Eleven New Sites Added to NWP Network

Date: February 14, 2008

Summary: Eleven new sites have joined NWP's network—helping the NWP move toward a goal of putting a writing project within reach of every teacher.

This spring, the National Writing Project celebrates the addition of eleven sites to its network. They are among the more than 75 new sites that have become part of the NWP network since the year 2000.

"We are always thrilled when new sites help us move toward a goal of putting a writing project within reach of every teacher," said Joye Alberts, national director of site development.

Every new site means both a new professional community for teachers and a new commitment from local universities who host the project.

Like other NWP sites, the new sites will focus on the core mission of improving the teaching of writing and improving the use of writing across the disciplines by offering high-quality professional development programs for educators in their service areas at all grade levels, K–16, and across the curriculum.

Each of the new sites will hold its first summer invitational institute this summer (2008). The summer institute is at the core of NWP's model of "teachers teaching teachers" and paves the way for other local programs to follow.

David Franke, director of the new Seven Valleys Writing Project in Cortland, New York, is quoted in SUNY Cortland's announcement of the new site. He shares his vision of a summer institute with English teachers from regional school districts rubbing shoulders with colleagues whose focus may be science, social studies, art, or shop, but who share an interest in improving learning through writing—for their students and themselves.

"We want the teachers to look at their classrooms as research sites and ask themselves, `How does learning happen here?' Writing is the best tool for reflecting on our teaching practice," said Franke. "It's also the best tool for students to learn in their content areas as well."

Local teachers are already planning to participate in their new writing project sites. Charles Weinberg, a Champaign Centennial High School English teacher, said in the Champaign News-Gazette that he was excited about the new University of Illinois Writing Project's summer institute in June. "I'm looking for ways to make writing more meaningful to my students."

Joye Alberts points out that every new site means both a new professional community for teachers and a new commitment from local universities who host the project. "At each of the nearly 200 local writing project sites there is also a partnership between a university and its local school districts in order to make a difference for students."

The NWP salutes the eleven new universities and local leaders who have taken up the challenge.

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Eleven New Sites Added to NWP Network

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