Planning and Preparation in Teaching and Writing
Working within the Four Domains
Even as a Language Arts teacher, I felt completely overwhelmed when I first started writing. Researching. Plotting. Drafting. Editing. Revising. Re-Editing. Re-Revising. Proofreading. Re-Re-Revising. Formatting. Self-Publishing. Marketing. It all seemed like too much. Despite having a great writing partner on my first book, Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan, many of the steps seemed so far off in the future that It felt like I'd never get there.
I am fortunate that I have a framework in place from teaching that helps define poor and best practices. Charlotte Danielson's four domains identify standards and objectives as well as establish a set guideline for administrators to assess and develop their staff. The four domains are also generic enough to apply to most professions, even writing. The new author should also recognize these steps. The similarities between the two can guide an author and help them critique their work.
Planning and Preparation (Research and Plotting)
Good teachers are great planners. Lessons and assignments are as well spaced and ordered as the timing and pacing of the classes themselves. Although students only see the presentable result of our planning, they benefit from our logical progression of forethought.
Principals, vice-principals, and supervisors focus their evaluations on preparation because most problems in the classroom can be solved in the planning phase. Even though administrators have the unfair advantage of hindsight in their corner, that doesn't make the teacher's use of forethought any less important.
Novice teachers/writers need to know the content/research, student/audience characteristics, and what resources are available. Knowledge of this domain helps teachers/writers set meaningful goals, design clear instruction/writing, and develop methods of assessing their work.
Teaching and/or Writing Resources Include: iTunes University, Outlining Sites, Mind Mapping Sites
Classroom Environment (Your Writing Space)
This domain, which creates an environment of respect, a culture for learning, and the ability to facilitate classroom procedures, carries through to writing as well.
The use of physical space is important to teachers and writers. Optimal conditions to learn or write are as varied as the learners and writers themselves. Some can perform their best in the fevered buzz of a crowded diner or park. Others need complete isolation in order to keep a thought going.
Students play an unpredictable role in the way the class unfolds. Knowing this, effective teachers minimize the impact of student behavior by using the classroom space. Likewise, writers should set up their space in a way that best suits their style and minimizes outside distractions.
Teaching and/or Writing Resources Include: Classroom Organization, Classroom Environment, Setting up a Writing Space
Instruction (Writing, Editing, Revising, and Proofreading)
Crafting delivery is key in teaching and writing. This domain is third because clear instruction or writing can only happen if the first two domains are met. Once the planning and classroom environment stages meet a basic level of proficiency, the implementing of instruction can begin. Although some teachers have a natural gift, others need to be instructed on how to communicate clearly with their students and have flexibility and responsiveness. The aspect of designing effective questioning and discussion techniques should be handled in the planning stage. Nearly all new teachers benefit from instruction on how to engage students in learning or provide constructive feedback.
Teaching and/or Writing Resources Include: Free Word Processing Software (Like OpenOffice or GoogleDocs), Glossary of Instructional Strategies, Useful Instructional Strategies
Professional Responsibilities (Developing Your Talents as a Writer and Self-Publisher)
Since new teachers are often obsessed with difficulties in classroom management or test scores, the fourth domain of professional responsibilities is often minimized. An effective mentor will emphasize the importance of teacher reflection and accurate record keeping. Parent contact should also be stressed. It is advisable for the peer mentor to sit in on guardian conferences, since that is a direct communication with the larger community. New teachers often lack an attitude of service to their school or employing district. Administrators and mentors should encourage participation in enrichment activities that establish a stronger bond between the new teacher and their environment. Peer mentors should review standards for professional development and professionalism in the teaching field.
Writers, too, need to put time into the community. Whether an author publishes traditionally or independently, they will need to work with a variety of professionals. Networking skills are critical when researching editors, marketers, and publishers. Several blogs are dedicated to finding quality professional partners.
Teaching and Writing Resources Include: Meetup Groups, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Diigo, Edmodo
Is it ever over?
Teachers and writers are never truly finished. The mistakes you make in a first year teaching are not that different than those you make writing and publishing a first book. The way to become a professional is to recognize where you went wrong and take steps to correct those errors in the future.
Because, let's face it, there will always be another class and there will always be a next book.
