The Digital Writing Workshop by Troy Hicks

Why: I read this to prepare for a two-day seminar I'll be teaching for the Colorado Writing Project this spring.

When: January 2014

How: I read this one in hard copy. Took notes old-school (on note cards that are now stuffed in the book).

Thoughts: I definitely picked up some ideas in this book about using digital tools to support the writer's workshop. And this book got me thinking more about getting my students to produce digital, multimedia texts. That is a skill that their world will likely ask of them.

Click on the book image to learn more about the book.

Review Haiku:
literacy now
in the 21st century
demands technology

Taking Action on Adolescent Literacy: An Implementation Guide for School Leaders

why: The BVSD literacy director asked me to read this to see what I thought about its suggestions for making change.

when: start 12/2/13, end 12/4/13

how: I read the hard copy I got from the literacy director for BVSD. It's full of sticky notes with my thoughts.

thoughts: There are some good suggestions in this book--things that confirm many of the strategies we are already undertaking. But it does somewhat contradict the viral model of change and seeks to work more top-down. Which doesn't work as well.

Click on the book image to learn more.

review haiku:
systematic change
is a fallacy. Change moves
in stealth, virally.