Kia ora tatou
Here we are just starting the first term of 2024 already. Hope it has all started well for you. Despite wanting to slow down a bit, it has been hectic for me.
My Book
Completing my book (Building Young Writers: Engaging and Motivating Year 4-8 Students in Writing) and getting it ready for publication has been my major preoccupation over the past few months and I am so excited that it’s ready to hit the world. It is finally now back from the printers and ready to be launched. Yippee!!
Originating from my doctoral studies as well as all the work I have done with teachers over the years, I’ve put my heart and soul into writing this book. It contains everything I want to say about the effective teaching of writing, especially for Year 4-8 students.
Within the book are links to several authentic lessons (me working with classes and groups of Year 4-8 students), designed to illustrate my main points.
As I’ve said before, I am incredibly grateful to Learning Network NZ who are sponsoring and publishing the book for me.
Launching the Book
Several Literacy Associations around the country have generously agreed to launch the book for me and I am so appreciative of this. At each launch, I’ll share some work on ‘working with struggling writers’ that I have been doing, then I will segue into the background and content of the book and be available to chat and sign for anyone that wants to purchase a copy. All purchasing details are on Learning Network NZ’s website for they are not only publishing but also selling and distributing the book for me.
Auckland Launch
To be held Wednesday 28 February at Tirimoana School, Kokiri Street, Te Atatu South 4.00-6.00pm. Go to the Auckland Literacy Association’s website (events) for more details.
Wellington Launch
To be held Monday 4 March in the Alan Gibb Centre at Wellington College 4.00-6.00pm. Go to the Wellington Literacy Association’s website for more details.
For Wellington teachers, I’m also doing a day-long workshop 4 March (for Learning Network) on effective writing instruction for Year 1-8 teachers. This will be held at the Copthorne Hotel on Oriental Parade.
Around New Zealand
Look out for other launches across the country later in the year:
- Taranaki, Thursday 25 July;
- Canterbury, Thursday 8 August;
- Hawkes’ Bay, Thursday 29 August.
Purchasing the book
If you can’t attend a launch – or can’t wait to read the book – here’s a link to purchasing it through Learning Network NZ
Working With Students
I’ve also found time to work on new resources for my website and I have pleasure in announcing:
Four new films of me working with real students in real classrooms, along with teachers’ notes.
- Keys by Sacha Cotter with Year 5-6 students:
- Part 1: launching the text with the whole class;
- Part 2: co-constructing a text based on the book with a small group of students while others write independently.
- Exploring The Rain Cycle with Year 5-6 students:
- Part 1: launching the topic with the whole class;
- Part 2: co-constructing a text on the topic with a small group of students while others write independently. Note that Part2 of the rain cycle also contains footage of me holding one-to-one conversations with students about their writing and giving them feedback/feed-forward.
These films will be available to anyone who purchases my book and subscribers of the on-line subscription resource however the latter group will have access to the teachers’ notes.
Also for subscribers of the on-line subscription resource, we are currently editing two additional films made at the end of last year in Cambridge, both featuring me exploring the beautiful picture book My Tree and Me: A Book of Seasons by Jo Witek with Year 2-3 students. Look out for these new videos available soon on the website.
New Video Lessons
I’ve also produced two new Video Lessons, writing launches and teachers’ notes around picture books I purchased over the holidays.
- Starting School by Jane Goodall (particularly suitable for New Entrant -Year 2 students) and
- Lucy and the Dark by Melinda Szymanik (particularly suitable for Year 3-6 students). I am especially pleased with the Lucy and the Dark work as it explores ways of looking at science through creative writing.
I love making these videos and am absolutely thrilled when teachers send me writing samples produced by students having watched these videos.
These launches of course are available as part of the on-line subscription resource.
New Arts Blog
A new Arts’ Blog for August-January. I especially loved writing this blog because it contains my ‘best reads’ for 2023.
Do go into the ‘news’ section of my website and look for it.
And maybe even share your ‘best of’ with me….!
Looking Ahead
Life is all go. Four days after the Wellington launch, my partner and I fly to Europe until early June. Although some down time will be spent in London and Rome, most of the time I will be back at the University of Stockholm (Sweden) continuing to work at post-graduate studies on writing instruction.
When I return, I’ll be straight back into my school-based/classroom-based work, mainly in South Auckland and Central Wellington this year. And, of course, I will be attending the additional book launches that I mentioned before.
That’s it everyone. Have a great Term 1 and if you’re based in Auckland or Wellington, I would love to see you at my upcoming book launches.
Cheers,
Murray
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