ETAI Annual National ConferenceJuly 8-9, 2014

Jerusalem

"Writers Matter": An International Program for Multicultural Communication

Dr. Maureen RajuanPedagogical AdvisorEnglish Department

Achva Academic College of Education

maureen.rajuan@mail.huji.ac.il

WRITERS MATTERVOICES OF TEENS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

La Salle University, Philadelphia PADr. Robert VogelDr. Sami Adwan

Kerrin GarripoliMatt Howell Youssef Kromah http://www.lasalle.edu/writersmatter/writers-matter-in-israel-and-palestine/

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

• Why?• Provide an emotionally and physically safe environment• Provide mentors who serve as role models that nurture

tolerance and allow students to live a moral life• Opportunity to listen to voices of Israeli and Palestinian

teens and pay attention to voices seldom heard

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

• Develop critical writing and communication skills• Create an atmosphere of trust and belonging

that are developmentally appropriate • Dealing with feelings of isolation, frustration and

loneliness

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

• What?• Year long program that is integrated into curriculum• Provides professional development in research-based

instructional strategies throughout school year Modeled after Writers Matter program in Philadelphia

that was implemented in 2005 • Began in Israeli and Palestinian Schools in 2011

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

• How?• Through journaling and telling personal stories.• Empowering young writers to share their voice• Pat Speight, an Irish storyteller once said “Stories are the

shortest distance between people.”• Quaker peace activist Gene Knudsen Hoffman once

stated “an enemy is a person whose story we have not heard yet”

• Digital Story

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

What’s going on now?

• 11 Achva Student Teachers and 5 Cooperating Teachers in Darka Jr. High, Kiryat Malachi

• 2 Achva Student Teachers and 1 Cooperating Teacher in Al Najah Jr. High, Rahat

• 7th, 8th and 9th grade classes

Innovations to the program

1. English as a foreign language: a neutral and direct means of communication known equally to speakers of other languages.

2. Student Teachers as designers of lesson plans and instructors of writing.

Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

METHOD:

• 2 Training Sessions lead by Bob, Sami and Samar in October 2013 before implementation of the program and in January 2014 as a follow-up

• Visits by Samar to the schools

• Lesson planning by student teachers in collaboration with their cooperating teachers

• Pedagogy lessons

Topics:•I AM POEM

•FAMILY MATTERS•FRIENDSHIP

•FUTURE HOPES AND DREAMS

TOPIC: I AM FROM POEM• Brainstorm I AM FROM sun on board: family, teacher,

pets, hobbies, personality, etc.• Individual I AM FROM sun drawings• Examples from the internet *• Write your own I AM FROM poem• Share with partners• Share in groups: compare similarities and differences• Add new ideas• Group presentations of similarities and differences• Volunteers read their poem to the class• Discussion: implementation in the classroom

I AM FROM templateAn I Am poem is a good way to teach children to focus on their own characteristics. It also is a good ice breaker for the beginning of the year.

I AmI am (two special characteristics)I wonder (something you are actually curious about)I hear (an imaginary sound)I see (an imaginary sight)I want (an actual desire)I am (the first line of the poem restated)I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)I touch (an imaginary touch)I worry (something that really bothers you)I cry (something that makes you very sad)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)I understand (something you know is true)I say (something you believe in)I dream (something you actually dream about)I try (something you really make an effort about)I hope (something you actually hope for)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

I AM FROM Assignment • Write your own I AM FROM poem.

• Describe the process we went through in Pedagogy class.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of this process for teaching pupils?

I AM POEM

Colleen David

I am from HannahI am from 33 years of living I am from battling the past

I am from surviving the presentI am from worrying about the futureI am from a close and loving family

I am from the joy of my BFF dog, BelleI am from a lonely self

I am from limitless TV Shows and filmsI am from dreamless of Tennis and songs

I am from ADD and LDI am from listening, speaking, reading and writing

 

 

Reflection

“There are many advantages and good reasons for having students write an I Am Poem. First, it is suitable for every student in every level. There is no wrong or right answer. Second, it allows them to learn about themselves and others through writing. Third, it is authentic and motivates them to improve their English. All the language skills are included (listening, speaking, reading and writing). The possibilities are endless and it is a process that everyone benefits from. It is designed to allow students to address every issue that affects them or that they care about. It is a good opportunity for the teacher to get to know the students and learn if a student has a problem/a situation that affects him/her. Personally, I liked writing this poem.” “I haven't found real disadvantages for this type of writing. Although it is personal and private, the students decide what they wish to share with their teacher or class.”

Topic: Family Matters“I was glad that I spoke with them about types of families because most of them claimed that a father and a child only weren't considered to be a family. I put them in that position for a moment and then they understood that they actually were a family. It was very important for me to present to them and make them accept other types of families, since they exist among their friends. I have kids from divorced families and single parent families.”

(Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student)

Topic: Family Matters“At the beginning, some of the pupils were a bit shy and didn't want to read in front of the whole class. However, when the first pupil read, I made sure that everyone was quiet, and when he finished, everyone clapped their hands. It was very nice and increased their confidence. Suddenly, many of them wanted to participate. I was so satisfied!”

(Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student)

Topic: Family Matters“There was one boy in particular who excited me the most. At first he didn't want to share his story, but then he asked me to read it for him to the class. He told his story for the first time to the class: his parents were divorced and his mom re-married a man with children. Today they all live together.”

“I noticed how nervous he was when I started reading, but when I finished, everyone applauded and I praised him. He relaxed suddenly and smiled. The whole lesson was worth this one moment.”

“Later on, he even came to tell me a secret and asked me not to tell the rest of the pupils. He said that he thought his mom was pregnant and wanted to surprise him. I thought it was adorable and I was excited by the fact that he trusted me.”

(Reflection by Yael Ganot, 3rd-year Achva Student)

Topic: FriendshipStudent Teachers from Rahat teach in Kiryat

Malachi

Topic: FriendshipStudent Teachers from Kiryat Malachi teach in Rahat

Pen Pal Letter Exchange• Pupils from 2 classes from Rahat and 4 classes from

Kiryat Malachi

• Wrote letters about themselves

• Received letters

• Wrote back with answers to the questions they were asked.

• Prepared to meet their pen pal friends in person.

Pen Pal letter

End-of-year Celebration• Participants:• 300 pupils from Kiryat Malachi and 50 pupils from Rahat• 12 English Teachers from both schools• 13 Student Teachers• Prof. Robert Vogel

• Activities:• Acquaintance games• Writing feedback about the program• Sharing writing• Drawing on material• Singing and dancing •

Darka Junior High SchoolKiryat MalachiJune 20, 2014

Media coverage of the event

•Writers MatterVoices of Teens in the Middle East

Topic: Future Hopes and Dreams

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children." - Mohandas Gandhi