OBJECTIVES:

Participants will:

• grow in the understanding of teaching and learning writing through engaging in their own writing practice, reading current research and theory, reflecting upon their own writing processes and workshop experiences, and learning from other experienced teachers. 
• will demonstrate growth in giving response to writers by modeling responses in class and by describing appropriate classroom strategies.
• become familiar with a wide range of print and on-line materials for teacher development and instructional use, including the resources of the National Writing Project Network.

• develop leadership capacity in teaching writing and using writing to enhance student learning. 

• create their own teaching demonstrations (after seeing teaching demonstrations by Red River Valley Writing Project teacher consultants) which will be aligned with and exceed the Common Core State Standards.  

TEXT:

“Reading, Writing, & Raising Voices: The Centrality of Literacy to Civic Education” (NCTE) and other readings – TBD.

"I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION OF PEERS I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET OTHERWISE. THE CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ALONE WERE GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES."

"THE ABILITY TO PUT MYSELF IN THE STUDENTS' SHOES DURING OUR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES HELPED ME BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHEN I NEED TO TEACH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF WRITING STEPS."

"I LEARNED SEVERAL VALUABLE THINGS, BUT MOSTLY TO NOT BE AFRAID TO BEGIN! JUST WRITE. I APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK FROM BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THE FACILITATORS, WHICH HELPED ME GROW IN MY WRITING. IT WAS BEYOND WHAT I EVER EXPECTED."

"THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PEERS WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE. IT ALLOWED ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CONTENT AND GAIN MORE PERSPECTIVES."

"THIS COURSE NOT ONLY MAKES ME A BETTER INSTRUCTOR, IT HAS ALSO INSPIRED ME TO BEGIN TO JOURNAL AGAIN AND WORK ON WRITING/PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS."

"THANK YOU AGAIN, A THOUSAND TIMES, FOR THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE."