What Sites Do
NWP sites enact a national program model that includes identifying and developing teacher and educator leaders, providing support for educators in their local services area, and providing a professional home for educators' continued learning.
Developing Leaders
Local Writing Project sites develop leadership by
- engaging educators in writing and responding to a variety of genres;
- inquiring into their own practice and going public with questions and conclusions;
- immersing educators in reading and research into the teaching of writing;
- providing educators with the opportunity to take on leadership and advocacy roles. Invitational institutes (year-round, summer, hybrid, online, or face-to-face) are often the means by which Writing Project sites develop leaders. NWP's badging system is another way, where the social practices of Writing Project sites can be accomplished over time in a variety of opportunities.
Work in the Community
The purpose of leadership of a Writing Project site is to make change in the educational community. Writing Project sites use their educator-leaders to contract for professional development in school districts, host open programs and conferences on the teaching of writing, or partner with museums, businesses, libraries, and community literacy programs.
Continuity
Existing educator-leaders renew and develop their knowledge through ongoing support from their Writing Project site. Advanced institutes on specific topics, reading groups, teaching inquiry or writing groups, advocacy work, and other programs provide a steady professional home for educators.
Youth Programs and Community Programs
Many Writing Project sites provide opportunities for young people through after-school, summer, and school-year programs. A number of Writing Project sites have developed family literacy programs, multilingual family writing nights, and multimodal youth and community programs that focus on community action.
