Teacher as Writer

National Writing Project Updates

By Sarah Lorenz

Writing Intention

The NWPM and the Michigan Reading Association recently collaborated to write a book entitled: Writing Intention: Prompting Professional Learning Through Student Work. Teacher Consultants from many sites across the state contributed, and the book has been quite successful, even earning some modest royalties. The National Writing Project will feature information about the project and a few of the book chapters on the NWP website, under State and Regional Network page. Look for it soon or order the book from MRA at www.michiganreading.org.

Summer Retreat

The National Writing Projects of Michigan will host its annual summer retreat on July 29-31 in Traverse City. Beginning on Tuesday evening with dinner and extending through Thursday afternoon, the retreat will bring together directors and teacher-leaders from each of the ten NWP sites in the state. We'll share successful programs and practices at our sites, discuss literacy issues, and do some statewide strategic planning. We'll also devote some time to examining lenses for looking at student work: rubrics, the Analytic Writing Continuum, the Collaborative Assessment Conference, and others.

If you wish to be part of the EMWP's four person team attending the retreat (expenses paid), please contact Bill Tucker. We usually need one or two TC's to fill up our slots, so don't be shy! You don't need previous experience working with the state network to attend, and collaborating with other TC's from around the state is interesting and fun.