Hmm, okay, here's one. I'm thinking that the week before we focus on dialogue, the assignment could be to use the capture device to capture five snippets of dialogue that they find particularly strong. It could be something overheard, or something they read in a book or in the newspaper, or hear on tv.

Then to "process" it, they put all of it on one page, print out enough copies for everybody and bring to class.

I'm also going to use 3x5s for lesson plans. First of all you have to understand, I've never taken any formal education classes, nor did anyone ever teach me how to teach.

I was asked at the last minute to teach a 5-hour workshop on "How to Write a Romance Novel" when I'd had one published, and I filled in to help out a friend. All I knew to do was to make a list of things like "Characterization," and "Plot," etc., then figure out exercises for each, and things to say about each, and hope I filled in five hours. I mean, we're talking about an ENFP with ADD and that means pure impulse and no logic, and here I am teaching a class without knowing how!

But it worked out okay, and I've been teaching ever since. My classes have grown and evolved and now I've been teaching the same two classes for several years. I have more exercises and "things to say" on any given topic than there are hours in a session, so I never run out of stuff. But occasionally I'll find myself thinking, "I forgot to tell them the Mike C. story!" (which illustrates important aspects of dialogue) or "This would have been a good class to do that other exercise with," after the fact.

So I've decided I'm going to sit down and list all the various things I can do on any given element of fiction (and remind myself of some of them I haven't done in a long time, and add some new things I've thought about), then come up with a list for each class. (I teach an 8-session course and a 6-session course.)

I'll probably just list key words for each thing, print them all out on a 3x5 (a different one for each class) and have it with me so that I can make sure I hit every important point each time.

That may not be an actuall "lesson plan" the way most people teach, but it fits my method. My classes are often shaped by the students, because I encourage them to ask questions or make comments. Even when I teach the same class in the morning and evening, it's not unusual for them to go off in different directions due to students asking totally different kinds of questions, depending upon their own projects. This will be a way for me to make sure I hit every important point even as I address their individual needs. (Yes, as I get older I get more forgetful!)

So I'll have two sets -- one set for each class. Each set will have key topics for each session.

That's just the beginning -- I'm going to use 3x5s for other things, as well.

My opinion may not be popular with those who run teacher prep programs, but as a "trained" educator I can attest to the fact that there is no college coursework that can make someone into a teacher -- you've either got it or you don't. They give you some useful information on developmental psychology and how to teach in a "multicultural society," but as far as what to actually do when you close the door of the classroom and have 30 young people staring at you... You're on your own!

Having said that, I think your lesson planning idea is ingenious and I intend to share it with our group of new teachers when we meet next. I think what I see as most valuable is the collecting of different activities that can fit under a particular topic. It gives you a great "toolbox" of potential ideas to use with your students that is independent of a textbook or other prescribed curriculum. I think I will also share the D*I*Y templates you mentioned with our Language Arts department -- the creative writing teacher may find them useful.

Thanks, Scott! You succinctly described what I'm doing. I just got to where it was all in my head instead of in any formal format, and have finally decided I need to get it down on paper.

As for those templates, they may be helpful to some people. I'm not sure they're helpful to me, but they may be. I haven't tried them yet. I do believe in tossing all sorts of methods out to the class assuming that something will help somebody!

not all methods are useful to everyone,
some methods may be useful to someone and some may be useful to everyone, but there is one from which everyone will be benefited that is the universal method, anyone know that ? pls reply me