Writing Project Accepting Invitational Summer Institute Applications

Wailuku Elementary Faculty exploring “Found Poetry” at a Hawaiʻi Writing Project-supported Literacy Strategies Workshop. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

The Hawaiʻi Writing Project is now accepting applications for the 2015 Invitational Summer Institute, a free summer program held at UH Maui College for teachers to explore their own writing as well as effective teaching strategies.

Graduates of the program become leaders at their schools in sharing what they learned with colleagues during meetings and workshops.

The deadline to apply is June 15; space is limited to 20 participants.

“Summer is the perfect time for teachers to refresh and re-discover the joys of writing,” said Marnie Masuda, Hawaiʻi Writing Project director and UHMC English faculty member,” and the effects last far beyond the institute’s end —participants become teacher consultants who can provide the motivation, literacy leadership, and professional development needed to improve literacy in their own schools and complexes.”

The summer program is moving into its fifth year at UHMC. The workshops cover the latest theory and research on teaching writing, conducting writing study groups, writing demonstration lessons and topics for teacher research projects.

Stephanie Young, a fifth-grade teacher at Pomaikaʻi Elementary, shared her experience at the Institute: “The HWP is my support system. My ʻohana. I feel fortunate to have access to a community of dynamic teachers that believe in teachers as writers. The experiences we shared as writers bonded us. We shared tears of struggle and tears of joy. The relationships I built are priceless. No other professional development has come close to a feeling of family. We are always there for each other for encouragement, a helping hand, or support. I feel blessed.”

For an application form or to learn more, contact Masuda at (808) 984-3435 or [email protected].

The Hawaiʻi Writing Project Invitational is fully funded by the National Writing Project Teacher Leadership SEED grant.