NWP Leadership Institute: Kid Writing

What it is

A 3-day face-to-face advanced institute for sites interested in developing or strengthening early literacy leadership and professional development, limited to teams from 12 Writing Project sites, first come, first served. 

What you will learn

This institute is designed to support NWP sites that want to develop or strengthen their early literacy professional development offerings. This institute is designed to help teacher leaders support early-grade teachers to fill the gap between students being able to write with "squiggles and diamonds" and with full, proficient alphabetic writing. Based on Kid Writing in the 21st Century, a process for supporting early literacy first developed in 1999 by Philadelphia Writing Project teacher-consultants Eileen Feldgus and Isabel Cardonick, and used across the country over the last 20 years, this institute will focus on thinking together about how professional development can move K-2 teachers from saying "write as best you can" to showing students how.

NWP Leadership Institute: Kid Writing will support site teams in thinking about professional development that supports teachers to:

• Scaffold early invented spelling with research-based techniques.
• Make the writing–reading connection explicit.
• Use formative assessment to monitor each child’s progress through research-based developmental phases.
• Engage writers creatively in standards-based genres and content areas.

Who should attend

• Teams from Writing Projects interested in launching or refreshing K-2 literacy work at their sites.
• Teams should include a site leader and at least one kindergarten and one first grade teacher. The fourth team member should be chosen based on site priorities (another site leader, professional development organizer, K-2 teacher from a partnership school, etc.).

Cost

• $832.19 for teams of four 

What is included

• Airfare to Philadelphia
• Double occupancy hotel accomodations for a team of four
• Breakfast and lunch, Tuesday through Thursday
• Copy of the book Kid Writing in the 21st Century 

What you need to know

• Acceptance is first come, first served.
• Registration deadline is April 1, 2019.
• Teams will be expected to travel to Philadelphia on Monday, June 17, and to book return flights from Philadelphia no earlier than 7:00 PM, Thursday, June 20.
• Double occupancy hotel accommodations for a team of four (Monday, June 17-Friday, June 21).
• Breakfast and lunch, Tuesday through Thursday.
• Registration fee is non-refundable.