Blogging with Mr. B for 5th block Creative Writing

Okay, so here's the deal. Instead of being in Nashville, Tennessee, where I'm supposed to be right now getting ready for presentations at a conference, I'm stuck in Denver, Colorado. Anyone seen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? I'm living it right now!

So, as I wait for my pizza to be delivered to the hotel I have to stay in, I thought I'd get you started for tomorrow, since I might not be at a handy-dandy computer when your blogging session rolls around.

Here's what I want to know from each of you...

What is it about writing creatively, from the heart, that interests YOU? Not why others do it. What about your experiences with writing is interesting to you? What is your favorite genre to write? Poems? Short stories? Flash fiction? Non-fiction? What? What do you get out of writing from the truly creative inspiration you get?

Answer that question with full purpose and detail. Be honest here. Yes, others will see your posts and laugh hysterically, but who cares??? Be honest with yourself for once and be bold enough to include those thoughts here in the blogosphere.

Remember to put your first name and last initial at the bottom of your post each time. No name or full name = NO CREDIT. Yes, that's ticky-tack. Yes, you're big kids now with big kid skills. First name, last initial.

Blogging with Mr. B for 1st block Creative Writing

Okay, so here's the deal. Instead of being in Nashville, Tennessee, where I'm supposed to be right now getting ready for presentations at a conference, I'm stuck in Denver, Colorado. Anyone seen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? I'm living it right now!

So, as I wait for my pizza to be delivered to the hotel I have to stay in, I thought I'd get you started for tomorrow, since I might not be at a handy-dandy computer when your blogging session rolls around.

Here's what I want to know from each of you...

What is it about writing creatively, from the heart, that interests YOU? Not why others do it. What about your experiences with writing is interesting to you?

Answer that question with full purpose and detail. Be honest here. Yes, others will see your posts and laugh hysterically, but who cares??? Be honest with yourself for once and be bold enough to include those thoughts here in the blogosphere.

Remember to put your first name and last initial at the bottom of your post each time. No name or full name = NO CREDIT. Yes, that's ticky-tack. Yes, you're big kids now with big kid skills. First name, last initial.

In your not-so-humble opinion, who is the best character in TKaM?

Now that you've finished what librarians have voted the best book of the 20th century, I want you to tell me why it's such good literature.Specifically, address the following things:

1. Who is the best character in TKaM? Why? Explain yourself.

2. What makes TKaM such an incredible novel to read?

3. What have you learned from reading it?

When you've written your post, include your first name and last initial only at the bottom just like I do at the end of this.

Mister B.

Who is the best character in TKaM?

Now that you've finished what librarians have voted the best book of the 20th century, I want you to tell me why it's such good literature.

Specifically, address the following things:

1. Who is the best character in TKaM? Why? Explain yourself.

2. What makes TKaM such an incredible novel to read?

3. What have you learned from reading it?

When you've written your post, include your first name and last initial only at the bottom just like I do at the end of this.

Mister B.

Revision and Editing for CW 5th

Why are you asked to revise anything and everything you write?

What do you get out of it?

post in response to this and at least two other people's posts.

First Name, Last Initial.

Creative Writing 5th block

Ah, the biography assignment. A chance to talk to zany relatives and hear the crazy stories of their youth. Yes it is that, but it's so much more. How many of you have ever actually sat down with a grandparent and asked specific questions about their growing up years? How about what they did for a living or why they chose that profession? What about other friends or loves that they may have had in their lives?

Here's the chance (somewhat forced upon you) to do just that. Get to know your family a little better by talking to some of the oldest living members of that family. I know some of you don't look forward to it. I'm sorry. But not much. 99% of students recommend this assignment after they've done it. It can be very entertaining for you and your interviewee. It can be incredibly enlightening for you both. It can be a life-changing experience.

Notice all those "it can be" phrases? You have to make it those things by actually being prepared to do a worthwhile interview and biography.

Here's the question: What attitude are you taking with you into this assignment? How are you going to make it all those "can be's"? What questions do you have that will make this an interesting interview? Share with us some of the unique questions you have thought of so far.

Respond to this post with your comments, then respond to someone else's comments too. Remember to include your first name and last initial at the bottom of your comment.

Mr. B.

A Preview of Technology to be Used

Okay, so here we are about to begin using technology that is unfamiliar to most of you -- Palm brand PDA's. I'm always interested to see how students approach unfamiliar technologies. Some grab it, run with it, and make the most of it. Others seem timid and scared that it will break in their hands, so they never really get much out of it. I reminds me of having my first child and the way I though he was so fragile that I'd break him if I held him wrong. With my latest twin sons being born though (almost 12 years later than the first son), they are lucky if they get any gentle handling from me. They're actually fairly indestructable (the babies, not the Palms), and they can be used and played with and wrestled with.

My point is, if you are afraid of the actual technology, you will likely miss out on some very useful, fun, enjoyable programs and possibilities for your work. I hope you'll take the opportunity to make use of it. It will mean being uncomfortable sometimes, maybe not knowing quite what will work or what to do, BUT it has the potential to be a very powerful tool in your education.

What attitude will you take? In a response to this post, write some of your thoughts about the Palm PDA's that you'll be using this term. Remember to use your first name and last initial only at the bottom of your post. You must make an original comment and then a second that responds to one of your classmates or the teacher's replies.

Mr. B

So it only gets more and more mediocre?

Once again, almost live from Chico, California, we have a special podcast for Tyler and Cole. Listen up!

Chipmunk Vader speaks



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From sunny Chico to the unilluminated

Thanks to Tonya Witherspoon for the GREAT photo!


So, here we are at Tech Matters 06, an institute for technology liaisons of the National Writing Project from across the nation who have converged on a very sunny Chico, California. Technology showcases and playtime with new tech tools are the flavor of the 4-day institute. We have explored podcasting, collaborative online writing, social bookmarking, wiki's, blogging, aggregators, and much more.

Here are a few photos from our week in Chico. It's been colorful, friendly, and HOT!

And for my first podcasting experiment, I've linked this meager clip that gives you a snippet of what our time in the computer lab has done for me.

Cross your fingers, and let's see what happens.


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The OWP @ Eastern kicks off!

To say that the summer institute of the Oregon Writing Project at Eastern has just begun is false. To say that it's just getting started, falser. Although maybe not yet in high gear, during a weeklong writing retreat the fellows of the 2006 summer institute have already produced oodles of prose, poetry, and stuff in between, and are posting their work online to the National Writing Project's E-Anthology. Here, writers from around the nation post their original work and respond to that of others in a project that helps teachers find ways and means to teach writing and literacy to the myriad students comprising our education system.

What better way to "start" than by asking these teacher-consultants to actually go through the writing process and find their own voices?

How has the summer institute already helped you in your quest to refresh your approach to teaching writing or encouraging literacy?