The National Writing Project (NWP) is a professional development network that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. The mission of NWP is to raise student achievement by improving the teaching of writing in our nation’s schools. 

Invitational Summer Institute

15:252:525 Writing Project Workshop
New Brunswick
Saturday, June 5, 2010      9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
July 5 – July 29, 2010             9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Monday - Thursday)
Saturday, September 25, 2010     9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m

The anchor to NWP programming is the Invitational Summer Institute, a four-week graduate course that allows experienced teachers to explore their own writing and instructional practices. Participants typically discover that joining a community of writers is a powerful incentive, one that inspires risk-taking and writing that matters.

During the Summer Institute, participants engage in a “teachers as writers” component that allows them to write not only for the purposes of self-understanding but also for insight into what writers need. Participants also engage in a “teachers as consultants” component and prepare individual workshops.

This course can be taken for one, three, or six graduate credits. All participants will be responsible for the same work regardless of number of credits taken. The lesser credit options provide teachers who do not receive tuition reimbursement the opportunity to attend.

Upon completion of the course, participants are recognized as Teacher Consultants. Teacher Consultants are encouraged to take part in our site’s ongoing activities that include mentoring, writing groups, writing retreats, study groups, electronic conversations, receptions, and presenting at our partner schools and annual conference.

Applications are available online at www.nwprutgers.org and will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 12, 2010.

Direct questions to Kim Lanza at klanza@rci.rutgers.edu

Teaching of Writing Program

The University Continuing Education Association named our Teaching of Writing program as the Mid-Atlantic Region’s most effective and innovative credit-program. The program prepares certified teachers to enable students to become engaged proficient writers. The program focuses on theory and practice. The program includes twelve credits of graduate study, NWP workshops, and a culminating project.

Courses can be taken on and off-campus. You can view our online information session and download an application at www.rutgers.gse.edu/cegp.

Direct questions to Kim Lanza at klanza@rci.rutgers.edu
More information about our programs can be found at www.nwprutgers.org

Open Institute

July 12-16, 2010
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Monday - Thursday), 9:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. (Friday)
Cost: $350

The Open Institute is a five-day professional development experience designed to move teachers through a process of self-awareness as a writer into self-awareness as a teacher of writing. Critical to this process is reflection on one’s own experience in the context of current theories about teaching writing. As a participant, you will read about topics relevant to the process of writing and the teaching of writing. Participants will write, frequently! Teachers from all disciplines and grade levels are welcome to participate. The experience is enriched when teachers across grades and subject areas can write together and share their writing. 

Participants must attend all five days and will earn 25 professional development hours. Attendance is limited to 20 participants. 

Special pricing available for NWP@Rutgers Partner Districts. Registration form is available at www.nwprutgers.org.

Direct questions to Maggie Devine at outreach@nwprutgers.org

Inservice Partnerships

NWP@Rutgers collaborates with schools to develop multi-year partnerships and design a sequence of support services that meet the individual needs of the district. Based on specific needs that administrators, curriculum specialists, or department chairs identify, we deliver tailored inservice programs for NJ school districts. We offer varied levels of support that include one or more of the following services: (a) annual inservice series composed of half and full-day workshops, (b) one or two-week site-based writing institute, (c) off-campus graduate courses, and (d) study groups. All of our workshops are centered on research-supported, classroom-tested ideas and presented by our teacher consultants who are New Jersey teachers.

We are accepting proposals for our 2010-2011 partnerships until March 15, 2010.

Direct questions to Sharon Stein at inservice@nwprutgers.org

Family Literacy Night

Learn how to plan, frame, and effectively implement a Family Literacy Night. Writing OUR Families: Celebrating and Building the Home-School-Literacy Connection is designed to strengthen school-home connections and increase parent involvement. Benefits for school communities include: (a) creating an atmosphere where students’ writing improves and flourishes, (b) establishing the writing process as part of the language and practices of students, families, and teachers, and (c) providing visibility and voice for students, families, and the schools.

The workshop provides educators with activities and guidelines for creating an ongoing Family Literacy Event in their schools. Participants will be taken through an actual Family Literacy Night. Resources will be provided to allow each participant to customize the event for a community’s particular needs. This workshop is designed for a group of teachers from one school or district.

Direct questions to Maggie Devine at outreach@nwprutgers.org