The mission of the National Writing Project (NWP) is to improve writing and learning in the nation's schools. Through its professional development model, the National Writing Project recognizes the primary importance of teacher knowledge, expertise, and leadership. Through its extensive network of teachers, the NWP seeks to promote exemplary…

The mission of the National Writing Project (NWP) is to improve writing and learning in the nation's schools. Through its professional development model, the National Writing Project recognizes the primary importance of teacher knowledge, expertise, and leadership. Through its extensive network of teachers, the NWP seeks to promote exemplary…

The National Writing Project (NWP) at Work monograph series describes NWP work, often shared informally or in workshops through the NWP network, and offers detailed chronological accounts for sites interested in adopting and adapting the models. In 1991, an educational innovation, the National Writing Project in Vermont (NWP-VT) began its first…

One instructor's "dead zone" (her windowless classroom in the depths of the Humanities building) was the place where little exchange between teacher and students took place. When one day she overheard the students talking about how little money they had left on their meal cards, she took a few dozen bagels to that afternoon's writing…

In a personal narrative reflecting on 27 years of teaching, an adjunct faculty member realizes that she knows quite a bit firsthand about the adjunct. Judith Gappa and David Leslie, in their 1993 book, "The Invisible Faculty," state that budgets are balanced and classes assigned on the assumption that 20 to 50% of all undergraduate…

This paper examines the different discourses circulating within the Adult Learning Division, and in particular, the ESL Program and Basic Writing Course, of Monroe Technical College in Wisconsin. The paper considers those discourses that are related to the experience of a part-time ESL writing instructor. It examines discourse on multiple levels.…

In spring 1998, the Writing across the Curriculum (WAC) committee at Abilene Christian University (Texas) began an 18-month review of the school's Writing-Intensive (WI) courses. From the initial review, it was noted that two problems needed to be addressed: in spite of regular workshops and group meetings, the teachers worked in isolation…

Interviews the editor of "College Composition and Communication" regarding his perspective on the current state of composition studies and his sense of where the field might be headed. States that he advocates methodologies that "engage with the views and experiences of students." Finds that his contributions to the field…

Examines the enthusiastic discourse that has accompanied the introduction of computers into writing classes. Explores how this language may influence both change and the status quo in electronic classrooms. Argues that writing instructors, by thinking critically and carefully about technology, can succeed in using it to improve the educational…

Encourages teachers to read poetry on their own and in discussion groups. Reassures teachers who have doubts about teaching poetry, and encourages them to teach so that children will have positive experiences and learn to like poetry. Shares revision methods to help make revising as inspiring as writing the first draft of a poem. (MG)

Suggests a model of knowing in which theory may emerge from classroom practice. Proposes establishing a network of writing teachers whose mission is to render accounts from the field. Argues that a dialogue between practitioners and theoreticians is long overdue. (RS)

Discusses how two first grade teachers collaborated to create a poetry unit as part of their reading/writing workshop. Presents sample minilessons and poems written by students. (PRA)

Describes briefly the proposal to change the writing program universitywide at Western Illinois University. Draws conclusions about the rhetorical situation of the writing program administrator in his or her attempts to substantively rename and predicate what educators do and thus to redefine the discipline. (MG)

Argues that, although writing teachers have come to see writing as socially constructed, they have failed to understand the teacher's role in such meaning construction. Calls for development of a theory of reading student texts which takes into account teachers' reading of the students themselves. Illustrates reading and misreading of student…

To illustrate ways that students might generate ideas for writing, this article presents a list of 20 suggestions for using prewriting to explore fiction, along with 8 guidelines for teachers to use in responding to students' writing. (43 references) (LB)