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Summer Institute - 2009
 * Upper Peninsula Writing Project

General Information Sheet**


 * I. Dates/Times:**

The Summer Institute begins on Saturday, May 16, 2009, in Whitman Hall, NMU. We continue on Monday, June 15, 2009, through Thursday, July 9, 2009, at the Women’s Federated Clubhouse on the corner of Ridge and Front Streets, Marquette. We conclude with our retreat at Conway Lake, Huron Mt. Club, Big Bay, August 17-18, 2009.

We meet Monday-Thursday of each week with coffee, computer set up, social time from 8:30 – 9:00. The institute formal activities begin each day promptly at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Lunch is one hour long and usually on your own. Wednesdays we will combine lunch with special events.

Writing groups may select other locations for their work sessions. Peter White Public Library is across the street and offers a variety of places for small groups to meet. Some groups may wish to find quiet spots out-of-doors. If a group needs help in locating a comfortable spot, please ask the Director or Co-Director. Remember that you will need relative quiet and privacy for your work sessions as you choose alternate locations.


 * II. Parking:**

You may park along Ridge Street or on both sides of Front during the institute.


 * III. Weekly Social Event:**

Lunch will be a social event on Wednesdays. We will plan these as we go.


 * IV. Writing Expectations Overview (more detailed information in “Writing Expectations” section of this wikispace):**

Because the Summer Institute's purpose is to explore both the teaching of writing and the writing process, the writing expected of Summer Fellows is both extensive and varied.

Participants will write as part of most demonstrations.

Each Fellow prepares three pieces of writing on a topic of his/her choice. These pieces will be shared in Writing Response Groups and will offer the author opportunities to explore both the topic and a variety of writing forms. Further explanation is included in the "Writing Assignment Section" of this notebook.

Each Fellow prepares a fourth and final writing which is more theoretical in nature. This assignment is explained more fully in the "Writing Expectation Section" of this notebook.

Logger Reports: To keep an accurate record of the Summer Institute, Fellows share in the responsibility of keeping a daily log. For each day of the Institute, two Fellows recount the day's events by composing a log summary, approximately 1-2 pages, and present it to the group on the following day. These log summaries are posted electronically for all members, providing a written reference to important ideas explored during the institute. Logger reports recreate the atmosphere of the daily sessions in creative, often humorous ways; they record the highlights of teacher demonstrations and reflect on the ideas, questions, and issues raised during discussions. For further details, refer to the "Logger Reports" section of this notebook.

Summer Institute Writing Notebooks: Each Fellow is given a spiral notebook in which to record his/her observations, insights, and questions throughout the summer, i.e., to capture moments of your lives which could later be developed into more polished pieces of writing.

Writing Folders: Each Fellow should keep all drafts of his/her writing in a folder to revisit and reconsider throughout the institute.


 * V. Introduction to Current Research and Literature in the Teaching of Writing:**

Because excellent teachers of writing should be well-informed about current research and literature in their field, we schedule weekly sessions to discuss current issues on the teaching of writing and issues that surface from the summer reading. These weekly discussions will sometimes involve the whole group and sometimes will be held in topic and/or grade-level small groups.

A variety of current books are also available to borrow from the UPWP Lending Library. Each Fellow may choose books of personal interest to him/her.


 * VI. Demonstrations:**

The National Writing Project believes there is a second major source of knowledge that originates in the classrooms of successful teachers in addition to what we know about the teaching of writing that comes to us through major texts on basic and applied research. The teacher demonstrations of the Summer Institute tap that knowledge and give Fellows an opportunity to present to the group a current practice they use to teach writing or a way they use writing to enhance learning. These presentations should be considered a draft of a professional development program for colleagues. Each Fellow should identify two questions pertaining to the lesson for group consideration. These questions should help the presenter improve and expand the lesson.

These demonstrations should be approximately one hour in length. Each Fellow will meet with either the Director or the Co-Director and other Fellow(s) prior to making his/her demonstration. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the plan and presentation and to offer ideas to make the demonstration as interactive, useful, and dynamic as possible

For additional information on the demonstrations, refer to the "Demonstrations" section of this notebook.


 * VII. Field Trips**

There will be at least one field trip arranged during the institute. This trip will be used as a springboard for our own writing and for learning about ways in which teachers can use community resources to help children grow as writers.


 * VIII. Special Presentations:**

Throughout the institute, we may arrange special presentations by either participants of the institute and/or guest speakers. These will be arranged as topics of interest are identified.


 * IX. Celebration:**

The last afternoon of the institute we will have a celebration. This will be planned once we begin the institute and have more information from the Fellows on what would be most enjoyable for all.