Tips for helping Write Path to run smoothly?

[Anne Robinson, Dixie Grammar]

Could any seasoned Write Pathers contribute how they make the whole thing run well? I would welcome tips to make sure our students have a great experience :) Thanks in advance.

[Lynda Marett, CTK Preston]

Doughnuts and muffins went down well last year... when they'd all finished of course!

[Lynne Coppendale]

Is a new set of stories started every day or do we continue from ones started previously?

[Caroline Roche]

There is a new set every day. Get the pupils to work in groups of no more than three. I got them to write out their stories in Word first, then it was an easy cut and paste job into the blog continuation once it had all been spellchecked. Too large groups means too much discussion and not a lot of work done. I read all the stories out to them at the beginning, and then got a group to decide which story they would like to continue. Hope that helps - Caroline

[Lynda Marett, CTK Preston]

Hi Anne, I worked similar to Caroline. Some pupils wanted to write on their own, some wanted to write with a friend, I let them choose. I printed out the stories when they cam,e through - bit last minute. The pupils made notes, underlined / highlighted parts before they began to write. You might like to look at the stories earlier in the day or during break and see how they are progressing. Like me, you are around midday - I think it is easier to be early in the moring as there is not so much to read through before the writing starts - that was what took us the most time last year. We had some confusion and lack of continuity in our stories, I will try to avoid that this time! You will enjoy it Anne... all too soon it is over, make the most of the build up!
Lynda

[Lynne Coppendale]

These are great suggestions, thanks. They WILL be used!

[Jan at Delany]

We were first timers too, Anne. I am glad I booted all the computers to the site, and set up named word document for frequent saving, beforehand. Took a while with this slow network, and that is why it was so important to do this.

It also helps to switch the camera to video before recording a clip, which is something we will do when they meet again on Friday to read the stories!!!

Hope you enjoyed it all as much as we did!

Jan at Delany

[Ellie Gee]

Can someone clarify - the instructions said each school was expected to upload 6 paragraphs - does this mean that 6 paragraphs for each story? Does it matter if different groups do the same story but end it in different ways? Do all endings then get uploaded?

Thanks

Ellie

[Karen King - Oakbank School]

Hi Ellie,

No, it's one paragraph per story - like an extended game of Consequences! You have one group per story, and they add the next paragraph to the narrative. They will only be concluding the story if you're the last school of the day,

 

Hope this helps,

 

Karen

Ellie Gee said:

Can someone clarify - the instructions said each school was expected to upload 6 paragraphs - does this mean that 6 paragraphs for each story? Does it matter if different groups do the same story but end it in different ways? Do all endings then get uploaded?

Thanks

Ellie

[Ellie Gee]

Thanks for your feedback. I have a class of 28 - do they need to be split into 6 groups then and produce one piece of writing per group?

[Karen King - Oakbank School]

I think that would be the best way. I only have two students per story - one from  Y7 and one from Y9 - but I can't see why it wouldn't be ok to have a group doing it. You'd probably want to nominate one student to write the story up and keep an eye on the word limit, while the rest discuss and decide where the story is going, but whether they decide the whole paragraph and then begin writing or write as inspiration strikes and then edit after the initial brainstorm is your choice. Everyone does it differently - I don't think anything is wrong or right, it's just whatever works for your group of students,

 

Karen  :)

[WP Central]

Great answer Karen. Yes Ellie if you are working with a whole class you would split into 6 groups and they add one paragraph to one story each. I'd definitely try and et them to you 15 mina before the start of the session so they can read the story so far, or alternatively if you are after lunch/break get them to do so then. If you then make sure you warn them when there are 15 mins to go so that they have time to type their continuations and upload them you should be fine ;0)

[Lynne Coppendale]

Bit late for those of you who have already taken part but this is the Image I leave up on our Whiteboard for all students to see.  I have two slots this year so will be making another one!  Please feel free to use and abuse X