A N N O U N C I N G

OKLAHOMA WRITING PROJECT
RURAL OUTREACH CONFERENCE

Wednesday, August 2, 2006  9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
East Central University, Ada

UNIVERSITY CENTER

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$25.00 registration                   4 staff development points
Pay on site or bring purchase order

To register, Contact Teresa Rothrock
e-mail  [log in to unmask]   phone 580-310-5439


Registration:                   8:45 - 9:00     In front of the Estep Room
Opening Session:        9:00 - 9:20     Estep Room

Session One:            9:30 - 10:45    (choose one)


ESTEP   “Engaging English Language Learners and
Reluctant Writers in the Writing Process”
Cecilia Lozano, NBCT, Southeast High School, OKC

Many variables affect the rate students learn English.
 These include previous educational background,
literacy skills in native language, and previous
contact with English.  However, students generally
have the greatest difficulty in becoming proficient
English writers.  ELL students, like all students,
must be provided opportunities to build, extend, and
refine oral language in non-threatening ways.  In this
writing workshop, you will examine some strategies to
get your ELL students writing.  Because these are
effective teaching strategies, they will also benefit
regular students who are reluctant writers.


NEW TIGERS’ DEN “Portfolio Assessment”
Janis Cramer, Co-Director of Inservice, OWP

This presentation will include a definition of
portfolio assessment, a description of different types
of portfolios in various subject areas in grades K-16,
a description of possible contents of a portfolio,
sample rubrics, and a method for setting up a
portfolio assessment program in a classroom or in a
school district.  Program participants will have an
opportunity to write a reflective piece on one of
their own writings.  Various types of portfolios
prepared by students will be on display for the
participants' perusal.


Session Two:    11:00 - 12:15           (choose one)

NEW TIGERS’ DEN “Scaffolding Student Writing for
Assessment and Beyond”
Shelly Unsicker, Central Junior High, Moore

The Oklahoma Writing Assessment is adapted from the
Six + Traits model.  This workshop will demonstrate
how teachers can take their students through one trait
at a time, scaffolding their writing into descriptive,
narrative, persuasive, or literary essays. Teaching
students to write effectively must also mean teaching
how to assess effective writing.  First, this workshop
will demonstrate how to teach students to recognize
“effective” writing of their own, of their peers, and
in the writing they encounter every day.  Secondly,
participants will analyze the CRT Writing Assessment
Rubric and learn how to scaffold student writing by
working on one trait at a time.

ESTEP   “You Bet, They’ll Read!”
Claudia Swisher, NBCT, Norman North High School

 There is good news about high school students’
reading habits. This session will share the results of
original teacher research. Students’ reading habits,
preferences, perceptions will be compared at three
times during an elective English class designed to
allow students to read self-selected materials—a class
in reading for personal pleasure. Connections between
reading and writing will be suggested, including some
ideas for using reader’s workshop in secondary school.


LUNCH:                  12:15 - 1:00    (on your own; campus deli
available)


Session Three:          1:15 - 2:30     (choose one)

ESTEP   “Sanity 101:  How To Manage an Active Writing
Classroom”
Teresa Rothrock, East Central University

Teachers know students learn differently and writers
are unique.  We also know that creativity is messy and
that a classroom full of individual styles can be
chaotic.  This presentation gives proven methods for
managing workshop-style classrooms using recursive
writing processes.  It also shows ways to write more
and grade less by using one-on-one conferences and
portfolio assessment.

NEW TIGERS’ DEN    “Different Genre Writing within a
Science Classroom”
                                     Tamara
Lookabaugh, Central Junior High, Moore

It can be difficult to foster student enthusiasm for
writing in a science classroom.  Students crave
laboratory experiences and hands-on activities but
often complain about recording metacognitive process
into written form.  Strict cookie cutter labs and
worksheets requiring the perfect answer are the basis
for many students’ negative feelings toward science.
This presentation will offer some alternative methods
of assessing science content knowledge while
strengthening creative writing skills.  By providing a
variety of writing alternatives, students are given an
opportunity to become more proficient in communicating
their ideas effectively.



Closing Session:        2:40 - 3:00     Estep Room