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How will I benefit from the Lake Michigan Writing Project Summer Institute?
- Earn six graduate credits or a $600 stipend
- Become a more effective and energized teacher of writing
- Learn strategies to raise the success levels of your students' writing in class and on standardized tests such as the MEAP
- Join the larger conversation of dedicated and experienced teachers of writing
- Garner international recognition and credentials as a National Writing Project teacher consultant
How is the institute different from other professional development opportunities?The Summer Institute is a workshop designed to be both more demanding
and more fulfilling than traditional staff development programs. Also,
the Institute connects to the National Writing Project’s philosophy
that teachers improve their own teaching practices by working with
other outstanding teachers in group-learning activities.
Will I have a lot of "homework" to do outside Institute hours?
Since Institute participants earn three semester hours of graduate
credit, they are expected to do some reading and writing outside of the
Institute hours. However, since participants are actively engaged in
learning during the day, fellows spend less time doing "homework" than
for other graduate classes.
If participating in the Institute earns me three graduate credits, how do I earn the other three graduate credits?
After the summer institute, the Writing Project will run a
teacher-researcher group. This group will meet monthly and develop a
teacher-researcher project based on writing in one’s classroom. Meeting
with this group and eventually writing an article about the teaching of
writing in your classroom will earn you the other three graduate
credits.
If I choose not to earn graduate credits for my participation, how much is the stipend, and when will I receive it?
If you choose not to receive the graduate credits, the $600 stipend is
paid when the Institute is over. The stipend is an honorarium each
fellow earns by attending all sessions, participating in workshop
activities, and completing all individual and group tasks. Individuals
who do not complete the program will not receive the stipend.
What are the general attendance expectations for participants?
In general, we expect participants to be present every day, unless
there are unavoidable personal emergencies or professional
responsibilities. Barring extenuating circumstances, no fellow should
miss more than one whole day of the Institute.
How much will my books cost?
Lake Michigan Writing Project will provide the first two books. You
will receive them at the Welcoming and Planning Dinner. You should
budget $50 for an additional two books, the titles of which will be
determined at the Dinner.
May I bring guests to the Summer Institute?
The LMWP welcomes adult visitors, especially administrators and
teachers who might like to apply to participate in future Summer
Institutes. Although our work is fun, it is also intense and paced for
talented adult learners. Therefore, except on special prearranged
occasions, children should not be brought to the Institute.
What instructional settings, grade levels, and subject areas are represented at the institute?
We always seek a group representing the full (Pre) K-University
teaching levels. We welcome teachers from the business world (e.g.
corporate training centers) or from specialty schools and home schools.
From schools where teaching focuses on specific disciplines (e.g.
history, math in high schools), we welcome any teacher of writing,
regardless of subject area.
Why does the Institute meet from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. the first week?
The first week of the Institute involves a number of time-intensive
activities. Among those are activities that will allow fellows to
prepare for their teaching demonstrations. Meeting from 9:00 A.M. until
9:00 P.M. (Monday-Thursday) the first week allows the Institute the
time to get everything up and running. In subsequent weeks the
Institute meets from Monday through Thursday 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.
Some writing project sites choose to meet on Fridays, and some have a
longer schedule throughout the entire Institute. Meeting longer the
first week allows Institute participants to have our Fridays available
for other pursuits, and lets us adjourn by 3:00 in the final three
weeks.
What is a teaching demonstration?
Each fellow will model a best practice from one’s classroom in
writing for the entire group. Fellows’ demonstrations will be examples
of lessons that involve writing in their own classrooms. Student work,
activities that take the audience through some of the process and
professional/theoretical references will be parts of the demonstration.
After each demonstration, there will be a discussion of the teaching
concepts and principles shown in the lesson. Each fellow will learn to
apply teaching concepts, based on core literacy development principles,
across all grade levels and subject areas.
What do I need to bring for my teaching demonstration? How long should it last?
If you have some idea of what favorite lesson you might like to share
for your teaching demonstration, you will want to bring the needed
materials home at the end of the school year. The demonstration itself
should last about 75 minutes and will include all parts of your lesson
(introduction, activities, closure). You will need to obtain paper
copies for everyone in the Summer Institute.
May I leave the GVSU campus for lunch and/or to run errands?
Fellows should remain on campus during the Institute hours. We try
to have one extended lunch per week, but this is a time when all
fellows enjoy a festive meal together. We would rather pack our days
with activities, including discussions over lunch, to keep the hours of
the Institute more manageable.
To qualify as a fellow, how computer-comfortable do I need to be?
Fellows do need to be willing to try out a variety of learning
experiences in a computer classroom. The more comfortable you are with
working with a computer, the better, but lack of experience should not
prevent you from becoming a fellow.
What are my chances of being selected as a fellow?
We will choose, from our initial applicant pool, to interview 20
candidates for our 12-16 Basic Summer Institute slots. If you are
invited for an interview, you have an excellent chance of becoming a
fellow.
What if, after I am selected, I find I cannot participate for personal reasons?
Please notify us immediately so that we can contact an alternate before
the Welcoming and Planning Dinner. We never add alternates after the
dinner, as too much learning happens after that point to be "made up"
later.
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