If you have questions about the Professional Development Chat Series or are experiencing difficulties, please check the list of Frequently Asked Questions below. If you cannot find an answer to your questions, contact us and we will do all we can to help.
- I’m a teacher interested in Writer’s Workshop, but I’m not a MTWP TC. Can I still join the chats?
- I’m a beginner. How exactly does one chat in a chat room?
- Do I have to be a registered user to chat?
- How should I introduce myself to the room?
- What is the “pop out” option offered at the bottom of the screen?
- I’m adding my comments, but none of them are showing up. What can I do
- I can only chat for a few minutes, but would like to know what happens after I leave. Where can I find transcripts of the chat?
- What exactly is the Middle TN Writing Project?
I’m a teacher interested in Writer’s Workshop, but I’m not a MTWP Teacher Consultant. Can I still join the chats?
Absolutely! These chat sessions were designed to help any teacher who wants to improve his or herself in the area of writing instruction. Everyone is welcome.
I’m a beginner. How exactly does one chat in a chat room?
Chatting is really simple and requires zero computer skills. You simply type what you want to say in the box at the bottom of the chat screen and hit enter. Expect a bit of lag time and for it at times to seem like people are talkingover one another. It sounds chaotic, but it all seems to work out.
Do I have to be a registered user to chat?
No, you don’t. You can type your name into the box and fully access the chat as a guest. If you do register, however, you will be able to subscribe to updates from the chat sessions and have a consistent name in the chat sessions.
How should I introduce myself to the room?
When you enter the room, please tell everyone your name, the school where you teach and the grade level/subject area you teach. It’s nice to know to whom you are speaking! When you leave, it is always polite to let the group know.
What is the “pop out” option offered at the bottom of the screen?
The pop out button located at the bottom of the chat screen allows you to participate in the chat in a full screen mode. This pulls you off the MTWP site, but otherwise functionality is the same. Using the pop out sometimes helps if you are experiencing delays in the chat.
I’m adding my comments, but none of them are showing up. What can I do?
Try refreshing your browser. If this does not help, try using the pop out option. Often times this is a problem with connection speed and not something connected to the chat room itself.
I can only chat for a few minutes, but would like to know what happens after I leave. Where can I find transcripts of the chat?
Please check the Resources page on the MTWP site for transcripts of the chat. Please allow 24 hours for the page to be updated.
We’re so glad you asked! MTWP is a professional organization dedicated to improving teaching and learning through writing. Our professional development model is that of “Teachers Teaching Teachers” and chatting together about Writer’s Workshop certainly fits this! Please visit our main page for more information.
