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Summer Institutes

National Writing Project 

Each of the nearly 200 NWP sites holds an invitational summer institute every summer. Several thousand teachers participate each year in these summer institutes, and every year new groups of summer fellows at local sites describe their summer institute experience as "a space for critical reflection so essential to good practice," "causing a noticeable and great shift in all of my teaching," "the best professional development I have had in all my years of teaching."

The invitational summer institute is at the core of NWP's model of "teachers teaching teachers." For more about the intentional and complex design of NWP summer institutes and how they support teachers as professionals, as researchers, and as writers, visit the National Writing Project.

Plymouth Writing Project

The PWP, the NH chapter of the NWP, is offering four different summer institutes this year. 

• Open Institute for Teachers of Writing
• Empowering Your Students with Writing on Demand Institute
• Invitational Summer Institute for Teachers of Writing
• Advanced Leadership Summer Institute

All of the institutes run on the same guiding principles. All sessions will be held on the campus of Plymouth State University. Participants should plan to attend all sessions. Staff for the institutes are writing project fellows, teacher consultants, and leaders. Checks should be made out to Plymouth State University. Contact Dr. Petersen if you plan to enroll to receive graduate credit for your summer institute experience.

Open Institute for Teachers of Writing - June 30-July 17. This summer institute is designed for teachers who would like to gain a thorough background in the teaching of writing with practical applications they can use in their classrooms. Participants write, respond to other's writing, and reflect on how this experience informs their thinking about their teaching. They review research and theory in reading research groups, do guided research on a topic related to their teaching, and devise, practice, and workshop strategies for classroom use. The cost for the institute is $600. Participants can register for three graduate credits at the additional cost of $125/credit. Brochure/Application form (PDF).

Empowering Your Students with Writing on Demand -  July 21-July 24. This special focus institute is designed for teachers who would like to gain a thorough background in preparing students for on-demand writing situations, including standardized writing examinations. It is open to all teachers and other interested parties. Participants will examine best practices, research, and devise, practice, and workshop strategies for classroom use. The cost for the institute is $350. Participants can register for one graduate credit at the additional cost of $150. Brochure/Application form (PDF).

PWP Invitational Summer Institute for Teachers of Writing - June 23-July 24. Our priority deadline for applications was Feb. 15, 2008. Invitations to the institute were issued by April 15. This institute accepts 21 teachers who use writing in grades K-16. During five four-day weeks in the summer and one follow-up workshop in the fall, they will focus on both their own writing and writing instruction by demonstrating and revising teaching practices they have developed, critiquing and improving their own writing, reading current literature on writing instruction, planning various forms of professional development for schools and districts who request their help, and  learning a new model of staff development through participation in reflective practice and teaching exploration groups. Six graduate credits are available at a special rate, and participants receive a $800 stipend. Applications are accepted until near the end of March for the following summer's institute, but please apply before the priority deadline if at all possible. Information/Application form (PDF).

Advanced Leadership Summer Institute - June 23-July 24. Deadline for for priority consideration is in Nov/Dec.  Applicant interviews are conducted in mid-January, and invitations to the institute issued in Jan/early Feb. This institute is designed for those teacher consultants who have already completed a summer institute at a National Writing Project site. This institute is for those who are seriously committed to the teaching of writing, and see themselves assuming leadership positions in their schools, districts and with the writing project itself. Participants practice leadership and staff development skills through working with teachers of writing at the summer institute. They also deepen their knowledge and scholarship in the field of writing pedagogy. Plymouth Writing Project Advanced Leadership Summer Institute meet for pre- and post-Institute staff planning days, and during the same five weeks as the Invitational Summer Institute. Institute participants coach summer institute participants on preparing teaching explorations, share in the facilitation of writing and reflective practice groups for summer institute participants, extend their understandings of staff development and leadership through extensive reading in the field of writing pedagogy theory, and apprentice with the instructors at the site. Six graduate credits are available at a reduced rate, and participants receive a $1000 stipend. Information/Application form (PDF).