January 21, 2007

To: Teaching Assistants

From: Shannon Carter

Subject: Mandatory Workshops

Last fall, you were asked (required) to observe 3-4 classes and write up a report.

This spring, we strongly encourage you continue observing others teaching their classes as few other activities can be as informative as observing/being observed and reflecting on that process. I will not require you to write up a report, but I suggest you always keep a teaching journal in which you can record these observations and reflections.

Instead mandatory observations this spring, however, you will be required to attend—and contribute to (if possible)—at least three of five workshops we will offer over the next few months. The majority of these workshops will provide an opportunity to bring together activities/ideas you are using in your own classes and in the Writing Center. We will also hold more formal workshops in which the focus will be “Making Group Work Work” or “Making Peer Review Work” or “Integrating Technology into the Writing Classroom.”

The topics of each workshop will be announced soon (we welcome your input!). In the meantime, however, please mark these dates in your calendar and plan to attend at least three of the five offered.

All workshops will be held in the Writing Center on Wednesday afternoons, beginning at 2:00.

Workshop 1: February 7

Workshop 2: February 21

Workshop 3: March 14

Workshop 4: April 4

Workshop 5: April 18 (At this meeting, we will be discussing the upcoming Celebration of Student Writing; I encourage all of you to attend this one if at all possible)