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Two Boyne Teachers just completed a national 16-day institute and international certification to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools.
Carol Johnston of Boyne Public Schools and Rebecca Leist Concord Academy Boyne were among those selected to participate in the intense summer invitational institute hosted at North Central Michigan in collaboration with their home site, Michigan State University's Red Cedar Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project, June 21 - July 15.
Now in its fifth year, the Petoskey satellite program is part of a $22 million federally funded national grant started in 1974 and held every summer at more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. It has provided professional development opportunities for more than 150 area teachers since its inception.
"Over thirty years of research supports the belief that "teachers teaching teachers" is the most powerful and effective professional development that exists in American education" says satellite director Toby Kahn-Loftus of East Jordan and Western Michigan University.
"I've been blessed to work within the writing projects' summer institute model for many years and time and again teachers involved in the project report that it is a life changing experience. The notion that teachers spend 16 intense days exploring their identity as writers and as teachers of writing is truly unique. Time after time, I have observed stellar teachers discover their professional and personal voice and begin to finally see their own expertise as vital to the integrity of their school communities."
Teacher consultants working with Kahn-Loftus were co-directors Stasha Simon and Suzanne Nayback of the Public Schools of Petoskey, Dan Polleys of Boyne City Public Schools and Ken Winter of North Central Michigan College. Nayback also served as director of the Spartan Writing Camp North that was launched three years ago for children ages 8 to 10.
Each year, Top-of-the-Mitt also provides professional development programs for teachers throughout northern Michigan. It recently received a $5,000 grant to area teachers to help build stronger classroom cultural awareness and sensitivity in rural Michigan by providing special training and materials. Additionally, the site also continues its second year of providing professional development services for the Char-Em Intermediate School District. During the 2010-2011 school year, Top-of-the-Mitt teacher consultants will work with other area teachers from across northern Michigan on digital storytelling, building writing workshop classrooms, deepening content learning through writing, as well as engaging in professional book studies and other literacy and inquiry projects.
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A North Central Michigan College-based writing project has received a $5,000 grant to help area teachers build stronger classroom cultural awareness and sensitivity in rural Michigan. The funding comes from the Rural Sites Network of the National Writing Project. Read more . . .