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Author Archives: John Jenkins
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What to do when your writing process fails you
by Daphne Gray-Grant
I really struggled with writing the last two issues of Power Writing. (I’m hoping you didn’t notice.) Ironically, those issues focused on the topic of Deliberate Practice — a series of habits designed to make your writing better.
I’ve been free from writer’s block for so long, I’d completely forgotten the gnarliness of the beast. News flash: it’s still alive and as horrible as ever.
My woes began with the issue you received on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Here’s what happened: As always, I started with a mindmap. I noticed my ideas didn’t flow as readily as normal, but, regardless, I finished it and started writing. But instead of seeing my fingertips sprint across the keyboard, I noticed they traveled reluctantly, a bit like a group of six-year-olds being herded into a doctor’s office for immunizations.
Shortly after noticing that, I discovered I was doing what I’ve instructed all of you to avoid.
“What to do when your writing process fails you” by Daphne Gray-Grant, excerpted with highlighting.
Hidden Rival to Charter Schools
When I first started teaching homeschoolers over ten years ago, the number of homeschooled students was said to be 1M. In 2007 it was 1.5M. Now in 2012 it’s 2M.
Kudos to Washingto Post writer Jay Mathews for a refreshingly neutral/posititve article about homeschooling.
I’m hoping that some of my homeschooling parents will read his article and leave some favorable or positive comments.
Why I insist on blathering about mindmapping
More often than I’d like to admit, I come across an article that I wish I’d written. Here’s one I highly recommend to any students who brainstorm, particularly those in my EW and Intro to EW classes.
But it’s use is much broader than writ…ing papers. I personally use mindmapping to organize my ideas for planning my short stories and novellas. Listen up, Master StoryTeller students!
Finally, mindmapping helps you find connections between apparently random elements or ideas. Which, by the way, is one of the hallmarks of a critical thinking and reading skills, a needed skill for Mock Trial and all literature classes.
Hmmm. Maybe I should write a how-to article about that…
What Makes GREAT Notes? Part V: The Cornell Method
Notetaking, at it’s heart, is all about developing strategies for understanding and remembering that works for you. That said, there are time-tested techniques that are proven to work, regardless of a student’s background or personality. One of the most recognized strategies in colleges and universities is called the Cornell Method.
This method is a combination, or better stated, integration of a 3-area format and a 6-step process.
What Makes GREAT Notes? Part IV: Types of Notetaking
The basics of great notetaking discussed in Parts I, II and III of this series establish an effective starting point in understanding and remembering the material you want to master.
But notetaking isn’t always straightforward and simple. Sometimes it’s complex. And on occasions, it’s just downright difficult…
Class Schedule
To learn more about a class click on a link below. To register click here.
| CHESS | SGC | STARS | GPC | BOWIE |
|
Monday
10:20 Intro to Effective Writing Wednesday
12:40 Effective Writing B |
Tuesday
8:30 Effective Writing |
Tuesday
1:00 BritLit/Shakesp |
Wednesday
08:30 Effective Writing |
Thursday
10:00 Effective Writing |
Effective Thinking, Writing and Speaking
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