ETAI Annual National Conference - PowerPoint Presentation

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ETAI Annual National Conference

July 8-9, 2014

Jerusalem

"

Writers Matter

":

An

International Program for Multicultural

Communication

Dr. Maureen Rajuan

Pedagogical Advisor

English Department

Achva Academic College of Education

maureen.rajuan@mail.huji.ac.ilSlide2

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the middle east

La Salle University, Philadelphia PA

Dr. Robert VogelDr. Sami AdwanKerrin GarripoliMatt Howell Youssef Kromah http://www.lasalle.edu/writersmatter/writers-matter-in-israel-and-palestine/ Slide3

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the

Middle East

Why?

Provide an emotionally and physically safe environmentProvide mentors who serve as role models that nurture tolerance and allow students to live a moral lifeOpportunity to listen to voices of Israeli and Palestinian teens and pay attention to voices seldom heardSlide4

Writers Matter

Voices of Teens in the Middle East

Develop critical writing and communication skills

Create an atmosphere of trust and belonging that are developmentally appropriate Dealing with feelings of isolation, frustration and lonelinessSlide5

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the

Middle East

What?

Year long program that is integrated into curriculumProvides professional development in research-based instructional strategies throughout school year Modeled after Writers Matter program in Philadelphia that was implemented in 2005 Began in Israeli and Palestinian Schools in 2011Slide6

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the

Middle East

How?

Through journaling and telling personal stories.Empowering young writers to share their voicePat Speight, an Irish storyteller once said “Stories are the shortest distance between people.”Quaker peace activist Gene Knudsen Hoffman once stated “an enemy is a person whose story we have not heard yet”Digital StorySlide7

Writers Matter

Voices of Teens in the

Middle East

What’s going on now?11 Achva Student Teachers and 5 Cooperating Teachers in Darka Jr.

High, Kiryat Malachi

2 Achva Student Teachers and 1 Cooperating Teacher in Al Najah

Jr. High, Rahat7th, 8th and 9th grade classes

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Innovations to the program

1. English as a foreign language: a neutral and direct means of communication known equally to speakers of other languages.

2. Student Teachers as designers of lesson plans and instructors of writing. Slide9

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

METHOD:

2 Training Sessions lead by Bob, Sami and Samar in October 2013 before implementation of the program and in January 2014 as a follow-up

Visits by Samar to the schoolsLesson planning by student teachers in collaboration with their cooperating teachers Pedagogy lessonsSlide10

Topics:

I AM POEM

FAMILY MATTERS

FRIENDSHIPFUTURE HOPES AND DREAMSSlide11

TOPIC: I AM FROM POEM

Brainstorm I AM FROM sun on board: family, teacher, pets, hobbies, personality, etc.

Individual I AM FROM sun drawings

Examples from the internet *Write your own I AM FROM poemShare with partnersShare in groups: compare similarities and differencesAdd new ideasGroup presentations of similarities and differencesVolunteers read their poem to the classDiscussion: implementation in the classroom Slide12

I AM FROM template

An I Am poem is a good way to teach children to focus on their own

characteristics

. It also is a good ice breaker for the beginning of the year.I AmI am (two special characteristics)I wonder (something you are actually curious about)I hear (an imaginary sound)I see (an imaginary sight)I want (an actual desire)I am (the first line of the poem restated)I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)I touch (an imaginary touch)

I worry (something that really bothers you)I cry (something that makes you very sad)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

I understand (something you know is true)I say (something you believe in)I dream (something you actually dream about)

I try (something you really make an effort about)I hope (something you actually hope for)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)Slide13

I AM FROM Assignment

Write your own I AM FROM poem.

Describe the process we went through in Pedagogy class.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this process for teaching pupils? Slide14

I

AM

POEM

Colleen DavidI am from HannahI am from 33 years of living I am from battling the pastI am from surviving the presentI am from worrying about the futureI am from a close and loving familyI am from the joy of my BFF dog, BelleI am from a lonely selfI am from limitless TV Shows and films

I am from dreamless of Tennis and songsI am from ADD and LDI am from listening, speaking, reading and writing

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Reflection

“There

are many advantages and good reasons for having students write an I Am Poem. First, it is suitable for every student in every level. There is no wrong or right answer. Second, it allows them to learn about themselves and others through writing. Third, it is authentic and motivates them to improve their English. All the language skills are included (listening, speaking, reading and writing). The possibilities are endless and it is a process that everyone benefits

from. It is designed to allow students to address every issue that affects them or that they care about. It is a good opportunity for the teacher to get to know the students and learn if a student has a problem/a situation that affects him/her. Personally, I liked writing this poem.” “I haven't found real disadvantages for this type of writing. Although it is personal and private, the students decide what they wish to share with their teacher or class.”Slide16

Topic: Family Matters

“I

was glad that I spoke with them about types of families because most of them claimed that a father and a child only weren't considered to be a family. I put them in that position for a moment and then they understood that they actually were a family. It was very important for me to present to them and make them accept other types of families, since they exist among their friends. I have kids from divorced families and single parent families

.” (Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student)Slide17

Topic: Family Matters

“At

the

beginning, some of the pupils were a bit shy and didn't want to read in front of the whole class. However, when the first pupil read, I made sure that everyone was quiet, and when he finished, everyone clapped their hands. It was very nice and increased their confidence. Suddenly, many of them wanted to participate. I was so satisfied!”(Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student) Slide18

Topic: Family Matters

“There was one boy in particular who excited me the most. At first he didn't want to share his story, but then he asked me to read it for him to the class. He told his story for the first time to the class: his parents were divorced and his mom re-married a man with children. Today they all live together.”

“I noticed how nervous he was when I started reading, but when I finished, everyone applauded and I praised him. He relaxed suddenly and smiled. The whole lesson was worth this one moment.”

“Later on, he even came to tell me a secret and asked me not to tell the rest of the pupils. He said that he thought his mom was pregnant and wanted to surprise him. I thought it was adorable and I was excited by the fact that he trusted me.” (Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student)Slide19

Topic: FriendshipStudent Teachers from

Rahat

teach in

Kiryat MalachiSlide20

Topic: Friendship

Student Teachers from

Kiryat

Malachi teach in Rahat Slide21

Pen Pal Letter Exchange

Pupils from 2 classes from

Rahat

and 4 classes from Kiryat Malachi Wrote letters about themselves Received letters Wrote back with answers to the questions they were asked.Prepared to meet their pen pal friends in person. Slide22

Pen Pal letterSlide23

End-of-year Celebration

Participants:

300 pupils from

Kiryat Malachi and 50 pupils from Rahat12 English Teachers from both schools13 Student TeachersProf. Robert VogelActivities:Acquaintance gamesWriting feedback about the programSharing writingDrawing on materialSinging and dancing Slide24

Darka

Junior High School

Kiryat

MalachiJune 20, 2014Slide25

Media coverage of the eventSlide26

Writers Matter

Voices of Teens in the Middle East

Topic: Future Hopes and Dreams

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children."

-

Mohandas Gandhi