Good morning!
I'm the type of super nerdy English teacher that gets super jazzed when I see colleagues get truly excited about teaching a particular lesson.
Many of you have reached out to say that this essay really resonates with your students. Yeah! That's the point when I make a unit or a lesson - to what extent will my kids dig the assignment and dive in eagerly? Nothing else really matters. If they aren't engaged, it's busy work.
Here's the most frequently asked question: are you modeling too much?
The quick answer - not if it's the first time your students are using these particular templates.
Given that the templates can be uniformly used across the expository modes, with each subsequent essay - they require fewer exemplars and models.
Ultimately, we want to get them to a place where they don't need anything at all - we kick of the training wheels and remove the scaffolding.
But here's something else I do.
I'm teaching a poetry unit now. When I "Bob Ross" my instruction, I use three poems that they can't use. My poems are off limits, otherwise their writing just mimics mine.
And the second question is this: with regards to the textbook you're writing with Timm Freitas, is this the kind of "stuff" you'll be discussing.
110% - we both will be demonstrating how our templates can construct essays for each of the modes. We will also be creating a video library of over 200 videos like the one you received.
It's a mammoth undertaking, but we both believe in our work.
I have mentioned in the group that I am in the data gathering phase of my writing. Ultimately, I'd like to work with 15 teachers closely so that I can include anecdotal information about the teacher's experience with the templates as well as their student's progress (or lack thereof).
If you'd like to take part in this experience, please reach out and I can give you more information and all the specifics. In brief, you'll be taking the Masterclass and then consulting with me for about 45-minutes once our session is complete.
And the kicker - for helping us out - you get to take the class for half off ... and get everything that is ordinarily included such as my textbook and full access to the Masterclass Library.
Pretty sweet deal and you get to take part in something special.
So, reach out if this resonates with you or piques your interest.
I'd love to hear how A Social Life is going.
For now, happy teaching and happy writing!
Kristian
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