NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WRITING PROJECT IMMERSES TEACHERS IN THE SCIENCE AND ART OF WRITING

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - UA history professor and prize-winning author Henry Tsai will be sharing writing strategies and philosophy with a select group of Northwest Arkansas educators in a workshop sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Summer Invitational Institute of the National Writing Project at the University of Arkansas on July 18.

Now in its sixth year in the UA College of Education and Health Professions, the summer writing institute offers accomplished teachers an opportunity to immerse themselves in the science and art of teaching writing while developing a network of colleagues committed to the goals of the Writing Project. Participants are prepared to be Teaching Consultants with a responsibility to share what they have learned in their schools and communities.

All are successful teachers who will share their successful teaching strategies, according to institute co-director Samuel Totten, professor of secondary and middle-level education in the department of curriculum and instruction. The writing project seeks teachers of all grade levels and subjects. The application process is rigorous, and about half the applicants are accepted to the summer institute.

"We look for teachers who are enthusiastic about incorporating writing across the curriculum and are perceived by their colleagues to be outstanding teachers," Totten said. "They must have a desire to become a Teaching Consultant and serve the larger educational community."

Co-director Anne Lane, who teaches 9th grade English at Ramay Jr. High, emphasizes the importance of effectively teaching writing in the schools.

"With the addition of an essay component to the SAT exam, it has become even more crucial to have strong writing programs in the schools," Lane said.

For four days a week, eight hours a day during the month of July, institute participants meet in seminars. Totten describes the environment as collaborative with the teachers demonstrating their best practices and learning from each other.

The Northwest Arkansas Writing Project is part of a national program headquartered at the University of California at Berkeley. To fund the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project, Totten applies each year for a federal grant that requires evidence of continued quality and program effectiveness.

Arkansas teachers join the more than 2 million educators from around the world who have participated in summer writing institutes. Originally begun in 1974 with 25 Bay Area educators, the National Writing Project has grown to reach over 100,000 teachers annually at 175 sites in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

A popular feature of the Northwest Arkansas Summer Invitational Institute is visits by experienced authors who discuss their approach to the art and craft of writing. This addition to the standard National Writing Project curriculum was developed at the University of Arkansas to take advantage of the many outstanding writers who live in the area. Participating writers in 2002 are Donald Harington, Oda Mulloy, Henry Tsai, and Thomas Cochran.

Over 40 teachers in Northwest Arkansas are active Teacher Consultants. Graduates of the first summer invitational direct KidsWrite, a writing camp for children held annually for the past four years at the University of Arkansas. An Open writing workshop was initiated this summer by 2001 invitational graduates at Valley Spring School on the Buffalo River, and the Fayetteville Open workshop is in its third year.

This year’s participants in the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project summer invitational are

Penny Bradley, Grade 3, Garfield Elementary, Fayetteville

Trudy Honson, Grade 2 writing specialist, Jones Elementary, Springdale

Reagan Mauk, Grades 8 and 9 English, Southwest Jr. High, Springdale

Mike Thomas, Grade 5, Washington Elementary, Fayetteville

Tina McDonald, Grade 2, Holcomb Elementary, Fayetteville

Kimberly Crain, Grade 9 English, Spanish, Shelter English, Southwest Jr. High, Springdale

Rebecca Cantey, Grade 10 English, Bentonville High School

Summer Swaim, Grade 1 writing specialist, Jones Elementary, Springdale