Comments for WMWP Online Newsletter http://masswp.org/wmwpnews At Home in Western Massachusetts Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:20:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on A Look at Best Practices 2008 by Karen Sumaryono http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/10/11/a-look-at-best-practices-2008/#comment-23 Karen Sumaryono Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:26:07 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/?p=74#comment-23 I really enjoyed Charlie Moran's talk about Pat Hunter and how things started at the Western MA Writing Project. He is so deserving of the award, and it was a treat to hear him speak. The session on teaching students about bias in the media was another highlight for me, and, although I didn't get to the session, word has it there's another great ELL teacher at our site from this year's Summer Institute. I really enjoyed Charlie Moran’s talk about Pat Hunter and how things started at the Western MA Writing Project. He is so deserving of the award, and it was a treat to hear him speak. The session on teaching students about bias in the media was another highlight for me, and, although I didn’t get to the session, word has it there’s another great ELL teacher at our site from this year’s Summer Institute.

]]> Comment on A Mission Statement for WMWP by Susan Biggs http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-22 Susan Biggs Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:15:39 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-22 I think it is amazing how the mission statement and the process of creating it has already begun to infiltrate and inform our other work, just as we had hoped. We really kept our mission statement front and center this week, as a group of four of us from our site created a plan to explore content area literacy at our site, as part of the National Reading Initiatives, Content Area Literacy Institute. Also, folks loved our mission statement as we posted it front in center in a presentation we had to do to introduce our site. Everyone especially loved the word scatter visual. I'd really love to see this as our new t-shirt design, with Western Massachusetts Writing Project across the top in bold, blocky letters. I forget who first suggested this, but I don't want to let go of the idea. Thanks. I think it is amazing how the mission statement and the process of creating it has already begun to infiltrate and inform our other work, just as we had hoped. We really kept our mission statement front and center this week, as a group of four of us from our site created a plan to explore content area literacy at our site, as part of the National Reading Initiatives, Content Area Literacy Institute. Also, folks loved our mission statement as we posted it front in center in a presentation we had to do to introduce our site. Everyone especially loved the word scatter visual. I’d really love to see this as our new t-shirt design, with Western Massachusetts Writing Project across the top in bold, blocky letters. I forget who first suggested this, but I don’t want to let go of the idea.
Thanks.

]]> Comment on A Mission Statement for WMWP by Mary Farrin http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-21 Mary Farrin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:26:51 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-21 I am very pleased too. I think the mission statement makes transparent what we are about. It has been floating around us for a while. It feels good to have it grounded in a collaboratively crafted document that is inclusive and clear. Now we can look at what we do through a sharper lens. As we approach the Summer Institute I look forward to sharing this with our new fellows. I am sure our conversations will be richer for it. Mary I am very pleased too. I think the mission statement makes transparent what we are about. It has been floating around us for a while. It feels good to have it grounded in a collaboratively crafted document that is inclusive and clear. Now we can look at what we do through a sharper lens. As we approach the Summer Institute I look forward to sharing this with our new fellows. I am sure our conversations will be richer for it.
Mary

]]> Comment on A Mission Statement for WMWP by Anne http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-20 Anne Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:57:23 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-20 I agree, Kevin. The mission statement reflects a valuable collaborative year long process of working to identify core values, ones that matter to us. It provides a guide for our inquiries and actions. I remember meeting with Dawn last July soon after she and others of the Project Outreach Team had returned from an NWP meeting. She said that they wanted to engage the Executive Board and others in looking at and likely revising our mission statement in light of Project Outreach goals. I said I didn't think WMWP had a mission statement. We didn't. When we began the process last September, I don't think any of us knew what the result would look like. Thanks to the leadership of the Project Outreach Team in engaging the larger group of us in deep inquiry and drafting, we know have our mission. It's a very important outcome of the year, something we can feel proud of; something that draws us together; something that will guide us. Anne I agree, Kevin. The mission statement reflects a valuable collaborative year long process of working to identify core values, ones that matter to us. It provides a guide for our inquiries and actions.
I remember meeting with Dawn last July soon after she and others of the Project Outreach Team had returned from an NWP meeting. She said that they wanted to engage the Executive Board and others in looking at and likely revising our mission statement in light of Project Outreach goals. I said I didn’t think WMWP had a mission statement. We didn’t. When we began the process last September, I don’t think any of us knew what the result would look like. Thanks to the leadership of the Project Outreach Team in engaging the larger group of us in deep inquiry and drafting, we know have our mission. It’s a very important outcome of the year, something we can feel proud of; something that draws us together; something that will guide us.
Anne

]]> Comment on A Mission Statement for WMWP by Kevin http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-19 Kevin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:51:02 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2008/06/17/a-mission-statement-for-wmwp/#comment-19 What I like about this mission statement is that it invites an inquiry stance and sets forth an ideal role for our organization. The document, if it can be instilled in all that we do, is a powerful statement of purpose for us. It acknowledges and supports the role that teachers play in making the world a better place for all. -- Kevin What I like about this mission statement is that it invites an inquiry stance and sets forth an ideal role for our organization. The document, if it can be instilled in all that we do, is a powerful statement of purpose for us. It acknowledges and supports the role that teachers play in making the world a better place for all.
– Kevin

]]> Comment on New Co-Directors Elected by admin http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2007/06/21/new-co-directors-elected/#comment-4 admin Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:37:11 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2007/06/21/new-co-directors-elected/#comment-4 I agree. They both were strong candidates and we are fortunate to have them them both in the leadership team. I had the good fortune to sit next to Tracy at the recent Massachusetts Writing Project conference and I enjoyed talking with her. Kevin I agree.
They both were strong candidates and we are fortunate to have them them both in the leadership team. I had the good fortune to sit next to Tracy at the recent Massachusetts Writing Project conference and I enjoyed talking with her.

Kevin

]]> Comment on New Co-Directors Elected by Diana Roy http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2007/06/21/new-co-directors-elected/#comment-3 Diana Roy Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:59:45 +0000 http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2007/06/21/new-co-directors-elected/#comment-3 I am thrilled to learn that Tracy Walker is the WMWP In-Service Co-Director. Having worked with Tracy in Ludlow, I can tell you that she is both experienced and creative, and she most certainly embodies the philosophies and the heart of the National Writing Project. Congratulations to Tracy and to WMWP for having the wisdom to make her a part of the team. I am thrilled to learn that Tracy Walker is the WMWP In-Service Co-Director. Having worked with Tracy in Ludlow, I can tell you that she is both experienced and creative, and she most certainly embodies the philosophies and the heart of the National Writing Project. Congratulations to Tracy and to WMWP for having the wisdom to make her a part of the team.

]]> Comment on Massachusetts Writing Project Conference 2007 by admin http://masswp.org/wmwpnews/2007/05/12/hello-world/#comment-2 admin Sat, 12 May 2007 10:40:31 +0000 #comment-2 This was a wonderful conference and Sonia's speech really drove home the conflict between the educational landscape (global) and the impact of teachers on student lives (local). Kevin This was a wonderful conference and Sonia’s speech really drove home the conflict between the educational landscape (global) and the impact of teachers on student lives (local).

Kevin

]]>