Summer Plans at the MWC

Summer Opportunities for Learning & More!

Oh, I love it when we get to start talking seriously about summer. ( AP testing is the line in the sand for me. Even though I don’t teach AP. Once that AP Lit test has happened, I can think about BREAK!)

As you know, I am still a part of Camp Rewrite (though perhaps a little more in the background this summer). I don’t think you could possibly get more professional development for your time or money, and I love that it’s self-paced so you can still enjoy your break! I’ll be around there as an administrator, passionate thought-partner, and popping in with special events here and there. (Full Disclosure: I’m pulling back slightly from Camp Rewrite to focus on writing the book I’ve been trying to write for two years and to make sure I have some bandwidth for my husband’s health concerns.)

But here are a few offerings here. Just for us.

Summer Book Clubs

I’ll be doing lots of professional reading this summer, and I hope you’ll join me for some asynchronous book club conversations . Here’s what we’ll be reading:

June 2024 - Teaching Fiercely by Kass Minor

Kate + Maggie Roberts raved to me about Teaching Fiercely last summer, and my school year has absolutely begged for both more joy and more justice. I’ve already dipped into this one, but I’m excited to dive deep and discuss it with you!

July 2024 - The Writing Teacher’s Guide to Pedagogical Documentation by Angela Stockman

I don’t know anyone more thoughtful or creative about education than Angela Stockman. And I have been begging for years to have a guide to the kind of responsive, dynamic documentation she does for her own teaching practice and with her students. Whatever is in this The Writing Teacher’s Guide to Pedagogical Documentation, I am doing it next year. All of it. I suspect this will help my burnout. Join me to discuss! (I’ll also be hosting a live conversation with Angela about this book during Camp Rewrite!)

August 2024 — Good Grammar by Matthew Johnson

I know many of you loved Matt’s first book Flash Feedback, so you’ll be as giddy as I am that his newest offering, Good Grammar, will be released in July! Let’s get hype for a new school year by being some of the first people to read and discuss this!

Reading Instruction PLC

In addition to book clubs, I wanted to offer something where we collaborate and work together toward some mutual goals. Yeah, like a real PLC.

So many of your questions and comments and frustrations center on reading instruction: how can we get the kids to actually read? How can we make assessment more meaningful and authentic? How can we use read alouds and book clubs and independent reading and whole class reading more effectively? And how might new research help us inform our reading instruction at the secondary level?

So, this summer I am offering a reading instruction PLC. This is for you if:

• You have a lot of questions about reading instruction as you see it unfolding in your class.

• You consider reading a “pebble in your shoe” in your classroom

• You are eager to try anything to make reading work better for you and your students.

• You are willing to read and research about reading instruction over the summer.

• You can’t wait to find helpful articles and ideas to share with the group!

• You are interested in being an active participant in conversations about our reading and thinking over the summer.

If this is you, fill out this form to commit to our little cohort by May 31! I will invite you to a private Google Classroom in the next few weeks where we will interact this summer!

Summer Coaching Cohort

I am also going to open up a paid pilot coaching cohort in the next few weeks for teachers interested in working on planning together this summer — specifically, planning writing instruction for the coming school year. Stay tuned for more details!

I can’t wait to spend the summer with you! Regular MWC posts will end in May and resume the first week of September! Let me know what you think and what else you might like to see this summer in the comments!