Did you know that Michigan is second only to California as the state with the most National Writing Project sites? At this pre-conference workshop, attendees will join in roundtable discussions led by writing project leaders from across the state. The roundtable discussions will highlight new initiatives in the teaching of writing.
Trixie Smith, Director of the Red Cedar Writing Project and Jill Hoort, RCWP Co-director and Literacy Consultant for Eaton RESA, will focus on climate literacy and place-based writing using NWP’s Write-Out collaboration with National Parks.
Troy Hicks from the Chippewa River Writing Project will present on their one-week institute at Central Michigan University’s Biological Station on Beaver Island, which has been held since 2016 and engages teachers in a place-based, inquiry-driven professional learning environment.
Angela Knight of the Eastern Michigan Writing Project will share how she teaches pre-service teachers to notice and write about craft moves in Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angela Boulley.
Lindsay Ellis, Director of the Lake Michigan Writing Project will share the insights from their summer institute at Grand Valley State University.
Leah Barnett and Jonathon Bartels, co-Directors of the Oakland-Genesee Writing Project, will share their work on Third Spaces with Teens, in cooperation with the Philadelphia Writing Project. The work helps teachers provide engagement opportunities for young people to explore the history of when and where teens have gathered and connected with one another in both physical and digital spaces over time. Our teachers are finding ways to help students engage in cross-generational dialogue and consider the communication norms of “third spaces” in our communities.
Tyler Detloff of Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project at Northern Michigan University in Marquette will talk about how he combines his role as Director of the Center for Native American Studies with Writing Project programs like storytelling and land acknowledgments.
A table will be dedicated to materials for Everyday Advocacy, a proactive approach to change designed to help educators find and raise their voices to change the public narrative about education. Led by the Eastern Michigan Writing Project under direction of Cathy Fleischer, Everyday Advocacy offers hands-on support for teachers through a website, YouTube Channel, and free Playbook.
Professor of English and Education, Central Michigan University
Dr. Troy Hicks is a professor of English and education at Central Michigan University. He directs the Chippewa River Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project, and teaches masters and doctoral courses in educational technology. During the 2020-21 school year, he is serving... Read More →
Director, Michigan State University--Red Cedar Writing Project
Trixie Smith is Director of the graduate program in Rhetoric and Writing, Director of the Red Cedar Writing Project, and Director of GALE (Global Alliances in Literacy and Engagement) all at Michigan State University. She is faculty in Writing, Rhetoric & Cultures and the Center for... Read More →
After 25 years in public education, my passion and dedication to do what is best for students and teachers continues to grow. I have experience teaching in traditional and Montessori classrooms, was a reading teacher, literacy coach, and now literacy consultant. I have been with Red... Read More →
