Purpose
             The Writer's Workshop model is a district expectation.  I have been

 

using this approach for the last five years in teaching and have had the privilege to

 

learn from my two mentors, Katherine Bomer and Matt Glover.  Both individuals

 

are leaders in their fields and have taught me a lot about the Writer's Workshop

 

model, however, I still have much to learn.  I have always struggled with conferring

 

in Writer's Workshop and often wondered if learning to engage better with

 

my students during conferences would not only help them but me as well.

 

As shown in photo 1, my students have learned to engage with each other

 

during this process as well.  

My School District

          The Blue Springs School District is dedicated to providing students

 

with the greatest educational opportunities, as observed in video 1.  We strive to

 

assure all our students are prepared to take their place as productive, informed

 

and caring members of society.  The Blue Springs School District has received

 

Accreditation with Distinction from the Missouri Department of Elementary

 

and Secondary Education for 14 consecutive years.  Specialty programs

 

including the Gifted Education Program, Project Lead the Way, and others are

 

housed within our district.  We have 13 elementary schools, four middle

 

schools, a freshman center and two high schools.  Our district is located on the

 

eastern edge of the Kansas City metro area in Jackson County.  We received a #1

 

ranking for our annual performance report for the metropolitan area.

 

My School

           William Bryant Elementary is located on the south side of

 

Blue Springs.  Our students are part of the Leader In Me program.  Each student

 

is given a leadership role within our school and in their own class.  Through Leader

 

In Me, students learn they have the capacity to lead in their individual lives and

 

affect those around them by making positive choices.  This program provides

 

students with activities that will help them learn practical character and life skills 

 

leading to those positive choices.  Students set goals and reflect on them

 

each week.  As a school, we set school goals and achieve them together.  The

 

Leader In Me program has had a positive impact on our school, school

 

family and teachers as seen in video 2.