Save The NWP

The following is a guest post by Shirley Brown, National Writing Project

Almost every person who has gone through the National Writing Project’s Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) emerges with the same comment, “It has changed y life.”  And it does.  This powerful professional development experience which extends into a lifetime of ongoing professional development sets the standard for any other professional development, and there is nothing to match it.

If the NWP isn’t refunded, thousands of teachers will lose this valuable resource.  We  all know that perfecting the craft and art of teaching takes time.  One shot workshops don’t work.  Workshops on filling out forms don’t work, but having teachers engage in professional talk and exchange of knowledge does.

I can remember my own introduction to the NWP.  I was introduced to the best research, to the range of promising classroom practices, and to like-minded colleagues who were available past the summer institute.  In fact, I found myself in contact with a national network.

The NWP has the research to show its effectiveness, the resources to support good teaching, and the commitment to ongoing improvement.