EDUC7547.01: Teaching Narrative Writing to K-8 Students [2017F]
Ended Nov 1, 2017
1 credit
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Full course description
COURSE 1: TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING TO K-8 STUDENTS
(1 CREDIT)
This is a project-based course where groups of participants will collaborate to develop a writing unit in a genre appropriate for their grade level. Using a genre-based pedagogy informed by systemic functional linguistics, participants will learn what and how to teach non-fiction narratives (Personal and procedural recounts, autobiographies, biographies, empathetic autobiographies, and historical recounts) and fictional narratives. Features of the genres demanded in elementary and middle schools will be learned and practiced. The strong emphasis on language development distinguishes this approach from others currently used in schools. The approach to teaching guides teachers in ways of apprenticing students to writing that builds confidence and success.
Course Schedule September 13 – October 16 as follows:
September 11 Instructions on how to navigate the site opens
September 13 Must start Week 1 self-paced activities
September 19 Week 1 live session
September 20-26 Week 2 activities
September 27- October 3 Week 3 activities
October 4 - 10 Week 4 activities
October 16 8am Final Unit Due
AMOUNT OF TIME PER WEEK:
The course requires 3 hours and 10 minutes of weekly activities besides readings and assignments. These activities are organized in weekly cycles with 2 hours 10 minutes to be done asynchronous (at your own pace) and 1 hour synchronous (live session). The live sessions will take place on Tuesdays 8pm EST (7pm CST; 6pm MST; 5pm PST).
COURSE ACTIVITIES:
There will be a variety of activities to facilitate acquiring the content of the course including: short lectures, readings, discussions, teachers sharing how they implemented the units, videos of teachers applying the approach in their classrooms, work with mentor texts and student work, affinity groups collaborations toward creating genre units, and live sessions to share experiences, answer questions, and clarify challenges.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTENT AND DELIVERY OF THE COURSE?
Please contact maria.brisk@bc.edu
INTERESTED IN A DEDICATED COURSE FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT?
For-credit and non-credit options are available.
Contact Lynch School Graduate Admissions for more information:
gsoe@bc.edu
617-552-4214
Faculty
Maria Estela Brisk is a Professor of Education at the Teacher Education, Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction Department, Lynch School of Education, Boston College. She received her Ph. D. in linguistics and bilingual education at the University of New Mexico in 1972. Her research and teacher-training interests include elementary students’ writing development, bilingual education, bilingual language and literacy acquisition, methods of teaching literacy, and preparation of mainstream teachers to work with bilingual learners. She is the author of numerous articles and books.
For the past 12 years Dr. Brisk has worked closely with K-8 schools to develop a genre-based writing program for their schools, preparing teachers and researching children’s writing development. Her book Engaging Students in Academic Literacies: Genre-based Pedagogy for K-5 Classrooms features the approach to teaching writing that emerged from the work in schools. The approach has been helpful for all students including bilingual learners.
Professor Brisk, native of Argentina, is a fluent speaker of Spanish.