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English 830: Teaching Composition — The Teaching Journey

The Teaching Journey

Overview

The best teachers never stop learning. In fact, the best thing about teaching is that you get to learn from your students. That makes teaching a life journey. And teaching is, indeed, a way of life. Teachers are always thinking about teaching. They read something, and they think about having their students read it too. They see something, and they think about having their students watch it too. They experience something, and they wonder how that experience might shape their students’ learning. The best teachers are embarked on a lifetime journey. Hopefully this course will help you along that journey.

Guiding Question

  • Who am I as a writer and writing teacher?

Lesson Plan

Part 1. Centering (5 minutes)

  • Dr. Pagnucci will lead you through a breathing exercise.

Part 2. Some Music for Writing

  • TBD

Part 3. Journal Writing (15 minutes)

  • We have lots of time, so I want you to take your time. Write everything you can about the following questions:
  • Who are you as a student taking this summer course in the CAL  Program? (5 minutes)
  • Who are you as a teacher? What teaching have you done? What do you know about good teaching? (5 minutes)
  • Who are you as a writer? What do you know about good writing? (5 minutes)
  • Other important thoughts as you start your journey (5 minutes)

Part 4. Journal Reading (10 minutes)

  • Now go back and read what you wrote.
  • Mark anything interesting.
  • Add any side comments or thoughts.
  • Take time to reflect on what you were writing.

Part 5. Discussion Groups (15 minutes)

  • Talk about SOME of the things you wrote
  • You don’t have to read everything aloud, but share highlights
  • Pick someone to be the Speaker who can share some of these ideas with the whole class later

Part 6. Full Class Discussion (15 minutes)

  • A Speaker from each group will share some thoughts from the group

Part 7. Break (10 minutes)

  • Stretch and re-energize

Part 8. Freewriting Task: On Writers (15 minutes)

  • Think of a great writer who’s work you love to read.
  • What does the person write about?
  • How would you describe their writing style?
  • What do you love about this writer?
  • Is there anything about this writer that you might be able to emulate in your own writing?
  • Is there anything about this writer you could share with your students?

Part 9. Discussion Groups (15 minutes)

  • Talk about writers in your group
  • What makes a person a great writer?
  • Pick someone to be the Speaker who can share some of these ideas with the whole class later

Part 10. Full Class Discussion (15 minutes)

  • A Speaker from each group will share some thoughts from the group

Part 11. Re-centering (5 minutes)

  • Dr. Pagnucci will lead you through a breathing exercise.

Part 12. Some Joyful Music for Writing

Part 13. Journal Writing (10 minutes)

  • Bring your thoughts for the day to a close
  • What brings you joy?
  • Capture that joy in your journal

Part 14. Class Wrap-up (5 minutes)

  • Dr. Pagnucci will close the class session

Assignments

Due July 10: Required Readings–The College Composition Course

Due June 12: First Draft of Course Syllabus

  • Create or Revise a Syllabus for a College Composition Course Syllabus
    • If you have taught college composition before, go over your syllabus and decide how you might improve it
    • If you have never taught college composition, create a new basic syllabus for the course
    • If you wish to work on a syllabus for a different course, you may do so, but the course must require students to do substantial writing
    • You may plan your syllabus for a specific semester or just organize it by weeks (Week 1, Week 2, etc.)
    • You don’t need to include every last detail for your syllabus, but create enough of the course syllabus so we can understand your general plan for the course
    • We will discuss the first draft of your Course Syllabus in class

Week 1 Optional Materials

These materials are recommended but not required.

Writing Process Pedagogy

Composition Studies