Oakland Writing Project

OWP is offering a Summer Institute for teachers wanting to grow their leadership abilities as well as improve their teaching of writing.

Participants will receive a stipend.

SCECHs and College Credit will be available.

Institute's Three Core Focus Issues:

1. Powerful teaching of writing, and utilizing writing for thinking and learning across disciplines - with reference to "Craft Lessons" as scaffolding, core issues of "workshop" - revision, editing, publishing, use of portfolios, and attention to the genres of the Common Core.
2. "Being a Writer" - as an essential purpose for the educator in order to become the best writing teacher possible, in order to represent leadership through writing, and to seek possible publication of our writing.
3. Culturally Responsive Teaching - promoting teacher practices that support varied cultures of learners and that value diversity as enriching to all.

Richard Koch is Director of the website Michigan Portfolios and co-author of "The Portfolio Guidebook." He is past Director of the Michigan Writing Project Network, and recently retired from his work in the teaching of writing at Adrian College, where he is now Professor of English, Emeritus. He has taught summer institutes for the National Writing Project in Iowa and Michigan that focus on teaching writing, writing as a tool for learning, and working toward social justice. He currently serves as Associate Director of the Oakland Writing Project.

Mrs. Marcia Bonds is a Sixth Grade Language Arts and Math Teacher for Key Elementary in the Oak Park School District. She is Oak Park’s 2014 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She facilitates Professional Development in Inquiry-based learning and is in the process of assisting in the set-up of Teacher Labs at the Elementary Level. Balancing English Language Arts and Mathematics, Mrs. Bonds has blogged for Oakland Schools Literacy and, in summer of 2014, attended the Park City Math Institute in Park City, Utah. She has piloted Common Core Units in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Mrs. Bonds is a member of the Core Leadership Team and co-facilitator for the Summer Leadership Institute for the Oakland Writing Project.

Contact Melinda Moran via email at melinda.moran@oakland.k12.mi.us of your interest to participate. We strongly encourage you to respond sooner because of limited space.

Contact Susan Golab, Site Director at susan.golab@oakland.k12.mi.us.