My Writing Territories

• I like to write, in fact I keep a diary and may start a blog

• I call the range of writing I do, ‘My Writing Territories’

• I have revised my list for this year. I will share it with you

• Then, I ask you to create your own

• My territories list gives me a window on who I am as a writer, a teacher, a mother, a daughter, a learner and a friend

• Keeping this list helps me be more productive and focused as a writer

• I always have a list to use when I have something to write about

My 2006 Writing Territories

• My students – how they learn to be great readers and writers

• Curriculum – lessons I create that I share with other teachers

• My daughter, Leslie – all the memories I have and what happens daily as she grows and matures into a lovely young woman

• Lifelong Learning – should I take a degree in literacy with so few years to retirement

• My mother – I cherish every moment with her.

• My passions – reading, tole painting, crafts, sewing, a good cup of coffee (Tims vs. Second Cup vs. Starbucks, the computer (educational contexts) and email

• The romance of penny candy as a child, the Ice Capades, my summers at the family cottage

• Summers and no pantyhose!• Gardening, the feel of dirt between my fingers,

watching things grow• House…..great!......my favourite show• Things that upset me – no helmets, no milk,

children not supervised, rudeness, girl's and women’s health and body images, war in the world

Do you get my drift?

• My writing territories are jammed packed full of MY ideas, passions, experiences, itches, aversions and feelings

• Writing can take many forms – poems, memoirs, book reviews and criticisms, essays, articles, letters, notes, speeches, guidelines, lists, proposals and plans

• I’ll also write for many different kinds of readers – family, friends, students, colleagues, parents

• We write to be read!

My Writing Territories

• Take 10 minutes to begin a list of your territories.

• Use looseleaf with your name and heading

• Concentrate on ideas for topics and see how many ideas you can capture

• When you get stuck consider the list I have given you and check out the ones I have as examples…they may inspire you

• After 10 minutes read your list to a partner or friend

• Can they help you add to your list?

• Put your list at the beginning of the writing section of your binder

• Add to your list during the year

• These are your inspirations for writing

Homework

• Choose one topic and write a draft of a paragraph that we will work on in our next writing workshop day (Day 2)…whatever length you choose

• If time you may begin now!