This is the blog where we will keep a record of our Summer Institute. Perceptions, stories, observations and reflections - each of us will have a chance to make an 'entry for the day.'
Today was the first day the CAWP members convened at Poe Hall. One would assume that the gathering would be one of those traditional let’s-get-to-know-each-other meetings, but I found that it was a seduction into getting to know the joys (and pangs) of writing! Before we had a chance to shift into teacher mode (you know what they say about a roomful of talking teachers) and rest our gears into the same ole’ “I talk, you listen” cruise control, our pens were put to work and our hands were moving much quicker than our mouths!
The clock on the wall read 8:30am when we entered the room, and when we glanced up again it was 4pm! Asking where did the time go sounds a little colloquial, doesn’t it? But CAWP participants were busy collaborating in writing groups, fashioning their own writings, reflecting in Honeycutt’s daybooks, reading each other’s thoughts, and commenting in between each writing activity that time literally flew by.
I wonder if the other CAWPers thought to themselves, “What will we be doing all day? How are we going to fill all this time?” If they did, those questions were answered as we wrote the day away and simply talked about the art, process, and struggles of writing and being (or wanting to become) writers. Every discussion, presentation, activity and the like was focused on writing and the steps we as teachers of writing or teachers who want to improve the craft for ourselves, our students or even our professions must thread through in order to achieve such a goal.
At the end of the day, the street signs on the CAWP road before us are named Hard, Work, and Ahead, but the destination is worth the trip! As I walked out of the room carrying my sense of excitement and felt the excitement for the next CAWP meeting from my CAWP peers, I could not help but accept that those goals I have set for this CAWP experience will surely be realized at the end of July. My pen is filled and I look forward to enjoying the write!
If I can read this, then I'm not as technologically challenged as I thought! Hooray! It is good to be on board.
ReplyDeleteCAWP on Saturday
ReplyDeleteToday was the first day the CAWP members convened at Poe Hall. One would assume that the gathering would be one of those traditional let’s-get-to-know-each-other meetings, but I found that it was a seduction into getting to know the joys (and pangs) of writing! Before we had a chance to shift into teacher mode (you know what they say about a roomful of talking teachers) and rest our gears into the same ole’ “I talk, you listen” cruise control, our pens were put to work and our hands were moving much quicker than our mouths!
The clock on the wall read 8:30am when we entered the room, and when we glanced up again it was 4pm! Asking where did the time go sounds a little colloquial, doesn’t it? But CAWP participants were busy collaborating in writing groups, fashioning their own writings, reflecting in Honeycutt’s daybooks, reading each other’s thoughts, and commenting in between each writing activity that time literally flew by.
I wonder if the other CAWPers thought to themselves, “What will we be doing all day? How are we going to fill all this time?” If they did, those questions were answered as we wrote the day away and simply talked about the art, process, and struggles of writing and being (or wanting to become) writers. Every discussion, presentation, activity and the like was focused on writing and the steps we as teachers of writing or teachers who want to improve the craft for ourselves, our students or even our professions must thread through in order to achieve such a goal.
At the end of the day, the street signs on the CAWP road before us are named Hard, Work, and Ahead, but the destination is worth the trip! As I walked out of the room carrying my sense of excitement and felt the excitement for the next CAWP meeting from my CAWP peers, I could not help but accept that those goals I have set for this CAWP experience will surely be realized at the end of July. My pen is filled and I look forward to enjoying the write!