Writers' Workshop--Successes and Questions

I think writers' workshop is almost an essential component to a Creative Writing class, but I've struggled with effective implementation. I've found that using Google Docs comments and chat function has been useful, especially when paired with badges for commenters, which I created on Schoology (Edmodo has a similar function, and there a few more options I think, like openbadges.org, that allow you to make and assign badges too).

Here's a little reflection on what I did with technology to make things go at least a little smoother:

Sra. Spanglish Rides Again: Rowdy Writers' Workshop (Now with Badges!): Writers' Workshop has gone through several incarnations this semester of Creative Writing alone. We started off in a circle with ha...

I really wish workshop could be something we did with the whole class regularly, but I need some tips on how to effectively manage it. The norms and protocols that we established as a class did help, but they did not keep a group of freshmen on task. I have some thoughts on what might help, and I'd like some input from more experienced Creative Writing profesores.

• Should I have daily workshops instead of limiting them to Mondays and Fridays?
• Should I limit the workshopped pieces to one per session rather than 2 or 3 in a row?
• Should I put a page limit on how long a workshopped piece can be?
• Should I have designated roles for each person in the class?
• Should I restructure as a fish bowl exercise with half of the class observing while half interact?
• Should there be some kind of assignment or form for commenters attached to the workshop session?
• Should I cut back the number of workshops each author gets to 1 per grading period or even 2 per semester, rather than 2 per grading period?

Any other suggestions you have for how to run a successful writers' workshop would be much appreciated!

NaNo Winners!

I am so proud of my students, my club members, my colleague, and myself. November is over; we have written a grand total of 328,624 words! Six of our thirteen aspiring novelists won by completing their personal word count goals. The next step is to work on revision and editing so we can get our free copies of our novels printed and then possibly look into publication!

I hope some of you will consider doing NaNoWriMo with your creative writing students in the future. It has been an incredible adventure and I am already looking forward to next year!

Jesse Birnstihl
Ashbrook High School

National Novel Writing Month!

Happy NaNo!

Ashbrook's Creative Writing II students and Creative Writing Club have been participating in National Novel Writing Month. Collectively, we have written over 80,000 words so far!

I'd write more, but it's taking away from my word count. ;)

:) Mr. Birnstihl

Creative Writing at Ashbrook

I've considered myself a writer since I was a young child. I remember creating a series of stories called The Birnstihl Bunnies (largely derivative of The Berenstain Bears) when I was in second grade. In junior high, I drafted notebooks full of fantasy stories and dreamed of being a famous author under the pen name Kel Alexis. I took poetry and playwriting classes in college. So it should come as no surprise to me that my favorite part about my job is teaching Creative Writing.

I started teaching Creative Writing I and II at Ashbrook in spring semester of 2012. I'm hoping to continue building the program so that I can get Creative Writing III and IV added, and I would definitely like ideas and advice from anyone who teaches these upper level classes on what you do for each of the different levels.

I love teaching Creative Writing because it allows me to really get to know my students and to connect with them personally. I also feel that I have really helped them improve their writing skills and have challenged them in a variety of genres. I teach Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Scriptwriting in three-week units; then, I allow students to choose their own major projects to complete in the Independent Study unit. This structure has really worked for me, but I'd love to hear all of your ideas. I am happy to share my daily writing prompts and my unit plans; they are available here.

This year, I am encouraging my Creative Writing II students and members of our newly revived Creative Writing Club to participate in National Novel Writing Month. I'm going to participate, too! If any of you are doing NaNo with your students, I'd love to start a Word War with your class.

I hope that we can collaborate and share ideas throughout year. I am passionate about Creative Writing and feel that it has brought me back to life in my teaching. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and seeing your incredible ideas!

Jesse Birnstihl

Ashbrook High School

Welcome to the Gaston County School Creative Writing PLC

Here are the GCS Creative Writing PLC members:

Ashbrook- Jesse Birnstihl
Bessemer City- Genny Price
Cherryville- Melanie Hawkins
Stuart Cramer- Vince Bank
East Gaston- Janice Harris
Forestview- Sally Griffin
Early College- Laura Sexton
Highland- Cindy Mauney
Hunter Huss- Paul Toth
North Gaston- Shanna Moore
South Point- Rachel Hord
Warlick- Tiffany Solod

This is our blog. Feel free to post anytime :-)