This site is your guidebook to major activities and projects in English 408. Be sure to check the syllabus for due dates and "What's New" for updates.

 

Active participation in daily class activities: 

This means quality and currency in assignments and in-class activities and how well you met expectations listed in the syllabus. You must attend to participate. 

Writing into the Class (WIC):

Each day a class member will begin the class with writing for 10 minutes and then lead some sharing of it for 10 minutes. Afterwards, they will collect the writing and respond to each writer. 

To participate, design a writing prompt to promote reflection on a current focus of the class.Your prompt and its rationale are due on e-mail to nzuerchr two days before you do WIC. On your WIC day, begin the class by introducing the prompt. Plan to write with the group and also to manage the class, checking occasionally that everyone is writing. After 10 minutes of writing, invite the group to share, and then end the discussion within 10 minutes.

Collect the papers and respond to each one on a post-it note or e-mail with a copy to nzuerchr. Send e-mail or put your set of papers with responses, along with a page of your reflections (what surprised you, what you learned, what you'd do differently next time, etc.) in my mailbox in Dakota 226 by noon on the day of the next class. (to give me time to review your responses so that you can hand them back that day). 

This activity will be modeled during the first two weeks.

Autobiography: 

This extended reflection shows you as you begin the course: person, writer, reader, pre-service teacher. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection; it will help the class get acquainted; and it offers a benchmark that will be useful for your end-of-the-course assessment.

You can find more information on the English for Teachers' Autobiography Page. 

Mentor Project:

You'll have a mini-class of Bon Homme High School students. The project includes some common reading, get-acquainted letters (on email if BHHS is connected), responding to students, mini-lessons, "kidwatching," evaluating your students' work, your teacher research question and paper--all with supervision from Sue Morrell and Nancy Zuercher. Sue Morrell will be a guest teacher in our class in September for discussion and collaborative planning of this year's project.

End-of-the-course assessment: 

In this self-evaluation, you'll discuss your growth as a teacher, writer, reader, person, and your philosophy of teaching. Accompanying artifacts will strengthen your assessment.