University of Illinois Writing Project

The University of Illinois Writing Project (UIWP), an affiliate of the National Writing Project (NWP), is a federally funded professional development program for teachers at all levels and in all disciplines to encourage and support the teaching of writing. The NWP uses writing to improve student performance and motivation so that school is a positive, meaningful, and successful experience for all students. The NWP is comprised of a network of university based sites and has been a successful model customized for local needs. Over 200 sites around the country offer high quality professional development that acknowledges the value of teacher experience and aims to develop teacher leaders.

In November 2007, the University of Illinois was named a new site of the National Writing Project with the support of Unit 4, Unit 116, ROE SchoolWorks, and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). It is one of three new sites in Illinois, along with Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University, joining existing sites at Illinois State University, the University of Illinois in Chicago, and National-Louis University. The core of each Writing Project is the Invitational Summer Institute. We will host our first Summer Institute in 2008.

History

In 1974, James Gray founded the Bay Area Writing Project with its goal of creating a different form of professional development for teachers, emphasizing the knowledge, leadership, and best practices of effective teachers, and promoting the sharing of that knowledge with other teachers.

By 1976 the NWP had grown to 14 sites in six states.

In 1991, NWP was authorized as a federal education program, allowing the network to expand to previously underserved areas.

Today the NWP comprises nearly 200 sites in all 50 states with $23 million in federal funding matched by host universities and local school districts.

Goals

Through the combined impact of the UIWP Summer Institute, continuity programs, professional development, and community outreach, our site will provide resources and support for teacher-centered professional development in the teaching of writing. In the process, we aim to meet the following goals: to help teachers across grade levels and disciplines to see themselves as writers for life, students of writing, and leaders in the teaching of writing; become more confident, proficient, and thoughtful teachers of writing through the processes of writing, teaching, research, and reflection; become a part of a diverse professional network devoted to the continuous improvement and support of the practices of writing, teaching, and professional inquiry and growth; and improve the teaching of writing in their own classrooms, schools, and the larger profession.

In addition, we aim to help students across grade levels and disciplines to see themselves as writers for life as they use writing as a tool for learning, reflection, expression and communication; have access to exemplary writing instruction so that they will become more confident, proficient, and reflective writers; and become members of school and classroom writing communities.