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MWP Invitational Summer Institute

Link to past summer institutes"Returning to writing and a writing group has reminded me of the passion I have always had for the power of the written word. I know that I will return to my classroom this fall inspired and ready to inspire my students." —Summer Institute participant

The institute is a three-week, intensive summer course held at the University of Minnesota every other year. Teachers (K-college) are invited to share best practices, engage in critical discussions, conduct research into current theories of literacy and pedagogy, and improve their own skills as writers. Invited Fellows receive graduate university credit and the benefit of attending a two-day retreat prior to the on-campus experience.

Application information 

Interested in applying for the 2019 Invitational Summer Institute?

Apply here.

Want to nominate a colleague for the 2019 ISI? 

Let us know on our 2019 nomination form.

 

MWP video: Teachers Celebrate MWP’s Invitational Summer Institute

From our first institute in 1991 to 2015, teachers share their experiences of participating.  Enjoy this short video featuring  several teachers identifying the impact the institute has had on their personal and professional lives.   

Ann Thompson, Producer
Charlie McCarron, Videographer

 

click here for a full-screen version of the video

Specifics

Dates 
Retreat             June 19, 2019
Institute           July 8-26, 2019 

The MWP Invitational Summer Institute is the heart of the project. Its purposes are

  1. to identify successful teachers of writing across all curriculum areas who will be effective teachers of other teachers
  2. to identify approaches to the teaching of writing and the uses of writing-to-learn in all subject areas that have been successful in real classrooms and that add to the profession’s knowledge
  3. to involve successful teachers in their own writing so that they can better help their students
  4. to make current research in the teaching of writing available to teachers 

While the key elements of the Summer Institute: writing, teaching demonstrations, and literacy study groups, are introduced during the retreat, it is during the three-week institute that we further develop and follow through with this literacy work. 

The Institute offers participants the opportunity to

learn from other teachers about the teaching of writing

anticipate challenges for teaching in the future: authentic assessment, multicultural writing concerns, computer-assisted instruction, collaborative learning, whole language, writing across the curriculum, the needs of diverse populations

discover more about your own writing process

become part of a community of teacher-writers

explore current theory and practice in the teaching of writing

consider ways you can share your strengths with other teachers as a consultant

spend a significant portion of time at the Institute honing your skills as writers (an anthology of creative and action research pieces is published)

earn graduate credit through the University of Minnesota; CEUs also available 

Past Summer Institutes

Learn more about past summer institute participants, their writing, and their teaching.