Compositional Strategies for AP® Language

Join us as we explore the following essential question: what if we taught AP^® Language & Composition like Bob Ross teaches painting?  During our session, we will learn how to “paint” with our students while providing plenty of exemplars and models.  Further, we will investigate how a set of heuristics can help demystify the writing process while enabling students to write across the expository modes with a uniform approach.

Research overwhelmingly suggests that students grow and mature as writers when two things happen:

• Their teacher positions themselves as the expert writer in the classroom
• The writing process is scaffolded with accessible and versatile heuristics

As composition instructors, we are going to learn how to embrace our inner-Bob Ross and “paint” with our students through each of the FRQs on the AP Language & Composition exam.  A little-known fact about Bob Ross is that he only ever used one heuristic: the wet-on-wet-technique.  And as far as composition goes, our students can do the same once they learn how to manipulate the heuristics of the declarative/inverted thesis, as well as the syllogistic method.

What you will get

• A real-time virtual workshop facilitated by NWP teacher-leader Kristian Kuhn
• A community of teachers who are interested in learning more about heuristics, modeling, and content creation
• Access to Kristian’s textbook and supplementary material (units/lessons)
• Support for creating your own writing workshops
• 4.5 Professional Development hours

Time Commitment

Three 90-minute sessions, held from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Central Time (totaling 4.5 PD hours):

•  September 17th - Synthesis
•  September 24th - Rhetorical Analysis
•  October 1st - Argument

Each session will be recorded, with replays available for your convenience.

Cost

• $199 per teacher

Facilitator: Kristian Kuhn

Kristian began his writing instructor career at Brown University where he earned an M.A.T. in English and Education.

Working with both undergraduate and graduate students, he became known for his expertise in building student writers from the ground up – first mastering the fundamentals of composition, then aiding students to establish clear lines of reasoning across the expository modes with voice, rhythm, and flow.

Upon graduating from Brown, Kristian launched his career as a secondary ELA teacher in Upstate New York – a place he has called home for the last twenty years.

Early in his career, the professional community dubbed Kristian the “Bob Ross of Composition.”

He quickly realized that there is a seismic difference between “assigning” written work and explicitly “teaching” it.

To teach writing, Kristian “paints” with his students through modeling and close reading exemplars. Over the course of his career, he has developed a set of heuristics that demystify the writing process in ways that are easily accessible and readily comprehensible.

In addition to having completed his graduate work at Brown University, Kristian earned a third graduate degree in Literacy Education from St. John Fisher College. During his studies, he developed a vast repertoire of strategies to help struggling and emerging readers and writers actualize their full potential.

Throughout his twenty years of classroom experience, Kristian has helped countless LD (learning different/learning disabled) students flourish and take off as readers, writers, thinkers, and college applicants.

Kristian also trains teachers in his writing techniques and modalities. At present, he is a lead instructor for The National Writing Project where he facilitates teacher training programs. And in fall of 2023, Kristian was a lead presenter at the National Council of Teachers of English conference in Anaheim, California.

Kristian is also an accomplished writer who has authored six collections of poetry and two textbooks – Teaching Teachers How to Teach Writing and What If We Taught Composition Like Bob Ross Teaches Painting? You can also find him hosting a popular YouTube channel (What If We Taught Composition Like Bob Ross Teaches Painting?) and a highly popular Facebook group, Teachers Making Better Writers.