A Visiting Scholar Writing Workshop Inspires LAS Voices

Students at LAS recently had the opportunity to engage in a dynamic writing workshop led by Beth Skelton, an educator with extensive experience in the US public school system and international schools worldwide. Beth's expertise as a teacher, coach, and consultant made her a valuable visiting scholar and some of our students were lucky enough to work with her! 

During the workshop, IB Higher Level English B students focused on refining their writing skills. The students had previously worked on texts addressing global issues such as deforestation and plastic pollution. Beth facilitated discussions and provided guidance as students crafted creative yet persuasive pieces aimed at encouraging our community to take action.

One group crafted a compelling speech advocating for increased recycling awareness, while another wrote an imaginative email newsletter promoting a reforestation and cultural exchange trip to Borneo. Through an iterative feedback process, students identified areas of strength in vocabulary and text organization but noted the opportunity to improve their sentence structure.

Using an approach called Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), Beth then guided students to improve their sentences. Through interactive exercises and real-time feedback using mini whiteboards, students remained engaged and their understanding deepened. Students revisited their first drafts, incorporating the strategies discussed in the workshop to improve their final submissions.

The workshop provided invaluable insight and feedback to our students, who really enjoyed the lesson and felt that their work had improved greatly! Through the use of Functional Linguistics, students not only improved their sentence structures but also learned more about the topic of sustainability. Collaborating with professionals from diverse fields and global regions help create a safe and enjoyable environment for our students to learn and thrive.