[MOSAIC] conference template

[Kukonis at aol.com]

Hi all
Wondering if you could  help me organize my thoughts a bit. My  district has 
been using the Lucy Calkins' units for the past three years for  writing 
workshop. I am finally becoming used to integrating it with 6 plus  traits and 
Shelley Harwayne's ideas. I am feeling more confident about  my minilessons. The 
Columbia format (I'll call it template) of connect,  teach, guide, independent 
work, and share really helped me focus myself.  However, I need a framework to 
refer to in my head when it comes to  conferences. I get that there are  
basic types of conferences and Carl  Anderson's book has illuminated it even 
more.... but I must admit I am not as  comfortable on the go for a writing workshop 
conference as I am with a reading  workshop conference. Do any of you have or 
could we formulate some kind of  template that would guide a teacher through 
several formats a conference could  go. I know this is rather structured 
(maybe even inane type ) thinking but if I  had an outline of sorts of the possible 
directions to take I might not feel as  panicked as I do after I ask "So.... 
how's it going?"
 
Thank you in advance for your ideas....
Pam