclusions. The vertical alignment of The Writing Academy process is experienced during this inservice.  Participants will love the writing activities that lead to a foundation for great writing.  Teachers will be provided with strategies that are grade level appropriate.  They will return to their classrooms with confidence as well as a new sense of purpose in their own role in teaching successful writing.   When teaching is fun, engaging and interesting, it is effective for the students!  This is a teacher-friendly inservice!  By the end of this inservice, it will be transparent that the key to getting students to write like authors is teaching them to think like authors! 

Expository & Argument Inservice (PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

The Expositor and Argument Day is also correlated with the Common Core Standards.  Teachers will experience        hands-on activities and games that will help them teach their students how to begin their argument and expository papers with a clear thesis statement, present logically ordered reasons, and provide an effective conclusion statement.  Teachers will experience the “How and Why Café” which teaches students to advance their argument and expository essays by using developmental strategies that support the reasons they use in their papers.  Participants will experience the difference between teaching how to write an “explain” paper that has steps, and one that does not.  Teachers will learn effective methods to teach:  Expository, which includes:  Informative, Procedural, Masked, Classificatory, and Compare/Contrast.  They will also receive strategies for teaching Argument writing. Teachers will participate in and be able to take back to their classrooms brain-based games that make Expository and Argument writing engaging.  The day will be rounded out by ideas on teacher-student conferences and motivational research brochures.  Teachers will leave the inservice confident they know how to teach all of the types of writing.  They will walk away with activity sheets, graphic organizers, and a manipulative that will make this necessary form of writing come alive in their classrooms.  Teachers will receive prompts for each type of Expository.  Teachers will experience brain-based games and activities that will make teaching and learning how to write effective Expository and Argument Essays fun!

Narrative 15 Points of Distinction Inservice, Follow-Up  (1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

We all recognize that there is a difference between good and great.  The question is, “What makes a composition great?”  After studying hundreds of papers, Randi Whitney discovered that there are 15 attributes that occur in great papers that do NOT appear in good papers.  This six-hour inservice takes the participants through activities for each of the Narrative 15 Points of Distinction.  The activities are oral, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic and are based on the student’s age, grade, and readiness.

Expository 15 Points of Distinction Inservice, Follow-Up (1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

(Participants must have had our STAAR Expository Inservice)

Again, we all recognize that there is a difference between good and great writing.  Teachers experience concepts and activities that will show their students how to write great expository papers.  This six-hour inservice takes the participants through activities for each of the Expository 15 Points of Distinction.  The activities are oral, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic and are based on the student’s age, grade, and readiness.

Four Day Summer Institutes at our Kemah Conference Center

(PK-2 Sessions and 3-8 Sessions)

This is an inservice experience like no other!  Teachers enjoy a tearoom-type setting, complete with a little pampering:  chocolate covered strawberries and other cute snacks, blankets if cold, small fans if hot, a light breakfast, and a vast assortment of flavors of soaps and lotions.  Now, within that setting add the best, most effective inservice experience of your life, including make-and-takes so that you are ready for the year, and you have a Kemah Conference Center Four Day Summer Institute!  Teachers will enjoy a couple of hours of interactive inservice presented by high-energy presenters; and, will then be given all of the materials to make class sets, groups sets, and demonstration models needed to implement The Writing Academy in their classrooms.  Teachers will walk away with a suitcase overflowing with materials to use with their students.  They will also leave with a mind full of new, energizing strategies to teach Narrative, Argument, and Expository Writing.

We would love to come for  any or all of the following inservices:

PK-2  Narrative

PK-2  Expository

PK-2  Narrative 15 Points of Distinction (this is a follow up, aimed at making even higher scores, with activities at the appropriate grade level)

PK-2 Expository 15 Points of Distinction

3-5  Narrative

3-5  Expository

3-5  Narrative 15 Points of Distinction (this is a follow up, aimed at making even higher scores, with activities at the appropriate grade level)

3-5 Expository 15 Points of Distinction

6-8  Narrative

6-8  Expository

6-8  Narrative 15 Points of Distinction (this is a follow up, aimed at making even higher scores, with activities at the appropriate grade level)

6-8 Expository 15 Points of Distinction

9-12 Narrative

9-12 Expository

Each inservice is six hours, and cost $1950, plus travel.

Travel costs:  A flight for a consultant is $475; a hotel for one night is $150 (if you want two consultants to come, to do two inservices on the same day, they can share a room and a rental car.); a rental car for one day is $150.

If you would like multiple consultants to present multiple inservices on the same day, that is possible.  (i.e. If you would like the PK- 2 Narrative in the cafeteria and the 3-5 Narrative in the library, the cost would be $1950 X 2 = $3900, plus travel.  It would involve two flights, but the consultants would share the hotel room and rental car.)

We would love to come.  Please let me know if you want me to check any particular dates for availability.

Thank you so much,

Cheryl Fowler

Executive Director of The Writing Academy

Direct line 281-470-1111

cheryl@twa.net