Buzzards Bay Writing Project at UMass Dartmouth
a site of the National Writing Project
presents the
2015 Fall Best Practices Conference
Saturday, October 24, 2015
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth – Fairhaven Campus
200 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA
Phone 774-929-3002
Teacher Consultants from the Buzzards Bay Writing Project will present dynamic and engaging lessons
encompassing writing across the curriculum for teachers of all grade levels and content areas.
Experience three different lessons of your choosing.
Participants will receive:
5 professional contact hours
Free lesson plans and materials
Exceptional professional development
cost: $20 per person payable at the door – cash only
Pre-registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. Registration begins at 8:30 am.
The first session will commence promptly at 9:00 am. Light refreshments provided.
The National Writing Project works with the philosophy that the best professional
development happens when “teachers teach teachers”.
Directions: The UMass Dartmouth Fairhaven campus is located on Mill Road (on the corner of Bridge and Mill) in
Fairhaven. From the South Coast, take Rt. 195 to Rt. 240 (Exit 18). Take a left at the first set of lights onto Bridge St.
Take a left at the next set of lights onto Mill Rd. and turn left into the main parking lot. The building’s main
entrance is at the end of the lot near the gazebo. Take the elevator (straight back to the right of the lobby) to the
second floor and follow the signs.
Round 1 Workshops
9:00 – 10:15
Round 2 Workshops
10:30 – 11:45
Round 3 Workshops
12:00 – 1:15
Colleen Connors
Corinne Woodworth
Heather Campeau
High School, Taunton Public Schools
High School, Duxbury Public Schools
High School, Taunton Public Schools
The Multi-genre Research Paper
Every Picture Tells a Story
Peer Revision in Poetry
The mix of creativity and real world
application in writing can be a delicate
balance. Give students the opportunity to
play with tone and voice, and incorporate
outside sources in this lesson on teaching the
multi-genre research paper. Participants will
learn the assignment background, view
sample papers, and map out their own
research paper. Suggestions for
differentiation provided. Suitable for upper
elementary through high school.
Weave together pictures and narrative as
you teach your students to "read" the details
from visual artworks and turn them into the
concrete and specific details that make
stories vivid. Participants will practice this
technique in a workshop model designed to
translate easily to your classroom. Suitable
for elementary through high school.
Participants will read a mentor text,
review elements of poetry, and write a
poem inspired by the original. After a
poem is drafted, the focus of the
workshop will be a hands-on peer edit,
identifying the elements of poetry in
peer's writing and offering strong
feedback. Suitable for grades 8 through
12.
Al McNeill
Margo Moore
High School, Fairhaven Public Schools
Bill Simpson
Voice: Our Written Identity
Elementary, Taunton Public Schools
Explore different research practices and
strategies to help students define and
develop voice in their writing. Participants
will practice techniques such as clustering
and vignette writing, annotating writing for
voice and writing a poem. Participants are
encouraged to bring examples of strong
voice in student writing. Suitable for high
school.
Opinion Writing: Great Debate!
Do your students dread writing opinion
pieces? Debate can help them not only gain
understanding of the language needed to
write a winning piece, but the experience will
actually be fun! This session introduces you to
NEWS ELA, a free service offering nonfiction
articles leveled to your classroom. Learn a 5
day lesson plan that, with the use of the
articles, will have your students improving
their comprehension, writing and
speaking/listening skills. Suitable for
elementary and middle school.
Rebecca Cusick
Elementary, Fall River Public Schools
Integrating Writing and Science
When teachers integrate writing into other
content areas, students' writing skills can
improve. High interest topics in science can
motivate and engage student writing. This
presentation shows writing activities
employed as part of an elementary rocks and
minerals unit. Suitable for grades 1-8.
Middle School, New Bedford Public
Schools
Creating Mini-tasks to Build Skillbased Lesson Plans
An introduction to the Literacy Design
Collaborative's latest on-line lesson
platform. Work smarter, not harder! Learn
how to access the platform, how to find
and use time-saving, ready-made plans,
and how to begin creating your own.
Suitable for all grade levels.
Kim Sutherland
Margo Moore
Middle School, New Bedford Public
Schools
Creating Mini-tasks to Build Skillbased Lesson Plans
An introduction to the Literacy Design
Collaborative's latest on-line lesson platform.
Work smarter, not harder! Learn how to
access the platform, how to find and use
time-saving, ready-made plans, and how to
begin creating your own. Suitable for all
grade levels.
Elementary, Westport Community
Schools
Free Web Resources to Support
Writing in the Classroom
21st century skills are encouraged across
curriculum areas in all grades, but training
is oftentimes lacking. Learn about and play
with some of the latest free web tools to
enhance writing in your class. Participants
are encouraged to bring a laptop or
tablet with wi-fi in order to access the
online tools we will explore. Suitable for
all grade levels.
For pre-registration, please email or fax the following information to Buzzards Bay Writing Project.
bbwp@umassd.edu
fax: 508-990-1206
BBWP Best Practices 2015 Registration - October 24, 2015
Name: _______________________________________
e-mail: ______________________________________
Street: _________________________________ City: _____________________ State: _____ Zip: ______________
Grade(s) Taught: __________ Subject Area: ________________________ District:_________________________
Workshop Selections: Round 1 _______________________________ Round 2 ______________________________
Round 3 _______________________________
$20 cash only fee payable at Conference.
Please check the box to allow BBWP to
send periodic communication to you about other
courses and workshops we offer for teachers.