The teachers’ writing group is particularly welcoming to anyone who wants to develop as a writer-teacher, but for whatever reason feels nervous or unsure on how to start.
There has been a call from members in recent surveys for the UKLA to establish a Teachers’ Writing Group. We are pleased to announce that one is now being established. The group guarantees to be a friendly, inclusive and supportive group and is open to anybody who works in education. It is particularly welcoming to anyone who wants to develop as a writer-teacher but for whatever reason feels nervous or unsure on how to start. The group will meet online once every half-term and is for all UKLA members.
The meetings will be in the evening and will last an hour and a half. They will follow a simple routine of: be together, write together and share together.
Be together
Meetings will start with an informal chat and the sharing of a writing prompt (for those who might like to use one). Alternatively, members can use the writing time as an opportunity to continue working on their own existing writing project. Finally, some members might want to use the time as an opportunity to participate in some free-writing or what we call ‘dabbling’.
Write together
We will then have writing time. People can stay on the video call. They can turn off their camera and microphones, or they can leave their computer all together and write in a place that suits them best. A time will be given for when everyone should return to the meeting. If people want to write with others, we can set up breakout rooms.
Share together
Finally, the meeting will end with some sharing time. This is an opportunity for those who would like to talk about how their writing is coming along, seek advice from others, or simply read some of what they’ve been crafting. Members don’t need to share if they don’t want to.
Benefits of joining our group:
- Meet other like-minded and sympathetic teachers.
- Give yourself some time to write for pleasure.
- Give yourself some accountability for working on your existing writing projects.
- Learn some idea generation techniques.
- An opportunity to craft mentor texts for your learners.
- A chance to talk about the teaching of writing.
The group will be run by Ross Young and Felicity Ferguson who are the convenors of The UKLA’s Teaching Writing SIG and the founders of The Writing For Pleasure Centre. If you’re interested in joining, please contact them at: writing4pleasure.com/contact