Boston Writing Project at UMass Boston

Summer Institute and Workshops

Goals of the intensive four-week institute:

To help teacher participants reflect upon their own expertise as writing teachers and share this knowledge with colleagues across grade levels and disciplines

To help participating teachers see themselves as writers

To make available to participants published research in the teaching of writing

General Information:

Participants will prepare and present workshops, read and respond to research and literature, work on self-directed writing, and share this writing in response groups.

The dates of this year's institute are July 9th to August 2nd, 2007.

Fellows will be awarded a $600 honorarium and PDP’s and can receive six graduate credits for the payment of fees. Credits can be applied toward the Boston Writing Project’s Certificate in the Teaching of Literacy and Writing.

The institute will meet Monday through Thursday from 9:00-3:30.

Participants' Responsibilities:

Sixty- or Ninety-minute Demonstration/Workshop
Pre-workshop coaching session with BWP staff member
Evaluation/feedback by Institute teacher-participants

Daily Journal Writing

Writing and reflection at the beginning of each day
Daily response to literature selected by participants
Reflection on research and demonstrations

Personal or Professional writing

On self-selected topics; may be a continuation of previously begun pieces
Will be shared with Response Group
One piece will be included in a culminating anthology
One book review to be included in the collection

Writing Response Groups

As a reader/responder to give feedback to other participants
As a writer to share writing and ask for response to your work

Readings

To read and respond to selected articles
Determine a question for for a mini-research project

Institute Evaluations and Reflections

To reflect on the strengths/weaknesses of the program and provide valuable input for future revisions

The Boston Writing Project is Supported through joint funding from the National Writing Project, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and local school systems.