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K-12 Offerings

[SUMM23] Teaching Narrative Writing (Brisk) is a Course

[SUMM23] Teaching Narrative Writing (Brisk)

Self-paced

$400 Enroll

Full course description

Teaching Narrative Writing to K-8 students

(15 PDPs and 1 ALC credit)

If you are a BC student seeking to take this course for credit, you must register via Eagle Apps. The course number is EDUC7547.

Using a genre-based pedagogy informed by systemic functional linguistics, participants will learn what and how to teach fiction and non-fiction narratives, including personal and procedural recounts, autobiographies, biographies, empathetic autobiographies, and historical recounts.

In this project-based course, groups of participants will collaborate to develop a writing unit in a genre appropriate for their grade level, and participants will learn and practice features of the genres demanded in elementary and middle schools. This course places a focus on language development, and this unique approach will support teachers in how to guide students to writing that builds confidence and success.

Course Schedule, Time Commitment and Activities (July 11 - August 8, 2023)

  • Approximately 2 hours engaging in weekly modules that include lectures, interviews and looking at student work. 

  • Weekly 1 hour live sessions every Tuesday from 8:30 - 9:30AM (ET) 

  • Readings and assignments completed on a weekly basis. 

There will be a variety of activities to facilitate acquiring the content of the course, such as short lectures, readings and discussions. In addition, teachers will share how they implemented the unit through videos applying the approach in their classrooms. They will also work with mentor texts and student work, and they will create genre units in collaboration with affinity groups. During live sessions, students will have the opportunity to share experiences, answer questions, and clarify challenges.

Registration and Payment

1. Please enroll via the "$400 Enroll" button (above) if:

  • You are paying for an individual enrollment via credit card 
  • You have paid for this course some other way and been given a promo code

Please note that in order to register you will be asked to create an account for Boston College with a username and password if you do not already have one.

2. Confirm and accept registration via email from notifications@instructure.com which you will receive once you've registered. Please note: this email will be send to the email address you used to create your account.

Purchase Order payments are possible.  Please contact the Professional & Continuing Education team at lynchschoolpce@bc.edu to arrange this payment method.

Fees and Policies

Refunds will only be granted up until the start of the course. No refunds will be granted for registration or technical errors on the participant's part (such as incorrect name/email, login failure, etc.).

Additional offerings from the Lynch School's Office of Professional & Continuing Education can be found on our website. 

Course Facilitator and Designer

Maria Estela Brisk is a Professor of Education at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College.  She received her Ph. D. in linguistics and bilingual education at the University of New Mexico in 1972. Her research and teacher-training interests include elementary students’ writing development, bilingual education, bilingual language and literacy acquisition, methods of teaching literacy, and preparation of mainstream teachers to work with bilingual learners.  She is the author of numerous articles and books.

For the past 13 years, Dr. Brisk has worked closely with K-8 schools to develop a genre-based writing program for their schools, preparing teachers and researching children’s writing development. Her book Engaging Students in Academic Literacies: Genre-based Pedagogy for K-5 Classrooms features the approach to teaching writing that emerged from the work in schools.  The approach has been helpful for all students including bilingual learners.

Professor Brisk, native of Argentina, is a fluent speaker of Spanish.