The

 National  Writing  Project:  

Professional  Development  that  Works  
The National Writing Project (NWP) is a professional development network that serves teachers
of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. The mission of the
NWP is to raise student achievement by improving writing and learning in the nation’s schools.
The nearly 200 sites that make up the NWP network are hosted by universities and colleges in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Highlights of NWP work include:

• National writing programs in
partnership with Google,
including the Letters to the
Next President project
• A national network of
teacher-consultants: 80,000-
100,000 teachers served
annually
• Opportunities for
professional development,
community events, and
youth programs
Research-based Professional Development
“In nine independent studies, in every measured
attribute of writing, the improvement of students whose
teachers participated in NWP professional
development exceeded that of students whose
teachers whose teachers were not participants.
Students in writing project classrooms made greater
gains than their peers on writing conventions as well,
suggesting that NWP professional development also
helps teachers improve their students’ basic skills.”
~ Research Brief, NWP, 2008

• Collaboration between “Every year over 6,700 [NWP] teacher-consultants

educators of all grade levels share their own classroom-tested teaching approaches
and content areas in order with over 92,000 colleagues.”
to impact student
achievement
~ “A Bridge to Somewhere: Investing in the
• Multiple benefits from school
NWP: The Creation of Educational Capital”
and university partnerships

While each writing project site maintains its own identity and focuses its work on different
aspects of literacy instruction such as digital writing, working with urban, rural, or ELL students,
and reading and writing across the curriculum, all adhere to core principles of the NWP model of
“teachers teaching teachers” which include:

• Hosting a four- or five-week invitational summer institute in which teachers from grades
K-16 and all subject areas apply and are then invited to participate in an intensive
professional development experience that includes numerous experiences as a writer
and as a teacher of writing;
• Creating opportunities for teachers to remain connected to the site through continuity
programs such as writing groups, book clubs, conferences, and other events; and
• Developing additional professional development programs related to the needs of
teachers and students in the site’s service area.
• Connecting the university, schools, families, and youth through additional programs such
as summer youth camps, family literacy initiatives, and other community outreach.

Teachers and administrators are encouraged to contact local writing project sites for more
information about their programs and professional development offerings.

http://nwp.org
Chippewa River Writing Project Red Cedar Writing Project
Central Michigan University Michigan State University
Dept of English Language and Literature College of Arts and Letters
215 Anspach Hall 200 Linton Hall
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859 East Lansing, Michigan 48824
Phone: 989-774-3236 Phone: 517-355-5229
Email: troy.hicks@cmich.edu Email: jswenson@msu.edu
Website: http://chippewariverwp.org Website: http://rcwp.wikispaces.com/

Crossroads Writing Project Saginaw Bay Writing Project

Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University
Dept of Languages & Literature Univ Writing Program, Zahnow 308
820 Campus Drive ASC 3080 7400 Bay Road
Big Rapids, Michigan 49307 University Center, Michigan 48710-0001
Phone: 231-591-5629 Phone: 989-964-2748
Email: chrenkal@ferris.edu Email: ethunyad@svsu.edu
Website: http://www.ferris.edu/cwp Website:
http://www.svsu.edu/writingprogram/saginaw-bay-
writing-project.html

Eastern Michigan Writing Project Third Coast Writing Project

Eastern Michigan University Western Michigan University
Department of English English Department
612 Pray-Harrold 1903 West Michigan Avenue
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197 Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008-5331
Phone: 734-487-0279 Phone: 269-387-2581
Email: wtucker@emich.edu Email: ellen.brinkley@wmich.edu
Website: http://www.emichwp.org Website: http://www.wmich.edu/thirdcoastwp/

Lake Michigan Writing Project Upper Peninsula Writing Project

Grand Valley State University Northern Michigan University
English Dept. Dept of English, Gries Hall
212 Lake Huron Hall 1401 Presque Isle
Allendale, Michigan 49401 Marquette, Michigan 49855
Phone: 616-331-2994 Phone: 906-227-2676
Email: ellisl@gvsu.edu and spearss@gvsu.edu Email: masmith@nmu.edu and
Website: http://www.lmwritingproject.org/ sabesjm4@charter.net
Website: http://www.upwp.net

Meadow Brook Writing Project Wayne State Writing Project

Oakland University Wayne State University
Dept of Writing and Rhetoric College of Ed, Teacher Education
378 O'Dowd Hall 269 Education Building
Rochester, Michigan 48198 Detroit, Michigan 48202
Phone: 248-370-4151 Phone: 313-577-0960
Email: mbwp@oakland.edu Email: ginadeblase@wayne.edu
Website: http://www.oakland.edu/mbwp Website: http://ted.coe.wayne.edu/writingproject

Oakland (MI) Writing Project

University of Michigan
School of Ed, 1042 SEB
610 E. University
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Phone: 734-615-1409
Email: owpinfo@umich.edu
Website: http://www.oaklandwritingproject.ning.com

http://nwpmichigan.wikispaces.com