Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Local teachers attend River Bend Writing Project Summer Institute at USI
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Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 "The Evansville-area teachers who attend the summer institute will return to their classrooms next fall equipped with proven strategies for teaching young people how to write and how to use writing to learn," said Sharon J. Washington, NWP executive director. "Writing continues to be the signature means of communication in the digital age, and these institutes provide valuable continuous learning opportunities for local teachers." The institute meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at USI. The theme for this year's institute is "Alice in Wonderland." The institute will include with a program to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 1, in Kleymeyer Hall in the Liberal Arts Center at USI. Teachers will dress in costume as characters from the Lewis Carroll classic and read writings they produce during the institute. Located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and co-directed by local university faculty and classroom teachers, the NWP institutes offer teachers the opportunity to study the latest research on the teaching of writing and share knowledge, expertise, and effective classroom practices. The River Bend Writing Project Summer Institute participants teach in the EVSC, the Evansville Catholic Diocese Schools, Gibson County, Saline County, and USI. They will explore issues related to students' motivation, social justice in schools, and critical thinking. A recent report by the Alliance for Excellent Education and Carnegie Corporation of New York adds another dimension to writing's importance to learning. "Writing to Read" identified particular writing practices that are effective in helping students increase their reading skills and comprehension. National research studies confirm significant gains in writing performance among students whose teachers participate in NWP programs. Past surveys of teachers who participated in summer institutes found that 95 percent gave high ratings to the institute's contribution to their understanding of the teaching of writing and its usefulness for their own classrooms and students. The NWP is a nationwide network of educators working together to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools and in other settings. NWP provides high-quality professional development to teachers in a variety of disciplines and at all levels, from early childhood through college. Through its network of more than 200 university-based sites, NWP develops the leadership, programs, and research needed for teachers to help students become successful writers and learners. For more information, visit www.usi.edu/riverbend or contact Hawkins at 812/465-7144 or rehawkins@usi.edu. |
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