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minnesota writing project
center for writing
mwp.umn.edu
center for writing
mwp.umn.edu
Minnesota Writing Project
The Minnesota Writing Project aims to improve K–college literacy in Minnesota. Housed within the Center for Writing at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, MWP is the local site of the National Writing Project, an authorized provider of No Child Left Behind.
showcasing mwp teachers:
Much of what we read in the local education section of the newspaper describes shifting tests scores or school closings. It is infrequent that we are offered a peek into the mind and heart of teachers. Our new Teacher Showcase feature will give our recent ISI participants a chance to speak their mind about the teaching of writing and the need for quality professional development. Return often to read these profiles.
Erin MohrGrade you teach: Middle School 6-8
School: Bloomington Public Schools
Summer Institute Writing: Dinnertime
Summer Institute Demonstration: Red, Blue, Green Paragraph (.pdf file)
What are your beliefs about writing? I want students to be able to write in order to communicate their ideas in a way that others can understand them. I want my students to be able to write in a variety of genres on topics that are meaningful to them so their voices can be not only heard but also understood by their audiences. Writing can be very personal and powerful and I think students need plenty of access to and practice with writing to get their powerful ideas down.
What is a book on writing or the teaching of writing that you would recommend (and why)? But How Do You Teach Writing? by Barry Lane is a funny and practical resource for teaching writing. It has ready-to-use resources like the “Do-It-Yourself Teacher Conference Form” students can use when the teacher is conferencing with other students as well as a reflective and thoughtful look at why giving students choice is important. Lane shows how you can teach writing not as a discreet set of skills in a class but rather as an important way to express what students have to say.
Believing that teachers can empower other teachers, members provide an environment in which teachers can learn from one another and then share that learning with others in their classrooms, departments, schools, and districts. MWP is committed to improving the literacy of all students, strengthening university and school collaboration on reading and writing instruction, and increasing the professional power of teachers in meeting state standards and the curricular demands of NCLB.
mwp
Identifies exemplary teachers who can teach other teachers
Encourages teachers to write
Assists schools and districts in identifying their literacy needs and supports them in meeting those needs through pertinent staff development
Supports long-term reform and improvement in literacy instruction through classroom-based, action research
Maintains partnerships between schools and the University
Promotes cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity and understanding within MWP
For additional information, see About MWP.
Contact
Muriel Thompson, Director
612.625.6323
murielt@umn.edu
The Minnesota Writing Project is funded in part by the Center for Writing, the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, and the National Writing Project.
on MWP Connect 
Register for the MWP Open Institute CI 5410: Writing for Social Justice, which will take place in June 2013.
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Check out our Center for Writing alumni pages!
