South Central Kansas Writing Project (SCKWP) is located at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.

This local site is one of 195 sites located at universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

Each university site partners with local schools to improve teacher writing and the teaching of writing in order to improve student writing and learning, in general.

The umbrella organization that provides funding, direction, structure, management, and encouragement for all of the 195 sites is the NWP.

The National Writing Project (NWP) is the premier effort to improve writing and the teaching of writing in America.

NWP builds the leadership, programs, and research needed for teachers to help their students become successful writers and learners.

Summer institutes, advanced seminars, writing marathons, young writers camps, and professional development are some of the services offered by local sites to accomplish these goals.

National Writing ProjectA tenet of the National Writing Project is that

every child deserves a highly skilled teacher of writing.

SCKWP Summer Institute The summer institute sponsored by Wichita State

University’s South Central Kansas Writing Project is an intense 18-day immersion into the production of personal writing expression, the study of writing development, and the acquisition of ideas for teaching writing, K-12.

Writing projects across all 195 sites conducted summer writing institutes to assist teachers in preparing for leadership roles by demonstrating their most effective practices studying research.

Participants improve their knowledge of writing by writing themselves.

Andover Public Schools hosted the SCKWP Summer Institute in 2006.

meet the instructors. . .

Tonya Witherspoon

Technology Liaison

Dr. Dennis KearDirector

Wichita State University

Jeff RoperAssistant Director

Andover High School

a typical day. . . writing time notes from the day before writing prompt teacher demonstration reader/author chair article summary writing response groups blog, wiki and e-anthology postings

writing time . . . participants may begin each day with a quiet time for writing

logger

notes . . . the logger shares notes

from the day before

writing prompt . . . participants present a variety of prompts for written response

teacher demonstration . . . strategies to teach writing, K-12 are demonstrated by participants

reader’s chair . . . members share literature or their own work

article summary . . . professional articles are shared and discussed

written response groups . . . time for collaboration on written work

computer postings . . . time to

read and post work on blogs, wikispaces and e-anthology

writing marathons . . .

special events . . .

thoughts from SCKWP. . .

“You have all helped me find a voice again after many years…”

“I can now say, "I am a writer!“

“I have realized that I am a writer!”

“...to my second family at SCKWP 2006 - Thank you all for your inspiration and love.”

“Thanks to the South Central Kansas Writing Project I have dedicated more time to writing. I now find myself resuming the journey.”

“. . .we came in as strangers, yet we leave with voices discovered. . . all of us sharing, all of us

writing, all of us leaving as friends inspired to write!”

Teacher Consultants:Kayla Buckner, Spaght Elementary, Wichita

Teralyn Cohn, Wichita High School Southeast

Gerri Hilger, Buhler High School

Shelly Hill, , El Dorado

Sally Kimball, Belle Plain High School

Judy Leftoff, Retired

Kris Osthoff, Andover Middle School

Sherry Silveous, Spaght Elementary, Wichita

Nancy Sturm, Wichita High School Heights

Director: Dr. Dennis Kear, Wichita State University

Assistant Director: Jeff Roper, Andover High School

Technology Liaison: Tonya Witherspoon, ESSDACK

Fellows:Shelley Addis, Tanglewood Elementary, Derby

Melanie Bitler, Circle High School, Towanda

Joe Conner, Augusta High School

Mary DeVries, Buhler High School

Julie Johnson, Circle Middle School, Benton

Holly Kimble, Buhler High School

Bonnie Lane, Haysville

Steve Maack, Wichita High School East

Raylin Ledbetter, Circle High School, Towanda

Shea McGuire, Franklin Elementary, Wichita

Amy Morrow, Franklin Elementary, Wichita

Amy Valentas, Martin Elementary, Andover

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