Pro.+Dev.+Overview

The Third Coast Writing Project Professional Development Program The most important professional development program offered to teachers is the four week invitational summer institute, and information about that can be found at this link: TCWP Invitational Summer Institute

TCWP also offers a range professional development each school year working in partnership with local schools and school districts. TCWP follows the NWP model closely, and NWP is recognized by the United States Department of Education as a recommended program by the Office of Innovation and Improvement to deliver professional development aligned with the goals of No Child Left Behind.

Professional development programs offered by the Third Coast Writing Project are built to address the specific needs of the teachers or school districts with whom we work. TCWP has a network of more than 250 educators, including classroom teachers, school administrators, college professors, curriculum specialists, writers, and other professionals who are experienced practitioners of the strategies they share, backed by research and training and experience in presenting professional development for an audience of educators.

Carnegie Report Calls Writing Projects A "Proven Model" of Teacher Professional Development

Click on the image to access the Carnegie Corporation website to review this important new study of adolescent literacy, released in September, 2009. The report includes the recommendation that National Writing Project professional development programs, such as the kind offered by the Third Coast Writing Project, are a national model for effective professional development for teachers.

TCWP Teacher Consultants present interactive workshop sessions that feature practical classroom strategies, demonstration and modeling, writing experiences for participants, discussion about why the strategies are recommended, and practical classroom-focused handout materials. Workshop series address a variety of needs, such as
 * Using writing to think and learn in all content areas;
 * Using MEAP Writing test tasks to strengthen curriculum;
 * Establishing classroom writing workshops;
 * Making teacher-student and peer writing conferences work;
 * Strategies for teaching revision;
 * Meeting the diverse needs of individual students;
 * Addressing the needs of special populations, such as English-Language-Learners;
 * Technology use and integration; and
 * Linking writing, reading, and literature.

Details about Professional Development

**All programs offered by TCWP follow a certain set of beliefs:**

1. Teachers are the best teachers of other teachers. Successful practicing teachers have a credibility unmatched by outside consultants or packets of teacher-proof materials.  2. Real change in classroom practice should be approached as a process, as it can only happen over time. Effective professional development programs are ongoing, bringing teachers together to share, test, and evaluate the best practices of other teachers and continuing developments in the field.

3. What is known about the teaching of writing comes not only from research but also from the practice of those who teach writing.

4. The university and local school districts must work together as partners.



Sheridan Blau, Past-President of the National Council of Teachers of English, shares teaching strategies in March, 2009 at a WMU program sponsored by the English Department at WMU and TCWP.