National Writing Project in
Vermont E-Newsletter
We are teachers who believe in the
power of writing.
January 2008
Upcoming
Events
February 2nd Saturday Special:
The Reading-Writing Connection
March 15th Saturday Special:
Writing in Math and Science Classes
May 9th Conference: Teachers Who
Write
Updates
January 19th Schmooze: NWP
Social
Opportunities
The Summer Institute:
Recruit, Interview, Visit
Young Writers Program at Hartford
Memorial Middle School
March 6-7 New England Writing Project
Meeting
April 3-4 Spring NWP Meeting in D.C.
People
Congratulations to Dan Miller-Arsenault!
Welcome to the newest future writer, Kate
Grodin-DohertyÕs son, Samuel
February
2nd Saturday Special: The Reading-Writing Connection
On Saturday, February 2nd, Louella Bryant and Thom
McAllister will help participants explore the natural links between reading and
writing instruction. This workshop is open to all Vermont teachers and will
take place in 427A Waterman at UVM from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, teachers
will discuss and test run practices that are transferable across grades and
disciplines. There is a $45 fee that includes UVM breakfast treats and a
Waterman Manor lunch. To register, email inservice@nwpvt.org.
Hurry: the deadline for registration is Thursday (1/31)!
March 15th Saturday Special: Writing in Math and Science
Classes
Though students may not believe us, writing is critical for
mathematicians and scientists trying to convey information. In this workshop
teachers will examine and collect writing ideas that help students learn
content and present information in the formats used by science and math
professionals. Not a math or science teacher? Tell one about this opportunity! Or
come yourself, and pass the information on later. This workshop is open to all
Vermont teachers and will take place on March 15th in 427A Waterman
at UVM from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, teachers will discuss and test run
practices that are transferable across grades and disciplines. There is a $45
fee that includes the best of UVMÕs breakfast treats and a Waterman Manor
lunch. To register email inservice@nwpvt.org.
May 9th Conference: Teachers Who Write
Teachers Who Write, the annual day-long conference for teachers of
all subjects and all grades, is scheduled for Friday, May 9, at Vermont College
in Montpelier. Doug Wilhelm, VermontÕs well-known young-adult author (The
Revealers and several other novels) will deliver the keynote address,
ŅRevealing the WriterÕs Inner Child: A Right Brain/Left Brain Approach.Ó
Participants may choose two workshops from a diverse menu of ten, many led by
fellows of the National Writing Project in Vermont, a conference co-sponsor
(with the Vermont Council of Teachers of English and the Vermont Department of
Education). For more information, contact Geof Hewitt at geof.hewitt@state.vt.us.
January 19th Schmooze: NWP Social
Nose
flutes were all the rage at the January 19th NWP soiree at the
McGonegalsÕ. And if you donÕt know what a nose flute is you should get yourself
to the next shindig....or better yet, get in on the planning so that you can
include your own kazoo concert. We had great fun and tasty food! Please join us
next time. If youÕd like to plan the next soiree or continuity
event, please be in touch with Geof Hewitt (geof.hewitt@state.vt.us).
NWP
Budget Passes in Congress
NWP
teachers and staffers successfully lobbied for Writing Project funding in
Congress this year. Keep up the support for funding professional development for
writing teachers! Read more about recent NWP efforts in Washington here.
Visit www.nwpvt.org to see our new look. Email Eli at
webmaster@nwpvt.org with feedback.
The Summer Institute: Recruit, Interview,
Visit
Thanks to the many NWP-VT teacher consultants who have nominated
successful colleagues for the 13th Invitational Summer Institute. We have begun
to receive applications and are planning for a group interview and
informational session on Friday, March 14. This year we would like to include
some alums in this gathering. If you are interested, drop Julia Hewitt a note
at summerinstitute@nwpvt.org.
If you have not yet had the chance to nominate a talented
colleague, there is still time. Please take a moment today to forward nomineesÕ
names and addresses (both U.S. mail and email) to summerinstitute@nwpvt.org.
Teachers interested in the summer institute can learn more about this
opportunity and transmit their applications online. Simply visit http://nwpvt.org/institute.html and
click on the application form link.
As always, successful recruitment of summer fellows depends
largely upon your efforts. ItÕs easier to dismiss an unsolicited email than an
enthusiastic colleague recommending this transformative professional development.
Dates to Note:
May 16 – 17: Summer Institute Orientation. On Saturday
afternoon, weÕd love to have some NWP-VT teacher consultants join us and
welcome our 2008 new group. Again, let Julia know: summerinstitute@nwpvt.org.
July 7 – 31: Invitational Summer Institute. YouÕre always
welcome to stop by. Let us know when youÕll be coming so we can brew an extra
cup of coffee and copy another demo packet or two.
July 30: VisitorsÕ Day. Invite your colleagues to join you in this
celebration of the summer institute and the first recruitment effort for the
summer of 2009.
NWP will sponsor an Open Institute in Elementary Reading and Writing
Connections this summer. This course is designed for local teachers to explore
how teaching writing through reading enhances the writerÕs workshop. Sessions
across the week will explore how to teach writing through studying and
mirroring strong literature. Each session will include readings and writing
activities designed to connect literature, writing and the teaching of writing.
Participants will come away with numerous reading-writing connected
assignments, engage in the experience of their own writing as they adapt a
favorite writing lesson to literature, and leave with new inspirations for
their writerÕs workshop.
The class is a UVM 3-credit graduate course and will meet 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., June 23-28, June 30, and July 1 (1/2 day) at the Smilie
Memorial School in Bolton, Vermont. Jennifer Lindert and Katie LeFran¨ois will
be the instructors extraordinaire. Please join us!
Based on the success of this yearÕs Study Groups, NWP-VT is gearing
up to offer this model to other Vermont schools during the 08-09 school year.
The National Writing Project is developing a rich bank of resources for study
groups to draw on, and this June NWP TCs will gather for a one-week Advanced
Institute to begin preparation for this work next year. If you and your
administrators are interested, please be in touch with Cate Lamb or Tish
McGonegal (sitedirector@nwpvt.org).
Young Writers Program at Hartford Memorial Middle School
TCs Cindy Faughnan and Rick Schluntz will offer a two-week Young
Writers Program to students in their area for the third summer in a row at
Hartford Memorial Middle School. Thanks to the generous support of principal
John Grant and the school community, this program continues to help teachers
and students explore writing in many forms across school disciplines. Contact
the NWP office at sitedirector@nwpvt.org
to set up a Young Writers Program at your school this summer!
March 6-7 New England Writing Project Meeting
Come join
us for an opportunity to connect with NWP teachers across our region. Contact
Tish at sitedirector@nwpvt.org, if
interested.
April 3-4 Spring NWP Meeting in D.C.
This meeting provides NWP teachers and leaders a great opportunity
to share their classroom successes with members of Congress and with each
other. Check out the details on the NWP website. We
encourage you to attend: NWP-VT has some money to help defray travel expenses,
and your school may have travel funds to send you after these leadership
resources. Contact Tish at sitedirector@nwpvt.org.
Congratulations to Dan Miller-Arsenault!
After
spending the 2006-07 school year creating a lengthy and in-depth portfolio and
passing a computerized assessment exercise, Dan has become the latest NWP alum
to become National Board Certified. Less than half of teachers pass on their
first attempt, and weÕre proud that Dan is one of those who made it. To find
out more about National Board Certification, visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
on the web.
Welcome to the newest future writer, Kate Grodin-DohertyÕs son,
Samuel
Samuel
Charles Doherty was born in the early morning of January 20th at
Fletcher Allen. Congratulations to Kate and her husband, Tim!
Contact
UsÉ
Visit our website at http://www.nwpvt.org.
Address: 201 Mann Hall, 208 Colchester Ave., UVM, Burlington, VT
05405
Telephone: (802)656-3935
Email: sitedirector@nwpvt.org
Director: Patricia McGonegal