Testimonials of Fellows
Every day of this past 3 weeks was a true learning experience for me! I enjoyed our little writing community and the comfort we felt sharing with one another! I found the on-demand writing strategies very useful, and now I know that I can write my own prompts that will relate to the content in my classroom instead of trying to dig one up from the web somewhere. Now my prompts will ALL be directly related to my students' learning! I've learned so much this summer that I can't wait to try all these new things out in my classroom.
More than anything else I appreciate what an "eye-opener" this summer institute was for me. I've always loved writing, but now I look at writing and TEACHING writing in a whole new light. The full writing cycle that Doc taught us will help me plan more effectively to reach my students. Every day I learned, not just one useful thing I can use, but several! I feel blessed to have been a part of this wonderful experience! I know I will be a better teacher, and I have an abundance of resources and a community of dedicated teachers willing to help me, just a "click" away! Thank you ALL....2009 fellows, Doc, Lisa, and co-directors! Everyone in that little classroom had something useful and insightful to add and I love and appreciate all of you!
~ Milena Adams Letcher County Kentucky
I totally agree with Milena. I learned something I could use everyday, and I love that wer spent much of our discussion on how we, individually, could adapt these strategies for our students. Prior to the institute, I had heard Jenn and the other co-directors saying that this would completely change the way we looked at teaching writing, and I thought, "Yeah, right." But it has! I gained new strategies from the other fellows through their demonstrations, and just through discussion. I loved the community we built. This has been without question the best professional development I've ever been to. I know that sounds a bit over the top, but it's true. While I don't think my brain could have stood learning one more thing, I miss you guys too!
~Jennifer Farley Harlan County Kentucky
As a special education teacher who covers grades k through 6, I never know what grade or what content I will be teaching. The materials and strategies presented may be used in many different grades. I look forward to applying the strategies and techniques that I have acquired the last few weeks.
~Donna Hudson Perry County Kentucky
To say that my teaching will change when I get back to the classroom is an understatement. My teaching will never be the same. We have all been to PD's and attended working sessions that were a total waste of time. Not here! I learned something every day and in every session that I could take back to the classroom and use from day one. I can not wait to get back to school and put this into practice. This has to be the most rewarding and challenging experience of my career.
~Charles Scoville Harlan County Kentucky
A few weeks have past since the close of the summer institute, I have had time to reflect upon what was learned. I will be going into my third year of teaching and feel very confident on teaching the strategies/techniques that were taught during the sessions. I have, like Charles attended many PD's but came away with a loss instead of making any gains, which for a beginning teacher was heartbreaking! However, the Moutain Writing Project has changed all of that because of the knowledge I have gained this summer. The benefits from attending such a institute as this are unbelievable!!!!
The first benefit I gained this summer was the importance of writing with my students (thanks Deb). Also, I have extended my knowledge on developing writing prompts that have a real authentic purpose behind them now. Thanks to Doc, I have a renewed sense on being an "intentional" teacher! His JOT PLAN, IBC organizer, and the use of a purpose statement have pushed me in the RIGHT direction to help my students become better writers. Gerald set a fire on the inside of me to get my students to write daily by providing examples of this through Journals. Finally, Jen gave me something more on a personal level with the use of the Movie Maker because now I can put those old photos of my dad to the sound of music. Thanks Jen, you will never know how much this means to me! I must also thank Tiffany for the wonderful recipe she provided on the last day. Finally, to Ms. Maggard a special thanks must go out to you for keeping such a vital program going.... Keep up the good work!
I think that the summer institute provided much more than just professional benefits by building a community of teachers to support one another on every level! I have gained everything needed to become a more effective and efficient teacher! I have finally found the support structure needed to move forward on my journey to become the teacher I always wanted to be! This has been the most satisfying and worthwhile experience I have ever had professionally.
I like most of the others have come to miss being with our small community of teachers. My life has changed because of being a part of this summer institute. Each and every person involved in our group has touch my life somehow, which for me has made me a better person in so many ways. The friendships and bonds developed over this short period of time will for me never be forgotten! I have gained tremendously from each person because of what they imparted into my life both professionally and personally. Thanks to everyone! I truly do miss you all!
~Rosetta Jones Breathitt County Kentucky
More than anything else I appreciate what an "eye-opener" this summer institute was for me. I've always loved writing, but now I look at writing and TEACHING writing in a whole new light. The full writing cycle that Doc taught us will help me plan more effectively to reach my students. Every day I learned, not just one useful thing I can use, but several! I feel blessed to have been a part of this wonderful experience! I know I will be a better teacher, and I have an abundance of resources and a community of dedicated teachers willing to help me, just a "click" away! Thank you ALL....2009 fellows, Doc, Lisa, and co-directors! Everyone in that little classroom had something useful and insightful to add and I love and appreciate all of you!
~ Milena Adams Letcher County Kentucky
I totally agree with Milena. I learned something I could use everyday, and I love that wer spent much of our discussion on how we, individually, could adapt these strategies for our students. Prior to the institute, I had heard Jenn and the other co-directors saying that this would completely change the way we looked at teaching writing, and I thought, "Yeah, right." But it has! I gained new strategies from the other fellows through their demonstrations, and just through discussion. I loved the community we built. This has been without question the best professional development I've ever been to. I know that sounds a bit over the top, but it's true. While I don't think my brain could have stood learning one more thing, I miss you guys too!
~Jennifer Farley Harlan County Kentucky
As a special education teacher who covers grades k through 6, I never know what grade or what content I will be teaching. The materials and strategies presented may be used in many different grades. I look forward to applying the strategies and techniques that I have acquired the last few weeks.
~Donna Hudson Perry County Kentucky
To say that my teaching will change when I get back to the classroom is an understatement. My teaching will never be the same. We have all been to PD's and attended working sessions that were a total waste of time. Not here! I learned something every day and in every session that I could take back to the classroom and use from day one. I can not wait to get back to school and put this into practice. This has to be the most rewarding and challenging experience of my career.
~Charles Scoville Harlan County Kentucky
A few weeks have past since the close of the summer institute, I have had time to reflect upon what was learned. I will be going into my third year of teaching and feel very confident on teaching the strategies/techniques that were taught during the sessions. I have, like Charles attended many PD's but came away with a loss instead of making any gains, which for a beginning teacher was heartbreaking! However, the Moutain Writing Project has changed all of that because of the knowledge I have gained this summer. The benefits from attending such a institute as this are unbelievable!!!!
The first benefit I gained this summer was the importance of writing with my students (thanks Deb). Also, I have extended my knowledge on developing writing prompts that have a real authentic purpose behind them now. Thanks to Doc, I have a renewed sense on being an "intentional" teacher! His JOT PLAN, IBC organizer, and the use of a purpose statement have pushed me in the RIGHT direction to help my students become better writers. Gerald set a fire on the inside of me to get my students to write daily by providing examples of this through Journals. Finally, Jen gave me something more on a personal level with the use of the Movie Maker because now I can put those old photos of my dad to the sound of music. Thanks Jen, you will never know how much this means to me! I must also thank Tiffany for the wonderful recipe she provided on the last day. Finally, to Ms. Maggard a special thanks must go out to you for keeping such a vital program going.... Keep up the good work!
I think that the summer institute provided much more than just professional benefits by building a community of teachers to support one another on every level! I have gained everything needed to become a more effective and efficient teacher! I have finally found the support structure needed to move forward on my journey to become the teacher I always wanted to be! This has been the most satisfying and worthwhile experience I have ever had professionally.
I like most of the others have come to miss being with our small community of teachers. My life has changed because of being a part of this summer institute. Each and every person involved in our group has touch my life somehow, which for me has made me a better person in so many ways. The friendships and bonds developed over this short period of time will for me never be forgotten! I have gained tremendously from each person because of what they imparted into my life both professionally and personally. Thanks to everyone! I truly do miss you all!
~Rosetta Jones Breathitt County Kentucky