Professional Development
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Create your own professional development workshop from this menu or design your own. Call Jane Hancock, co-director of the UCLA Writing Project at 310.825.9495. CONTACT JANE HANCOCK at hancock@gseis.ucla.edu

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THE WRITING PROCESS: Genres and Styles.

A workshop to develop writing and revision skills in various genres, including Narrative, Persuasive, Expository, Response to Literature, Poetry, and Imitation Writing. This workshop is individualized to meet the needs of the teaching staff.
 
THE TESTS: DON’T TEACH TO THEM; JUST TEACH!

A workshop designed to help teachers use practical writing strategies throughout the school year. There is no need to spend weeks “practicing test taking skills.” Appropriate genres are addressed.
 
TEACHING GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT.

Research continues to prove that isolated practice in grammar skills does not help students retain knowledge. In this workshop practical ideas and strategies are developed that help students use grammar in proper context, both reading and writing.
 
WRITING ISN’T FOR THE ENGLISH CLASS ALONE!:

Writing strategies developed for all content areas. It is important that students develop fluency in all subject matters. This workshop addresses a variety of “cross-over” genres that will help develop that cross-curriculum fluency.
 
THE NEGLECTED ESSAY.

Michel de Mantaigne called them essays (French for “attempts” or “tries.”) Studying and writing the personal essay can help add voice to many genres—including analytical, persuasive, and expository. Participants will look at models and write their own personal essays testing their ideas and judgments on subjects that interest them.
 
WRITING IS ELEMENTARY. (K-5)

This workshop helps participants develop skills to enhance writing in the Open Court Program.
 
WRITING ON DEMAND (6-12)

Build skills for writing-on-demand through descriptive, narrative, persuasive and expository reading and writing.
 
AUDITIONING YOUR WORDS (K-12)

Explore the wonderful world of words. Increase vocabulary, learn word etymologies, see how “auditioning” words can improve writing.
 
ON YOUR WAY OUT THE DOOR: Exit Strategies in Writing. 

Strategies to help students retain classroom content. Worried that students don’t retain knowledge in  daily work? This workshop develops many strategies for the teacher to use throughout the school year; strategies to help learners pay attention and retain classroom content.
 
REVISION STRATEGIES THAT WORK.

Historian Barbara Tuchman says,
“…it is a pleasure  to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises.” In this session each participant will write a short narrative piece and then watch it come alive through some classroom-test revision strategies.
 
SUMMARY AND REFLECTION:

Students need to have appropriate summary skills to use in reading and writing. A workshop to practice useful and creative ways to summarize and reflect both on content and meaning.
 
IMITATION WRITING:

Using Models to Develop Writing Skills. A workshop designed to help teachers use “models” to develop voice, diction and vocabulary. Both fiction and non-fiction forms are used.
 
FINDING YOUR VOICE:

Style and Voice in Student Writing. Practical writing strategies and assignments to help students find and develop their unique voice in writing.
 
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS:

Creating Your Own! Create and use graphic organizers that are appropriate in your own classroom setting.
 
THE GIFT OF POETRY:

Free Verse and Forms. A look at several different ways to write poetry, using traditional forms (such as villanelle, sestina, odes, etc.) and free verse. Can be used in content classrooms as well as the English class.
 
BILLY COLLINS AND ME.

In his poem “The Problem with Poetry,” Billy Collins gives us permission to “steal” ideas and words and inspiration from his, as he does from others. In this session, participants and presenter will become a merry “band of thieves,” taking thoughts from the poetry and making them into their own.
 
DEVELOPING SKILLS IN LITERACY COACHING.

The UCLA Writing Project assists Literacy Coaches in developing practical and useful ways to help classroom teachers be more effective in teaching skills. This work is highly individualized and developed with assistance from the school and administrators. The Project is also able to provide “coaching and demonstrations” using students in a classroom setting as well as teacher observation of the lesson. Reflection and practice are an integral part of the work.
 
SOCRATIC SEMINAR:

Where Discussion Begins. Help students learn strategies in discussion, and questioning.
 
POETRY IN THE CONTENT AREAS:

Students can use poetry in all of their classes. This workshop helps participants create models to use in their classroom.

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