Writing Attentive Schools

We know that the best teachers of writing are writers themselves, and so, if we are to nurture a powerful culture of writing in a school, we need to begin with the faculty/staff. The model for this concept focuses on building upon powerful teacher leadership already present in the school and nurturing a culture of writing that encompasses students, teachers, staff and families. The model is closely aligned with the Common Core Standards as well as the North Carolina Teacher Evaluation. Over several years, the school would move from beginning initiatives and planning to be a Writing Attentive School with hands-on support and collaboration with Writing Project Teacher Consultants (TCs) to sustaining the model with the Writing Project on an as-needed basis. Schools will also establish themselves in a network of Writing Attentive Schools.

Four Years and Beyond Year One:

• Writing retreat for teachers/staff developing themselves as writers • Monthly workshops consisting of three to four on-site workshops and three to four Writing

Attentive Schools Alliance workshops on the UNCC campus • Fall and Spring Writing Conferences at UNCC • Professional Book Clubs on-site • Teacher/staff writing groups on-site

Year Two:

• Professional books clubs and writing groups continue • Monthly workshops consisting of three to four on-site workshops and three to four Writing

Attentive Schools Alliance workshops on the UNCC campus continue, including a Teacher Leader-led roundtable workshop

• Fall and Spring Writing Conferences at UNCC • Begin Teacher Classroom Research Group on-site • Workshops for parents about reading and writing with their children • Student/school publications—both digital and print

Needs Assessment Teacher Consultants will spend several weeks visiting your school, meeting with teachers, and observing classrooms in order to:

• Understand the culture of the school • Understand the needs and goals of the school • Understand the structure of the school • Think about and plan the professional development work with the administrative team and

teacher leaders of the school

Year Three: • Teacher book clubs, writing groups, and teacher research group continue and are led by teacher

leaders in the school • Workshops for parents continue with teacher leaders and TCs facilitating them together • Begin Writing Groups for families on-site • Monthly workshops consisting of three to four on-site workshops and three to four Writing

Attentive Schools Alliance workshops on the UNCC campus continue, with teacher leaders facilitating on-site workshops with support of UNCCWP TCs.

Year Four and Beyond: • Writing Project continues to support school in any way they need. Teacher Leaders in school

work with new staff and each other to continue to research and grow the Writing Attentive School. • Teacher Leaders continue to attend Writing Attentive Schools Alliance workshops three to four times a year.

Writing Attentive Schools