It’s a Win-Win-Win: It’s a Win-Win-Win: A school-university A school-university

on-site tutoring on-site tutoring partnership in partnership in

writing to support writing to support preservice teachers preservice teachers

and elementary and elementary studentsstudentsSherron Killingsworth Roberts, Ed.D.Sherron Killingsworth Roberts, Ed.D.

University of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida

Sherron.roberts@ucf.edu

Ms. Tära Newby Pettengill and Ms. Yanique VaughnMs. Tära Newby Pettengill and Ms. Yanique Vaughn

Arbor Ridge School, OCPSArbor Ridge School, OCPS

Tara.newby@ocps.net & Yanique.vaughn@ocps.net

This session will share:This session will share:

Knights Write!: A long-Knights Write!: A long-term school-university term school-university

partnershippartnership Beginning in 1998, the goal has been to work Beginning in 1998, the goal has been to work

with students at the margins to boost Florida with students at the margins to boost Florida Writes! scoresWrites! scores

Theoretical framework based on the principles Theoretical framework based on the principles of reflective practice to evaluate and provide of reflective practice to evaluate and provide writing minilessons for improving Florida writing minilessons for improving Florida Writes! scores.Writes! scores.

One-on-one tutoring, portfolio, writing One-on-one tutoring, portfolio, writing workshop format workshop format

Culminates in a Young Author Celebration! Culminates in a Young Author Celebration!

What is Knights Write! ?What is Knights Write! ? 30 min one-on-one tutoring in 3 30 min one-on-one tutoring in 3

credit hr course using analytical credit hr course using analytical categories in a writers workshop categories in a writers workshop format with 20 to 26 little buddies format with 20 to 26 little buddies every semester. every semester.

Knights Write! started as a service learning Knights Write! started as a service learning project to benefit elementary students… Little project to benefit elementary students… Little buddies are always the priority.buddies are always the priority.

However, benefits not only elementary However, benefits not only elementary students, but administrators, preservice students, but administrators, preservice teachers…teachers…

Thus, a win-win-win! Thus, a win-win-win!

Perspectives of Knights Perspectives of Knights Write!Write!

Video from Arbor Ridge Video from Arbor Ridge School PrincipalSchool Principal

Ms. Paige Tracy works every Ms. Paige Tracy works every semester to ensure a great semester to ensure a great teaching experience for our teaching experience for our preservice teachers, and a preservice teachers, and a great learning experience for great learning experience for our little buddies. our little buddies.

Many Arbor Ridge teachers Many Arbor Ridge teachers have been hired who fell in love have been hired who fell in love with the school, and who made with the school, and who made connections with Arbor Ridge.connections with Arbor Ridge.

Administrative Perspectives: Administrative Perspectives: Ms. Paige Tracy, Principal Ms. Paige Tracy, Principal

Videos from Arbor Ridge Videos from Arbor Ridge School CRT AdministratorSchool CRT Administrator

Ms. Tammy Carver, the CRT of Arbor Ms. Tammy Carver, the CRT of Arbor Ridge, plays the role of facilitator for Ridge, plays the role of facilitator for Knights Write!Knights Write!

She works to find classroom and She works to find classroom and tutoring space, parking, solicit students tutoring space, parking, solicit students from teachers, and work within our 3 from teachers, and work within our 3 hour class time to find a tutoring time hour class time to find a tutoring time for preservice teachers, the big for preservice teachers, the big buddies, to meet with little buddies. buddies, to meet with little buddies.

Guides our tutoring for the state writing Guides our tutoring for the state writing sample.sample.

Mrs. Tammy Carver Mrs. Tammy Carver

Perspectives from a former Knights Perspectives from a former Knights Write! Big Buddy, Ms. Tära Write! Big Buddy, Ms. Tära

PettengillPettengill Memories and benefitsMemories and benefits The teacher I have become!The teacher I have become!

Perspective from a former Knights Write!Perspective from a former Knights Write! Big Buddy, Ms. Yanique Vaughn Big Buddy, Ms. Yanique Vaughn

1.1. Built a relationship with the Built a relationship with the classroom teacher and other classroom teacher and other staff members staff members

2.2. Exposed to making critical, Exposed to making critical, yet creative lesson plans yet creative lesson plans

3.3. One-on-one instructionOne-on-one instruction

4.4. Academic Focused Academic Focused

5.5. A sense of accomplishments A sense of accomplishments

6.6. Insight into the child’s life Insight into the child’s life

7.7. Enhanced my resume Enhanced my resume

Obstacles from Knights Write! Big Obstacles from Knights Write! Big Buddy and a Teacher Buddy and a Teacher

Not having enough time to complete the lessonNot having enough time to complete the lesson Absences Absences Uninterested buddiesUninterested buddies Timeframe for the programTimeframe for the program

PST Perspectives: What’s best?PST Perspectives: What’s best?

What am I doing to enhance your learning & What am I doing to enhance your learning & prepare you to be a teacher?prepare you to be a teacher? Teaching me different methods to teach LA and teaching me various levels of writingTeaching me different methods to teach LA and teaching me various levels of writing Sharing experiences Sharing experiences in real life classesin real life classes…what works/what doesn’t…what works/what doesn’t Allowing us to be part of the learning Allowing us to be part of the learning and allowing us to practice our teaching and allowing us to practice our teaching w/ w/

studentsstudents Introducing creative ways to writeIntroducing creative ways to write I think you are providing me with very useful resources and when you see the class I think you are providing me with very useful resources and when you see the class

going in the wrong direction you stop and focus it in the right directiongoing in the wrong direction you stop and focus it in the right direction Giving Giving us unique and fun ways to teach our studentsus unique and fun ways to teach our students Providing lesson ideas to teach students how to writeProviding lesson ideas to teach students how to write Weekly mini lessonsWeekly mini lessons Modeling ideas /Modeling ideas /giving mini lessonsgiving mini lessons Teaching us what all goes into writingTeaching us what all goes into writing Teaching actual assignments and lessons that can be used in the classroomTeaching actual assignments and lessons that can be used in the classroom Giving us real situational examples of what things look like in the classroomGiving us real situational examples of what things look like in the classroom Making us work/write/read a lotMaking us work/write/read a lot Having us work with an actual studentHaving us work with an actual student Giving the opportunity to apply what we are learningGiving the opportunity to apply what we are learning Lots of great strategies to take into a future classroomLots of great strategies to take into a future classroom Working through the bookWorking through the book The class lectures and PowerPoints are really helpful. The book work is helpful, too.The class lectures and PowerPoints are really helpful. The book work is helpful, too. This class is a great opportunity to get hands on experience with students. This class is a great opportunity to get hands on experience with students.

It has helped me realize that just because I plan for things to go a certain It has helped me realize that just because I plan for things to go a certain way doesn’t mean they will. Flexibility is key.way doesn’t mean they will. Flexibility is key.

Love the buddy time, but class is too short for all the material Love the buddy time, but class is too short for all the material

The best part about having a The best part about having a buddy is…?buddy is…? Teaching new thingsTeaching new things

Love the interaction altogetherLove the interaction altogether It allows us to put our learning straight to work with studentsIt allows us to put our learning straight to work with students You get to build a relationship with a student as well as see what works and does not You get to build a relationship with a student as well as see what works and does not

work for studentswork for students Connecting to students on a 1 on 1 statusConnecting to students on a 1 on 1 status I love my buddy and I think the best way to learn is to have hands on experience. I I love my buddy and I think the best way to learn is to have hands on experience. I

would definitely want to take a class with buddies againwould definitely want to take a class with buddies again I love interacting with my buddy and even though I feel a little wobbly sometimes, I I love interacting with my buddy and even though I feel a little wobbly sometimes, I

think I’m genuinely learning what does/doesn’t workthink I’m genuinely learning what does/doesn’t work I’m gaining experience working with advanced/gifted studentsI’m gaining experience working with advanced/gifted students The best part about having a buddy is keeping me accountableThe best part about having a buddy is keeping me accountable Working with buddies is a great experience and really gives us good practice for Working with buddies is a great experience and really gives us good practice for

creating mini lessonscreating mini lessons Having a buddy does prepare me for one-on-one teaching, which I’m glad to get Having a buddy does prepare me for one-on-one teaching, which I’m glad to get

experienceexperience The hands on experience I get to have. I get to use everything I’ve learned in my The hands on experience I get to have. I get to use everything I’ve learned in my

classes and apply them to actual studentsclasses and apply them to actual students I am able to practice writing mini lessons; I get experience with a student and not just I am able to practice writing mini lessons; I get experience with a student and not just

reading about it in our textbook; I can have a close look at what students today are reading about it in our textbook; I can have a close look at what students today are writing likewriting like

It provides me the opportunity to put in practice what I’m learning in the classroomIt provides me the opportunity to put in practice what I’m learning in the classroom I love working with my buddies. I believe experience is the best way of learningI love working with my buddies. I believe experience is the best way of learning The best thing about buddies is the interaction and the connectionThe best thing about buddies is the interaction and the connection

Most bothersome part about Most bothersome part about buddiesbuddies Getting my buddy to stay on taskGetting my buddy to stay on task

At the beginning, I think we could have used a little more instruction on what to do At the beginning, I think we could have used a little more instruction on what to do with/teach our buddies; we were kind of thrown in blindwith/teach our buddies; we were kind of thrown in blind

It is hard to think of a whole lesson to do for only 20 minutes; I feel time is rushedIt is hard to think of a whole lesson to do for only 20 minutes; I feel time is rushed Having to prepare mini lesson is sometimes hard to doHaving to prepare mini lesson is sometimes hard to do I wish that objectives for mini lessons would be given to us (at least in the beginning). I felt I wish that objectives for mini lessons would be given to us (at least in the beginning). I felt

very lost planning my first couple of mini lessons.very lost planning my first couple of mini lessons. The most bothersome about having a buddy is having to create a mini lesson every week The most bothersome about having a buddy is having to create a mini lesson every week

on top of the intense workload that we are assigned weeklyon top of the intense workload that we are assigned weekly The weekly workload; however it’s not so badThe weekly workload; however it’s not so bad What bothers me about having a buddy is that it’s every week. It’s difficult to keep up with What bothers me about having a buddy is that it’s every week. It’s difficult to keep up with

my other class assignments along with this one – and then to create a lesson for the buddy. my other class assignments along with this one – and then to create a lesson for the buddy. I feel like I’m not meeting her needs.I feel like I’m not meeting her needs.

I’m always losing my lesson plans in the shuffle. Also, 15 minutes feels like so little time I’m always losing my lesson plans in the shuffle. Also, 15 minutes feels like so little time and yet I feel stranded sometimes. Finally, finding mentor texts feels extraneous and yet I feel stranded sometimes. Finally, finding mentor texts feels extraneous sometimes.sometimes.

The only bothersome thing is when my buddy seems uninterested I do not know how to The only bothersome thing is when my buddy seems uninterested I do not know how to change things up after my lesson has already been plannedchange things up after my lesson has already been planned

Gets off topic and picks his nose! LOL Gets off topic and picks his nose! LOL Having to make a mini lesson for themHaving to make a mini lesson for them I do wish for more guidelines when creating mini lessonsI do wish for more guidelines when creating mini lessons What I do not like about our buddy system is that we have to have a mentor text EVERY What I do not like about our buddy system is that we have to have a mentor text EVERY

week. I think that this leads to me worrying more about the less important things and it week. I think that this leads to me worrying more about the less important things and it may sometimes be unnecessary for certain activities/lessonsmay sometimes be unnecessary for certain activities/lessons

I worry that if I am reaching my buddy or making a differenceI worry that if I am reaching my buddy or making a difference Sometimes lost on what exactly to teach. Would rather have a list of things the child needs Sometimes lost on what exactly to teach. Would rather have a list of things the child needs

to work on.to work on.

Student Benefits from Tära Pettengill Student Benefits from Tära Pettengill and Yanique Vaughn and Yanique Vaughn

One-on-one instructionOne-on-one instruction Students write about things that interest themStudents write about things that interest them Students build a big brother/big sister Students build a big brother/big sister

relationshipsrelationships Advocacy Advocacy StatusStatus Build self esteem Build self esteem Author Celebration Author Celebration

Young Author Young Author Celebration!Celebration!

Perspectives from a former little Perspectives from a former little buddy buddy

How did we sustain such this long, How did we sustain such this long, successful relationship?successful relationship?

Supporting childrenSupporting children Building relationshipsBuilding relationships Maintaining a positive attitudes/relationshipsMaintaining a positive attitudes/relationships Reinforcing teachers and classroom practiceReinforcing teachers and classroom practice Remembering that we are guests!Remembering that we are guests! Flexibility is key!Flexibility is key!

Now that I think about it, there’s a Now that I think about it, there’s a fourth win! The university fourth win! The university

instructional leaderinstructional leader Provides the professor authenticity, Provides the professor authenticity,

legitimacy, environmental context, and legitimacy, environmental context, and professional connections. professional connections.

The professor remains cutting edge and The professor remains cutting edge and connected to schools, and able to provide connected to schools, and able to provide preservice teachers with much needed preservice teachers with much needed experience with children at the margins. experience with children at the margins.

As KNIGHTS WRITES! travels into the future,As KNIGHTS WRITES! travels into the future,

itit’’s more of a win-win-win-win-s more of a win-win-win-win-win!win!

Conversations and QuestionsConversations and Questions