1. The power of multiple stories The writing strand

3. Write, pair, share What does Adichie’s speech make you think about? Wonder about? Care about? What do you agree with? Disagree with?

4. What is loop writing? “A type of writing that exists between the dangerous method of painstaking writing where you figure out your meaning entirely before you start... and the open-ended process where you let the writing steer itself and let yourself be ignorant of where you might end up.” “It is especially useful if you can’t think of much to write or are stuck with a topic that bores you.” (p. 60. Writing with power: Techniques for mastering the writing process, Peter Elbow, 1981. New York: Oxford University Press.)

5. What is loop writing? “I call this process a loop because it takes you on an elliptical orbiting voyage. For the first half, the voyage out, you do pieces of almost freewriting during which you allow yourself to curve out into space- allow yourself, that is, to ignore or even forget exactly what your topic is. For the second half, you voyage home, you bend your efforts back into the gravitational field of your original topic as you select, organize, and revise parts of what you produced during the voyage out.” (p. 60. Writing with power: Techniques for mastering the writing process, Peter Elbow, 1981. New York: Oxford University Press.

6. The process You will write to three prompts today. You will read what you have written to a partner (just reading, no commentary, and you don’t have to read everything). When you are done reading, your partner will say back (in writing) what they think you are asking, wondering about, interested in... what is at the heart of your piece. Read your partner’s writing and write to yourself what you think you are asking, wondering about, interested in... what may be at the heart of your piece.

7. Questions to jump-start your thinking/writing What are you most confused/perplexed about in your observations/interactions with a particular student/parent/colleague? What is a teaching dilemma you have been wrestling with this year? What is a critical incident with a student that is on your mind?

8. Initial thoughts Choose one of the topics and free-write. Write down whatever comes to mind. “When I think of this topic I... remember/wonder/think of...” Jump in and keep writing even if you think you are not making sense. “Trust your pen.”

9. Telling a story/capturing a moment Write about a moment associated with this topic. Think of this telling as a story or portrait. Focus on capturing an experience rather than explaining one. Don’t worry about analyzing or explaining, unless it happens naturally.

10. Variations Variations can help the writer see the topic from a new angle. Writing for a different audience or purpose; writing in a different genre can accomplish this. Today, try writing your story from another person’s perspective. What is their story?