Saturday Seminar Series

The Los Angeles Writing Project’s Saturday Seminar Series is offered as a free public service for teachers and educators at all grade levels. No registration is required.

February 27, 2010   9:30-12:00, King Hall, Cal State LA

From 9:30-10:00  Come to the second floor of King Hall C2094A  for coffee and room

assignments. The first seminar begins promptly at 10:00 in a nearby classroom.

From 10:00-12:00       Attend one of the following workshops:

MEMOIR WRITING TO MAKE SENSE OF YOUR LIFE

Ted DeVirgilis, John Muir Middle School, Burbank Unified School District

“When I began to write, I found this was the best way to make sense out of my life.” These words by John Cheever echo the reason memoir writing is the perfect genre for middle school students: they are just discovering who they are and what their place in the world is. Using Nancie Atwell-inspired writing techniques and memoir examples from Cynthia Rylant, President Barack Obama, and diverse middle school students, this engaging workshop will take you through the writing process as you continue to make sense out of your life. Originally developed to combat the often flat, safe autobiographical incident narratives that the state requires, memoirs will invite your students to create honest, engrossing literature.

POE IS NOT THE ONLY POET: MAKING POETRY ACCESSIBLE

Shahé Mankerian, St. Gregory’s Hovsepian School

Are your students intimidated by poetry? Many students are turned off by poetry because their instructors have failed to make poetry accessible and fun. Shahé and his middle-school students will demonstrate how to make poetry interesting and exciting.

THIS I BELIEVE: DISCOVERING CHARACTER BELIEFS

Justin Riner, John Muir Middle School

Mr. Riner will share with you his lesson plan which results in students writing an essay based on the “This I Believe” series.  Using multiple types of prompts, discussions, and media, Mr. Riner’s student’s examine the beliefs of others and eventually discover their own. While this activity is used in Riner’s class as a follow up to Anne Frank, it can be connected to virtually any other strong willed person/character.

Check the LAWP website for updated info: www.calstatela.edu/lawp

Or call the LAWP office at 323-343-5901 or send email to lawp@calstatela.edu

Note: For information on our Summer Institute & Young Writers’ Camp see our website

For more information visit our website at http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov

Are you an educator interested in gaining first-hand research experience on an ocean research ship?
If so, we encourage you to explore the opportunities offered by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea program, now accepting applications until December 31, 2009.

About NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program
The mission of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program is to give teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and to increase their level of environmental literacy by fostering an interdisciplinary research experience.

Since 1990, NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program has enabled more than 550 teachers to gain first-hand experience of science and life at sea by working on research ships.  Teachers have enriched their classroom curricula with a depth of understanding made possible by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with those who contribute to the world’s body of scientific knowledge.  No matter which type of cruise you embark on, you are bound to learn an array of new things!

Who May Apply
NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program accepts applications from currently employed, full-time educators in these categories: K-12 teachers and administrators; community college, college, and university teachers; museum and aquaria educators; and adult education teachers. We regret that we cannot accept applications from part-time, substitute, or pre-service teachers.

Types of Cruises
Participants are assigned a cruise aboard one of NOAA’s 17 ships (or a chartered partner ship). NOAA conducts three main types of cruises.  Fisheries research ships perform biological and physical science studies in support of fisheries research.  Oceanographic and coastal research ships perform physical science studies in support of physical oceanography, atmospheric studies, and bathymetric mapping.  Hydrographic survey ships scan the coastal sea floor with side-scan sonar and sophisticated bottom sounding systems to locate submerged obstructions and navigational hazards for the creation or update of the nation’s nautical charts.

Time Commitment
Participants can expect to be at sea anywhere from one week to one month, with the average cruise lasting 12-14 days.  Most of our participants try to sail on cruises offered during the summer vacation, but cruises take place throughout most of the year on a space-available basis.

Costs
All necessary travel costs are paid for by NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program.  While airfare is paid for up front by the government, all other costs are reimbursed, including transportation costs, hotel costs, and per diem allowance.

For more information please visit our Web site at http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov

Petra states that she believes they gave out 4 or 5 volunteer of the year awards, and this was the first year that a school or group of students won. She told me in an email that she and her is “already hard at work, trying to make it a 3-peat” for her and “a back-to-back for the students.” She goes on to say that she takes student volunteers after school 2 or 3 days a week. They get there around 4:00 and stay until about 7:15, doing whatever needs to be done.

Petra has participated in this event since 1993 “or so” both as a walker and a volunteer and she has been a team leader for students and staff members at Gage Middle School for many years. Her involvement in this event is two-fold. It is a commitment on her part to recognize friends and acquaintances affected or victims of the disease and it is a way to educate her students to the “grave concerns” the disease poses for her 8th grade students. She has was awarded “Outstanding Volunteer” her first year and now holds the honor of being the first teacher to lead a school group to the same recognition. She wants anyone wishing to support her team’s (team #29 led by team coordinator is Vanessa) efforts on October 16, 2005 to click on the website www.aidswalk.net, then select Los Angeles and finally selecting a team to join. They’re listed as Gage Middle School Leadership.

Or you can sponsor her by pledging any amount of money to go to the AIDS Walk Los Angeles. You can see her in room 103 if you work at Gage, or you can mail her a check at:
Petra Jones
C/o Gage Middle School
2880 East Gage Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90255

Her goal is to be a Star Walker again this year. Star Walkers started in 2000. They are people who commit to raise $1000 for the AIDS Walk, and then come through with the pledges and money. She’s working on her 5th year as a Star Walker, but it becomes more difficult to reach the goal each year because there are more walkers on the team and the same people are contributing the money.

BONUS ALERT: If you pledge $50 or more to sponsor her or if you are an adult registered for and walking on the Gage Team, you will receive a certificate for a free half hour massage. Of course, you have to be able to go to the massage place in West LA to use the certificate.