Fall 2023 Activities
CWVWP @Marshall shares a Writing and Literacy Table at the West Virginia Reading Association
On November 16-17, 2024 the West Virginia Reading Association held their 67th conference at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Marshall University preschool pre-service teachers partnered with the CWVWP to bring writing and literacy information and resources to educators in West Virginia.
CWVWP @Marshall U
niversity Presents at NCTE
On November 16-19, 2023 the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) held their annual conference in Columbus, Ohio. Director of the CWVWP, Dr. Barbara O’Byrne and Dr. Megan Mikesell participated in a roundtable discussion on Growing Partnerships within and beyond the University. They were able to discuss how the CWVWP developed site projects and the need the CWVWP has for resources to be expanded. The CWVWP uncovered partners within and without the university that extended and enriched site outreach. Presenters then identified and explored paths to broaden connections with local and national organizations to actualize the mission of the NWP.
2023 Writing Conference: A Path To Discovery
On March 31st- April 2nd, 2023 the Central West Virginia Writing Project, CWVWP, held the 2023 Writing and Learning Conference. Our theme this year was “Writing: A Path To Discovery.” In Habits of the Creative Mind (2016), Ann Jurecic and Richard E. Miller propose that “the best writing is curiosity-driven and is carried forward by creative acts of connective thinking.” This approach to writing contrasts the “recipe-based approach” that often accompanies high-stakes testing and results in formulaic prose and disengaged students. How can we encourage teachers and students to see writing as an act of discovery about the self and about the world? How can we navigate the push and pull of conflicting writing programs and provide diverse learners with evidence-based instruction that fires imagination and promotes self-directed learning? This year’s workshop presenters focused on their resilience and interdependence and shined a light on writing practices and research that empowers educators and learners. This conference was a unique opportunity for teachers to gather together virtually and for in-person workshops. You can find the program here.
Keynote Speaker, Steve Graham
Steve Graham is the Warner Professor in the Division of Leadership and Innovation in Teachers College. For over 40 years he has studied how writing develops, how to teach it effectively, and how writing can be used to support reading and learning. His research involves typically developing writers and students with special needs. Steve is the editor of the Journal of Educational Psychology. He is the co-author of the Handbook of Writing Research, Handbook of Learning Disabilities, APA Handbook of Educational Psychology, Writing Better, Powerful Writing Strategies for all Students and Making the Writing Process Work. He is also the author of three influential Carnegie Corporation reports: Writing Next , Writing to Read, and Informing Writing.
Keynote Speaker, Lynne Dorfman
In this session, Lynne offered practical tips, important structures, and a solid game plan to embed writing workshop into a daily schedule in elementary school. She highlighted what’s essential and what can be accomplished through writing across the day. Lynne offered specific examples of mentor text use to support SEL practices and build students’ writing identities and confidence. Finally, she responded to participants’ questions and provided recommendations for further reading.