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Feedback from Teacher Professional Development
NSW Department of Education & Training, Wagga Wagga
Alexandra (Vic) School Cluster
Compilation of references from Seven Steps seminars
NSW DE&T, Wagga Wagga, May 2003
John Ferguson, Department Education and Training, NSW
From: Ferguson, John
Sent: Thursday, 22 May 2003 12:54 PM
Hi Jen,
Thanks for your excellent workshop, "Seven Steps To Writing Success" in Wagga Wagga on 13th May.
I had two principals ring me back to inform that their staff had stated the workshop was outstanding. They'd requested time at their
next staff meeting to share the workshop with their colleagues. One principal commented that it was a first for him!
Following are some comments from teachers who attended.
- Great. An interesting and inspiring presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed the day. One of the best T&D's I ever been to. Will
remain with me. (Jan McKenzie, Wagga Wagga Public School)
- The most important thing was the concept of the Seven Steps and the simplicity it gives to the writing process…. Inspiring,
practical and useable. (Sue Burton, Turvey Park, Wagga)
- The Seven Steps were invaluable, Up 'til now I just said 'er…orientation…complication…resolution.'
- Fantastic. I just wish everyone from my department was here. (Kym Steele, Murrumburrah HS, )
- My approach to a writing task will be totally different. I have more explicit advice and instructions to give my students (not
generalizations.) (Kathy Morton, Ashmont Public School, Wagga)
- Excellent – it's great to have practical, workable ideas and methods that give children a way into writing – they then
can know the joy of creating something wonderful. (Kathy Morton, Ashmont Public School, Wagga)
- Excellent – interesting and thought-provoking. It demonstrates the creative role of teachers. (Denise Burling, Mt Austin HS,
Wagga)
- The Seven Steps in creative writing – at last a practical, logical way to help students with their writing.
- An excellent seminar – practical, down to earth while creativity has been emphasized. (Liz Barbaresco, Koodingal HS, Wagga)
- Fantastic! Excellent activities that were enjoyable to do and very relevant to the classroom. Jen's professional but casual
presentation was excellent. (Sharon Regan, Wagga Wagga HS)
John Ferguson.
PSFP Consultant. Wagga Wagga District.
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Alexandra Cluster 29 May 2003
'Fantastic!... brainstorming the Seven Steps with a group - less threatening, lot of
fun. Think about the Steps, teach them actively to children, try them out myself.'
Chris Barker, Principal, Alexandra Primary School.
'When I read these (feedback), I think you have inspired a hive of activity! They're
great.' Lindy Sloan, event convenor.
'Just excellent thank you. This has really helped me to see how to overcome the problems kids have when
writing. It's shown me how to teach the parts and how those parts relate to the whole. Activities that put the fun back into writing are easier to make up than I thought. A
completely understandable explanation of the difference between authorial and secretarial writing.' V. H. Hendricks.
'Excellent presentation... The Seven Steps - great ideas! To keep writing simple and powerful and the importance of getting
rid of the boring bits.'
Judy Pearson, St. Mary's.
'Excellent - lots of ideas to take back into the classroom – I'll approach writing in a different manner.' Jill MacLean, Alexandra Primary School.
'What an exciting, fun approach to writing!' Yvonne Millar, Alexandra Primary School.
'Great, it's always good to see the successful end of the writing process. (Important to have experience of successful
writers). Importance of teaching writing process in a series of small parts-focused and specific teaching of planning, composing, recording, revising, publishing. Importance of scaffolding
children during the parts of the writing process.' Dianna MacTavish, St. Mary's Primary School.
'Excellent... positive feel about personal abilities after partaking. Everyone wanted to share their own
efforts. Group work - get ideas rolling - everyone wanted to contribute, some wanted to continue story ideas. Model - brainstorming as group for all parts - story starters tomorrow
morning. Make writing tasks more about smaller parts, NOT FINISHED PIECES.' Andrea Steiner, St. Mary's.
'Fantastic - great, worthwhile. Thanks - advice on how to help students with writing - you've been able to break it
down for me, sometimes it's so hard to know where to begin.' Naomi Davies, Alexandra Primary School.
'Excellent. It is not often you have the experience of such a truly memorable professional development at the end of the
school day. Thanks for your enthusiasm and inspiration.' Marie Luby, Alexandra Primary School.
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Compilation of references from Seven Steps seminars
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'We got modern ideas of a contemporary writer who is in touch with what children like to read! Jen had a refreshing way of
reminding us it is all about creativity.' Heather Collins
'Excellent, great fun and very informative. It's amazing just how simple editing kid's work is when you know
how.' Shellie Kavanagh
'Excellent – very clear, helpful and geared to what teachers need in the classroom.'
Jad Ryan, Elwood PS
'Great preparation and presentation…and really helpful suggestions. Thank you!' Virginia Hand, Loreto Mandeville
Hall
'A relaxing day where the time flew. A good springboard for ideas to use in the classroom. Teacher friendly. The openness of the
presenter and her willingness to share her work (i.e. to see the drafts and actual works in progress) was great.'
Julie Firman
'It is great to be able to take away a series of sheets which are 'student friendly.'' The tips for each section
were wonderful. I kept wishing all day that my whole faculty could have been here.' Jill Corby
'Very interesting to listen to a 'professional' – this type of inservice should be mandatory for all
teachers.' John Urbanavicious
'Great! I felt motivated and confident to go back into the classroom…Your ideas sound like they would be successful even
with the most negative students. Most important for me were the practical hints that I can use tomorrow morning.' Angela Maher
'Very useful! At the end of a hard day I stayed fully tuned because I could see the practical point of every step. Great visual
representation of structuring a story!'
David Warren
'Great – it's given me heaps of ideas for getting started. Breaking up writing into chunks was most
important.' Sandra Daldry
'The actual hints to use in the classroom were invaluable. A fabulous session full of inspiration ideas.' Sandy Boucant
'Entertaining and educational. Thoroughly enjoyable in all ways. Great to meet someone so creative, alive and
humorous.' Dawn Collot
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