Archive: Teachers as Writers

Andrea — in the English Journal #

An article written by WMWP TC Andrea Griswold (who teaches middle school) recently appeared in English Journal and the article featured her own reflective teaching practice around the use of scoring rubrics and poetry. Andrea was very thoughtful in her writing, showcasing her own classroom practices, and we asked her to submit a piece of writing about the process of writing the article (sort of meta-thinking).

Want to read what she has to say?
Head to Andrea’s reflections.

(Thank you Andrea!)


Mary Cowhey on WFCR #

Recently, WFCR Public Radio featured a story on Mary Cowhey, her classroom and some of her teaching philosophies. Click here to visit WFCR’s website and hear the story.

<FONT color=#008000>source: www.spelthorne.gov.uk/ pic_music.gif</FONT><BR>

Share Your Knowledge: Publishing Opportunity #


The Springfield Republican is searching for teachers with insights into the world of education for its Teacher Talk column that runs regularly in the daily newspaper on Mondays. The column is meant to provide teachers with an opportunity to share some aspect of the teaching process with readers; to give insight from a teacher’s perspective into a classroom or to provide a teacher with the opportunity to write on some aspect of education of concern to them. The column is generally around 800 words and runs with a photo. Topics this year have included a veteran Springfield teacher discussing her years as a first grade teacher; the importance of peer mediation and another teacher’s effort to eradicate stereotypes.

If you are interested in submitting a piece of writing to the Republican, you can contact Anne-Girard Flynn at aflynn@repub.com.

Lonngmeadow teacher Mark Staples, and alumni of Summer Institute 2003, wrote one of the first columns for the series and you can read it here as a sample of the Teacher Talk columns.

 

SELWP Writing Marathon #

The Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project held a virtual writing marathon last week. Join www.tappedin.org and search GROUPS for “Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project”. Once you’ve found the group, join it! Then visit their discussion section to read writing from the marathon and the discussion that has continued since the marathon’s end.

Can’t find SELWP? Use the chat function to ask the TappedIn consultant on duty for help or e-mail Casey at cburton@english.umass.edu

Reflections on Writing #

Mary Cowhey, a WMWP alumni and elementary teacher in Northampton, has just published a book called Black Ants and Buddhists:Thinking Critically and Teaching Differently in the Primary Grades. In a special posting to our Weblog newsletter, Mary relates in a very personal way about how her membership and connections in the Writing Project has helped her in writing process.

Follow this link to her reflections on the writing of a book as seen through the eyes of a dedicated writer, teacher and community activist.

On Thursday, June 8, Mary Cowhey will read from her new book, Black Ants and Buddhists: Thinking Critically and Teaching Differently in the Primary Grades, at Food For Thought Books at 106 N. Pleasant St in Amherst at 6:30 pm. The event, sponsored by the Western Massachusetts Writing Project, is free and open to the public.


You can also order her book through Stenhouse Publishers.


Teachers as Writers #

This WMWP Weblog is not only for news and information, but it is also a place for you to publish your own writing for a larger audience in our community of teachers and writers. Here is a sampling of some of the work that has been created by our network:

If you have a story or poem or play or anything that you would like published, please email either Casey or Kevin.

Teachers as Writers Contest Winners #

PEN.gif:


wmwp news invites you to read the winning submissions to the 2005 WMWP Teachers as Writers Contest:


First place winner:
“Lucky Shirt”—By Sara Barber-Just

Runner Up:
“The Sand Blows Softly”—By Angela Rufo-Singer

New England Writing Projects Retreat #


Recently, several members of the Western Massachusetts Writing Project attended the New England Writing Projects Retreat. The retreat was held over a snowy weekend in early March in White River Junction, VT.

To read more about the retreat, click here.

To enjoy a creative piece WMWP TC Sarah Palmer wrote at the retreat, click here.

A Collaborative Writing Project #

We really want to get you involved in this site as writers and so here is an experiment called:
A UMass MysteryWe have created what is known as a Wiki site, which is a WMWP writing space that is designed to foster collaborative writing. Anyone can add to what is already written.
You don’t even need to sign up or anything.

Kevin has started a mystery story set at UMass during a Summer Institute and he wants some others to keep writing the story.
The directions for how to add to the story are right at the site.

Be brave! Be bold! Be a writer!

Head to the story.



Stump Sprouts ‘05 Photo Albums #

Stump Sprouts Group Photo!

Photos from the Stump Sprouts ‘05 Writing Retreat are here. Be sure to peruse all three of the photo albums and post comments on the pics you see there. Photos courtesy of retreat leader Tina Browne.

Sprouts Photo Album 1 Sprouts Photo Album 2

Sprouts Photo Album 3

Reflections on Stump Sprouts #

The 2005 Stump Sprouts Writing retreat was held over the weekend of December 2-4 at the Stump Sprouts Conference Center in Hawley. The following is the open of a poem by attendee Janet Andrews, reflecting on the weekend.

Personal Space, Personal Peace

 

Nourish your spirit,

Replenish your energy

With a gift to yourself-

A writer’s retreat

for the parts of you that need tending

To read the rest of Janets Poem, click here

PEN.gif:


2005 Teachers as Writers Contest #

PEN.gif:

It’s time again to submit your work to the annual Teachers as Writers Contest. This year’s first prize winner will recieve a full scholarship to the WMWP Teachers as Writers Retreat at Jiminy Peak on April 28-30, 2006. Second prize winner will receive a $50 credit to be used toward any WMWP Teachers as Writers program. November 30 is the entry deadline!

Click here to read last year’s winning piece “Redemption” by Cynthia Waring.

Click here for more information on entering the Teachers as Writers Contest.




Writing Contest Winners Announced # And the winner is … Cynthia Conway Waring of Amherst.

Cynthia’s short story, “Redemption,” was selected by a panel of judges as the first prize winner in WMWP’s new Teachers as Writers contest. Besides publication of the story, the award includes a free trip to the Teachers as Writers Retreat at Jiminy Peak May 12-14. Read Cynthia’s story.


Second prize was awarded to Angela Rufo Singer of Melrose for her poem “Forebear.” Angela received a WMWP gift certificate. Read Angela’s poem.