“Syntax and Voice: Creating a Relationship with Syntax”
Jenny Scott Beathard, Fletcher High School, Fletcher Public Schools
Start with a question or a statement? Have a  run-on sentence? What is the best solution—divide and conquer with two separate sentences; perhaps create a cumulative sentence using a well placed dash or semicolon?  Does it make a difference to your reader? Ultimately sentence structure and fluency help create our own voice. Teachers will study and evaluate sentences creating their own sentences to better understand the workings of syntax and voice.

 

“From Cocoon to Butterfly: Using Children’s Books in Writing”
Rebecca Borden, Norman High School, Norman Public Schools
Are you hungry to motivate students to want to write? A great way to foster writing skills at any grade level or subject area is using children’s books. Through children’s literature, teachers can inspire students to build vocabulary, create found poetry, and create their own books both by hand and by using digital media.

 

“Classrooms Without Borders: Strategies for Enhancing ELL Learning in the Classroom ”
Eloisa Briones, University of Oklahoma
Do you look at your ELL student as a problem? When an English language learner enters our classroom, it can be overwhelming for a teacher. We don’t know what to do. Let’s cross the border and welcome them into our classroom. Here are some activity-based tips to get you started.

 

“From Play Dough to Paragraphs: Promoting and Assessing Writing Growth in theEarly Childhood Classroom”
Amy Carruth, Truman Elementary, Norman Public Schools
The early childhood classroom is the perfect environment for a young children to begin their journey as a writer. Using student examples and current research, this presentation provides simple yet effective activities that will promote writing growth in young students. Objectives include: 1) to clearly define the developmental stages of writing most commonly found in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first and second grade classrooms; 2) to provide activities that will promote writing growth for each stage of writing development; and 3) to provide meaningful writing assessments for each stage of writing development.

 

“Digging for Diamonds: How to get the Best Writing from Your Special Education Students”
Julie Fisher, Whittier Middle School, Norman Public Schools
Participants will leave with techniques for writing with special education students. These are activities to use with general education classes and specifically with special education classes or co-taught classes.

 

“The Writing Process: Reaching Struggling Children in Poverty”
Stacey Howard, Cross Timber Elementary, Tecumseh Public Schools
For children who live in poverty, the value of education is crucial. Fostering learning and ensuring a sound future are vital components to breaking the cycle of poverty. Participants will explore the writing process and the Six Traits of Writing in a variety of different modes to further develop student writing.

 

“Catching Lightning Bugs: Illuminating Students’ Writing with Word Choice”
Ann Judah, Red Oak Elementary, Moore Public Schools
Despite their higher vocabularies, students of all ages tend to rely on dull and overused words. This presentation will provide PASS aligned strategies and lessons using graphic organizers, magazines, and literature to help develop students’ ability to catch those elusive ‘just right’ words.

 

“Secondhand Skin: Teaching Tolerance and Broadening Student Perspective Through Writing ”
Lauren Kelley, Harding Charter Preparatory High School
Questions surrounding issues such as race, religion, gender, and socio-economic level are posed by students and teachers at all levels. Although these may be difficult to answer, we as educators can capitalize on these opportunities to foster tolerance and open-mindedness in our students. Through writing of varying types, students are able to form evolved opinions and ideals concerning issues of diversity in an ever-changing world.

 

“Ready, Set, Write ...”
Donna McMullen, Lake Park Elementary, Putnam City Public Schools
This Oklahoma Writing Project presentation, based on current brain research and effective teaching strategies, will take the participants through the writing process with an emphasis on prewriting, figurative language, and point of view.  This workshop incorporates art and technology to engage learners and help develop organized writing.

“NO BONES ABOUT IT- Writing is Fun!!!”
Susan Phillips, Winding Creek Elementary, Moore Public Schools
Using a skeleton graphic organizer is a fun and exciting approach to get young writers to write and "put the flesh on the bones."  Participants will leave with a new technique for using story elements to aide students when writing their own stories, but also when reading stories that others have written.  

 

“Rolling Out the Welcome Mat: Making Life Easier for the English Language Learner”
Darcy Pippins, Norman High School, Norman Public Schools
Have you had ELL students in your classroom that you just couldn’t connect with? Are you at your wit’s end trying to get them motivated to do anything?  This workshop will provide you with tools to engage and motivate your students and differentiate your curriculum using role-play and vocabulary building activities.

 

“Expository Writing? Why it’s Elementary, My Dear!”
Michelle Seybolt, Eisenhower Elementary, Norman Public Schools
We encounter expository writing everyday: newspapers, articles, directions, etc. Students need to be comfortable interacting with and producing pieces of expository writing. Using the writing process we can ensure student success with expository writing.

 

“Write What You Know: Motivating the Unmotivated in your Classroom”
Melanie Vincent, All Saints Catholic School
Unmotivated students often struggle with writing. It is a challenge for many teachers to get these students engaged in the writing process. Activities which require students to think and write about their own life experiences have proven successful with reluctant writers. This presentation will model such activities through the use of student examples and direct instruction. Because students enjoy talking and writing about themselves, the activities work well with all ability and motivation levels. The use of these writing activities also encourages students to engage in higher-level thinking and discussions.

 

“Research Remix”
Alison Wilson, Moore West Junior High, Moore Public Schools
For many students at all levels of education, the research process can be

daunting. From brainstorming a topic to using research skills that result in a synthesized final product, researching is a complex and often overwhelming task. Objectives are: 1) to demonstrate the connection between research and PASS objectives, writing skills, and inquiry; 2) to introduce and model a multi-genre research project (MGRP) that challenges and motivates students to achieve higher-level thinking; and 3) to suggest how an MGRP can be used to engage students in content throughout many grade levels and subjects.