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Teachers
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The Community of Writers' Teacher as Writer Program
The heart of the program is a five-day (40-hour) professional
development workshop titled Teacher as Writer, which is
accredited by University of Oregon. The workshop focuses on the writing
process, with teachers learning classroom strategies and writing stories
of their own. Workshops are offered in the summer and during the school
year, and are primarily geared for elementary and middle school teachers.
Although individual teachers are encouraged to enroll, the program works
best when entire staffs participate, creating a school-wide writing
program. Teachers completing the workshop receive the following benefits:
- Writers-in-Residence
Professional writers, skilled in the craft and experienced
in working with students, spend time in the classrooms of the participating
teachers. Each school earns an author in residence for every homeroom
teacher. They offer a variety of approaches – poetry, journalism,
songwriting, narrative storytelling – and work in partnership with
the teacher. Teachers who participate in the program that do not have a
homeroom will earn an additional book allowance.
Click here to see a list of our participating
writers.
- Classroom
books
Each participating teacher receives a gift card from
Borders worth $300 to purchase books of their choosing for the classroom.
In schools where the whole staff participates, this represents a sizeable
book purchase. For instance, a staff of 37 recently went through the
workshop and received $14,800 worth of books.
- Parents as Partners
in Writing Nights
Participating schools receive a evening presentation
geared for parents. This presentation addresses the following question:
How do I help my child at home in writing?
The
Teachers Always Write Anthology
Teachers who go through COW's program can submit
their work to be published in a beautiful anthology called The Teachers Always Write, published by
Inkwater Press. Every teacher is required to submit one final writing piece
in order to get class credit.
Measurable Success
"[COW is the most effective program I've
encountered in my 30 years of education," said Susan Carlile,
Director of Curriculum for the Tigard/Tualatin school district, a district
that in 2003-2005 enlisted COW to train every elementary and middle school
staff member. And Tigard/Tualatin was the only district to report gains on
the Statewide Writing Assessment in 2005. In 1999, after participating in
COW's program, Wilcox Elementary in Portland went from 24% of students
meeting benchmarks to 64% meeting benchmarks. In 2006, Lynch Wood
Elementary in the Centennial district went from 26% to 48% of students
meeting benchmarks--the second largest
improvement of any school in the state.
Many studies have shown that programs that do not
address or fundamentally change the way teachers teach do not create
lasting impact or improvement. But our data, gathered through evaluation
and assessment methods designed by Northwest Regional Education lab
studies, a year-long doctoral thesis by Caitlin Scott of Cleveland State
studying attitudes toward writing, Statewide Assessment test scores,
student work samples, year end surveys, and teachers' and students'
anecdotal comments, show that COW is the
one program statewide that has consistently achieved measurable results in
improving writing instruction and student writing.
Price of Admission
And what is the cost of all this for teachers and schools?
Only the cost of the workshop, $1, 250, which is covered under tuition
reimbursement or professional development funds of most school districts.
This is a support program for teachers, with nearly all costs paid by
Community of Writers.
Testimonials
This was a workshop
that was full of great experiences and will energize and improve the way I
teach writing this year, and for years to come."---Irma
Wallway, 4th-grade teacher, Evergreen District, Washington.
COW is the most effective program I've encountered in my 30 years
of education----Susan Carlile, former Director of Curriculum,
Tigard/Tualatin school district.
COW is the best professional development program I've
participated in during my teaching career. It has changed the way I teach
writing----David Sharfenberg, 6th grade teacher, Lynch Wood
Elementary.
Every state in the
country should have a program like COW. I'm not sure Oregon understands
how special its is----Steve Goodwin, MFA Program Director, George
Mason University, Virginia.
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Get together with other teachers online to discuss professional issues, share ideas, and socialize.
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There are only so many hours in a day. Find a tool to help you check things off your to do list and get back to what you love - teaching.
Educational opportunities and degree programs to improve your writing skills
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