writing conferences

While driving back to Guilderland HS on the bluest, sunniest, most glorious summer day you could imagine, I was seriously questioning my good judgment.  We don’t get many of these days here in the Albany NY area.  I enjoyed my time at the Reading Institute but the Writing Institute had to be even better to pass the test for me.  I get squirmy thinking about sunshine and blue skies if I am not completely enraptured with what I am experiencing.  Three days of squirming would have been unfortunate at best.

Today was the second time I have taught the drafting process using the Columbia Teacher's College Writer's Workshop model.

As our contract continues with professional developers from Columbia Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project our PD day consisted of two workshops. Of course, not everything was pretty in the morning or well organized in terms of logistics. When we arrived, on time, there was basically no parking. After driving around for ten minutes the organizers were a little smart, telling us, "There's lots of parking on the other side." When I informed them it was full, we were hustled along.