This week, 18 area teachers are on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus participating in an Invitational Summer Institute, hosted by the Fox Valley Writing Project (FVWP).
The Institute is funded by a grant from the National Writing Project (NWP) and aims to immerse teachers in personal and professional reading and writing, which furthers NWP’s mission: “teachers teaching teachers.”
“Even though technology is the future, it has to complement solid instruction in order to be effective in the classroom. The institute gives us an opportunity to use technology to fine tune instruction,” said Greg Kehring, FVWP technology liaison.
As school districts put a greater emphasis on literacy in all curricular areas and as students have increased access to technological tools as part of their classroom learning, it is important that teachers have an opportunity to implement a variety of technologies themselves to learn how to engage students and further enhance K-12 curriculum, Kehring said.
The three-credit collaborative graduate course is designed to connect participants’ experiences and expertise: writing authentically and participating in peer revision groups, demonstrating literacy lessons, designing inquiry projects, reflecting on practices, reading and discussing professional texts.
This year’s group includes teachers from Kewaskum, Menasha, Oshkosh, Kaukauna, Neenah, Appleton, Hortonville and UW Oshkosh.
“We are thrilled to have these outstanding educators with us for three weeks,” said Pat Scanlan, FVWP director and associate professor at UW Oshkosh. “We are confident that they will find both inspiration and excellence through the rigorous examination of their own teaching, as well as the many thoughtful and supportive opportunities they will have to grow as writers. We look forward to engaging these institute participants as FVWP leaders in the years to come!”
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