Writing programs slated for teachers, students

ORONO – The Maine Writing Project is accepting nominations of exemplary teachers for its annual Summer Institute scheduled June 30-July 18 at the University of Maine. A spring workshop on effective writing instruction and an advanced institute focusing on adolescent literacy are also on the agenda.

Twenty-five K-12 through higher education teachers in all curriculum areas are selected for the institute, based on their success as educators and for their promise as instructional leaders. Interested educators may be nominated by a colleague, administrator or through self-nomination.

Participants earn six graduate credits for the 14 sessions, plus a stipend. The deadline for nominations is March 15.

The institute is providing a force of trained writing instructors for Maine students and other teachers. After completing the program, the educators are distinguished as fellows of both the Maine Writing Project and the National Writing Project. The national project and its state affiliates comprise a grass-roots teaching initiative dedicated to the improvement of student writing and the teaching of writing across the curriculum in all grade levels.

Approximately 150 Maine teachers have completed the rigorous institute training since the writing project was established within the UMaine college of education and human development in 1997.

In response to requests from Maine teachers and administrators, the writing project will sponsor a special session on preparing students for state and national writing tests.

Ben Brunwin, a leading teacher from York, England, and author of six books on instructional processes, will lead the April 4 workshop, “Nailing the Prompt and Making Your Case.” Designed for teachers of all grade levels, each educator attending the daylong workshop may bring a student in order to make the experience more relevant and realistic.

This year’s eight-day Advanced Institute was developed as part of the Maine Adolescent Literacy Project. Currently taking place in participating high schools in Washington County, the project is providing a national model for helping teachers make reading and writing essential components of their lesson plans, instruction and assessment.

Sessions will be offered at the University of Maine at Machias June 23-July 2 and at UMaine July 7-July 16. Participants earn six graduate credits.

For information about the Maine Writing Project’s programs, call 581-2438, or e-mail jeff.wilhelm@umit.maine.edu.