Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project

2014 Summer Institute

Jonathan Maxfield — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:18:12 +0000

The KMWP Invitational Summer Institute lets educators examine their practice and analyze research and theory related to the teaching of writing and its role in student learning. These teachers return to their classrooms as KMWP teacher consultants: models of effective disciplinary literacy instruction for their schools and districts.

Through the KMWP Invitational Summer Institute, fellows enter a community of dedicated professionals who are committed to the improvement of education through effective writing practices. Three core principles guide the work of the ISI:

Teachers are writers who understand and improve their practice when they write themselves.
Teachers are the best teachers of other teachers.
Teachers are leaders who can affect change in their classrooms and communities.

Please feel free to explore the link to our Summer Institute FAQ below, and then, if it sounds right for you, complete and submit the application for the 2014 SI!

2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE FAQ

Bill Konigsberg visits KSU

Jonathan Maxfield — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 16:23:10 +0000

Young Adult author Bill Konigsberg will discuss his latest novel, Openly Straight, and how his books are being embraced and banned in schools. He will also discuss the creative process and journey of publishing a novel.

——————————————————————

PRAISE FOR OPENLY STRAIGHT

“Openly Straight aims high and succeeds brilliantly. It’s
up-to-the-second contemporary, funny, unexpected, peppered with
terrific dialogue — and best of all, achingly honest.”
–Ned Vizzini

“An original, thought-provoking, hilarious story about the importance
of embracing your true identity, and the cost to yourself and others when you don’t.”
–Julie Anne Peters

“Openly Straight sports a sharp plot with a twist, sympathetic (and
totally hot) characters, and universal appeal. It’s a must-read for
openly everyone!”
–Lisa McMann

——————————————————————

AN EVENING WITH BILL KONIGSBERG

Kennesaw State University

1000 Chastain Road

Social Science Building

Room 1019 (located on the first floor)

November 12, 2013

7:00pm

——————————————————————

20 Reasons to Join Us at The KMWP SI 2014

Mary Ann Stillerman — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:25:14 +0000

In honor of twenty years of teachers teaching teachers, here are twenty reasons to attend the 2014 Invitational Summer Institute. Join us!

1. Meet colleagues who share your passion for teaching

2. Breakfast with fellows each morning with food and activities that center on literary and cultural themes

3. Amass an arsenal of teaching strategies that work

4. Recharge your soul’s batteries

5. Explore the latest in professional reading paired with animated discussion

6. Engage in spirited exchanges of methodology

7. Pursue personal writing

8. Partner with fellows in teaching demos

9. Join a committed group of lifelong learners

10. Formulate new approaches to your classroom and curriculum

11. Compare curricular strategies

12. Trace your personal history as a reader and writer

13. Support your belief in the infinite worth of every child

14. Explain your personal teaching philosophy

15. Evaluate yourself in myriad ways

16. Contrast your current teaching situation with past assignments

17. Describe your classroom climate and how it weathers the storms of change

18. Embrace opportunities to grow

19. Think outside the box and cherish an uncommon core

20. Revel in new ideas

Great GA Teacher: Dave Winter

Ryan Rish — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 21:13:53 +0000

Dave Winter, English teacher at Grady High School and KMWP fellow and author, was featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution as one of Peter Smagorinsky’s Profiles of Great Georgia Teachers.

The full article can be found on Maureen Downey’s Get Schooled blog for the AJC.

Below is a picture of Dave Winter receiving the 2011 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Adviser of the Year Award from Joe Dennis, director of the association. Dave is pictured with 2011 seniors April McFadden (left) and Ashley Brown (right). McFadden is currently a junior at Northwestern while Brown is a junior at Brown University. Photo by Lindsey Leonard.

New Book Club

Ryan Rish — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 20:57:49 +0000

We hope your school year has started off well! Don’t you just love the excitement and possibility of it all!?

Earlier this summer we sent out an invitation to join a teacher book club on Notice and Note by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. It will be led by our very own Maya Woodall. Maya has done a lot of work with this book this past year, and I have no doubt it will be an insightful set of discussions and sharing of ideas!

We still have spaces available. Those who participate will receive a copy of the book from KMWP to keep. The full details are included in KMWP Notice and Note Book Club Flyer. Please email me (jdail1@kenensaw.edu) and Maya (mkwoodall@me.com) if you can join us! We hope you will!

2013 Award Winners

Ryan Rish — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:17:23 +0000

Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project 2013 Awards Ceremony & Banquet

Each year the KMWP presents three awards to individuals who contribute to literacy development in northwest Georgia. Any KMWP affiliate may nominate fellow teachers, administrators, central office personnel, or community members for these awards.

2013 Teacher of Promise

JAZZMON PARHAM

2013 Teacher Leadership

MARGARET ROBBINS

2013 Sponsor of Literacy

LAURA KELLEY

Laura Kelley (right) receives the 2013 Sponsor of Literacy award from Rob Montgomery

Jazzmon Parham (right) receives the 2013 Teacher of Promise award from Jennifer Dail

Margaret Robbins (left) receives the 2013 Teacher Leadership award from Kitty Drew

—————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Leslie Walker Writers of Promise

In 2008, the KMWP created a writing contest as a legacy of a friend and teacher leader. Leslie Walker was a teacher at Campbell High School, a 1998 KMWP fellow, and an inspiration to her students and colleagues. The following students are this year’s award winners of the Leslie Walker Writers of Promise Contest–recognized for their outstanding composition.

Grand Prize

Library by SAMMY SAWYER

1st Place

Closet of Memories by LAUREN MARESCA

2nd Place

A Place by ALEX WILLS

Summer Youth Writing Academies

Jennifer Dail — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:47:44 +0000

The 2014 Youth Writing Academy is currently in planning. Check back this February for more information.

VISIT THE YWA WEB PAGE

Urban Sites Network Conference

Jennifer Dail — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:59:16 +0000

Jennifer Dail and Michelle Goodsite attended the Urban Sites Network Conference held by the Red Mountain Writing Project. The theme of the conference was Writers of Social Justice: How One Pen Can Change the World. At the conference, Jennifer and Michelle shared what KMWP has learned about partnering with high-needs schools through our SEED 3 work with Campbell High School over the past year. In one session, Jennifer served on a panel titled “What Are the Features of Effective Professional Development in High Needs School?: Lessons from NWP SEED 3 Sites” with other NWP Site leaders. Jennifer and Michelle also co-presented a session titled “Developing Content Area Coaches in a High-Needs School,” which focused specifically on reflections and lessons from our work with Campbell High School.

The conference offered us opportunities to connect with and engage in dialogue with other sites. It also allowed us to more deeply reflect on the work at our own site and to think ahead to how the lessons we learned might continue to shape the direction of KMWP.

2013 Literacy Conference

Ryan Rish — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:23:56 +0000

The first annual KMWP Literacy Conference was held on March 23rd.

2012 NWP Spring Meeting

Ryan Rish — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:12:57 +0000

The National Writing Project Spring Meeting was held from March 28 – 30 in Washington, D.C. Jennifer Dail and Michelle Goodsite attended the meeting with support from the Dean’s Office in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. At the Spring Meeting, they had an opportunity to meet with leadership from other NWP sites and to meet with staff from the offices of Johnny Isakson, Saxby Chambliss, Phil Gingrey, and John Lewis. A highlight of the visits was meeting John Lewis and shaking his hand!

While nothing in terms of funding for programs such as NWP changed as a result of this meeting, we maintained the visibility of the positive impact of NWP sites’ work and followed up with each representative’s office upon returning to Georgia. We also had an opportunity to talk with leadership from other sites about future opportunities and directions for NWP. We gathered some exciting ideas that we plan to develop for professional development and continuity activities in the upcoming year.