Writers Share Craft And Art Of Writing With Teachers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Four experienced writers will be sharing writing strategies and philosophy with a select group of Northwest Arkansas educators enrolled in the Northwest Arkansas Summer Invitational Institute of the National Writing Project at the University of Arkansas during July.

Now in its seventh year in the UA College of Education and Health Professions, the 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."

A popular feature of the institute is the 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 incorporated into the University of Arkansas Writing Project to take advantage of the many outstanding writers who live in the area. Participating writers in 2003 are Bob Ford, Thomas Cochran, Margaret Bolsterli, and Lori Holyfield.

For four days a week throughout 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. Totten’s co-director is Anne Lane, who teaches English at Ramay Jr. High School.

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 1973, the National Writing Project has grown to reach over 135,000 educators annually at 175 sites in 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and the Virgin Islands.

Over 40 teachers in Northwest Arkansas are active Teacher Consultants. Three graduates of the first summer invitational—Springdale teachers Betsy Penix, Lacinda Files and Lynette Terrel—direct KidsWrite, a writing camp for children held annually for the past five years at the University of Arkansas. An open writing workshop was initiated last summer by 2001 invitational graduates at Valley Spring School on the Buffalo River, and the Fayetteville Open workshop at Holcomb Elementary School is in its fourth year and is co-directed by Helen Eaton of Holcomb and Jeanne King of Holt Middle School.

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