River Brown

Composing

Creating presentations for teachers takes a creative aesthetic like composing a great salad.

The one I’m writing now needs something twisty like the orange muscat champagne vinegar that makes this simple green salad sing. Hmmm, what will that be?

I never fear my audience when i cook for them. However, these are K-2 educators, professional arm-crossers and well acquainted with the details of their trade. I am a newcomer to primary as an intervention teacher even though I am a veteran teacher. Why do I not feel I’m their equal?

What mix of student samples, visuals, information and activities will engage them? How will I scoot off center stage and set them by grades to a meaningful task at a meeting they did not invite themselves to?

The salad course is CCSS Anchor Standard 1: Writing opinions. Perhaps I should plow on with my prepping and not trying to field all the imaginary opinions? Maybe they’re not going to throw cabbages at me, after all?

Even so, a presentation should be crisp and multi-flavored, like a great salad.

River Brown

2023

On Writing, River Slices, Writing

writing

5 responses to “Composing”

lromainebrown

March 7, 2013 at 3:28 am

Thank you so much for the encouragement. Yes, I’m still thinking about the design of their lesson…

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kdoele

March 7, 2013 at 3:25 am

“Professional arm crossers” is so true. I just gave a presentation in my district to the same grade levels and choose the ccss for opinion writing as my focus as well. I am a teacher in the district and have engaged in many professional opportunities in the area of writing. I am their expert 🙂 It is hard in your own district but I have found that the sharing of student samples is what seems to bring everyone together. We talk about what the student knows and how we might raise the level of their writing. I did not have much luck with getting the teachers to write a mini lesson but they did do a lot of talking in grade level groups and sharing of ideas. I received many thank yous and requests for help with creating anchor charts in the future. Have fun and they will too. Good luck!

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krystinicole

March 7, 2013 at 2:18 am

“How will I scoot off center stage and set them by grades to a meaningful task at a meeting they did not invite themselves to?” Is so true! I find it interesting that I totally feel this way for both presentations for students and teachers and yet my answer to the question is very different for each. I’ll be crossing fingers for you instead of arms! Hope it goes well!

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Lee Ann Spillane

March 7, 2013 at 1:52 am

“Professional arm-crossers” made me grin. I know a few high-school teachers that fit that description and though I might be tempted to dress their salad with a biting, bitter green, the sweet side–those orange slices–with a touch of savory is what will win them over during the meal. I am sure that you are as engaging of a speaker as you are a writer. Good luck with your presentation!

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readingtothecore

March 7, 2013 at 1:12 am

I love the salad analogy! Your respect for your audience is sure to come through to them as well. I’m sure your presentation will be very helpful.

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