- SJ Writing Project
Archive: Super Saturday September 9 2018
Updated: Sep 15, 2019

Young writers in opening activity
SJAWP Super Saturdays for Students, Teachers and Parents

Partnerships made up characters and then invented trouble for them
After a meet-and-greet with breakfast snacks, coffee and tea, students went to the writing activity, Creating a Character. During this warm-up, teacher leaders modeled and students eagerly followed, working in partnerships.
Parent Workshop
At the same time, parents who wanted to stay, made their way to the Parent Workshop with Andrea Katz.
Parent: https://sjawpwritingworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/parent-workshop.m4a
Elementary
During the workshops, 3-5 students participated with a lead teacher and attending elementary teachers, listening to and creating their own stories to tell.

Ms. J. tells a true story of a boy who frequently got in trouble

Everyone enjoys a story, especially one well told with action, sound, and humor
The teachers in attendance were apparently inspired and refreshed.

Middle
Meanwhile, middle school students and teachers were in a workshop with Mrs. Katie Adelman, exploring the power of personification.

Taking abstract qualities and turning them into people
https://sjawpwritingworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/katy.m4a
High School
Meanwhile, in another room, high school teachers and students wrote together
Mrs. Laurie Weckesser led the group through a series of flash drafts for finding a topic. Then writers poured over and discussed mentor texts for inspiration, and finally wrote their own essay defining a belief.

Getting started with flashdrafts

Discussing craft moves in mentor texts




Teachers writing along with students
Gratitude
Many thanks to our seemingly tireless staff of student administration assistants

And, also many thanks to the SJ Writing Project Director, Dr. Jonathan H. Lovell, who steers these inspiriting events.

Dr. Lovell explains how the units work for the Professional Learning Community for teachers
Please join us for Fall Saturday Seminar #2 on September 30, 2017, same times, same place – Sweeney Hall on the SJSU Campus.