Lehua Writing Project

Free K-5 Literacy Workshop with Kathy Collins

2012-01-26T14:16:00.000-10:00

Save the Date!

You are invited to a Literacy Workshop with Kathy Collins, author of Growing Readers: Units of Study in the Primary Classroom

When: Saturday, February 25, 2012

9:00 AM - NOON

Where: UH Hilo, UCB 100

Rates:

LWP Alum - FREE
Teachers - $35.00 [includes membership to BICTE]
Education students - $10.00

RSVP: by February 15, 2012 (limited to first 100 participants)

to Avis Masuda (ammasuda@hawaii.edu) OR Michele Ebersole (mebersol@hawaii.edu)

This workshop is sponsored by the Lehua Writing Project, the Big Island Council of Teachers of English and the UH Hilo education department.

January Continuity: Non-Fiction Writing and Reading Comprehension through Drama

2012-01-12T12:20:00.000-10:00

Ha'uoli makahiki hou! Some LWP members spent a fabulous Saturday at Kealakehe with our gracious hostess Shawna Fischer.

SI 2011 alum Jessie Garcia and SI 2009 alum Cathy Riehle did the demo lessons and our hostess (SI 09) did the invitation to write.

Using Lucy Calkins' nonfiction writing book as a resource (from the Units of Study for Primary Writing: A Yearlong Curriculum), Jessie went over the packet she uses with her primary students to get them to create nonfiction books.

With her young students, they start with topics that they already know about, like caring for a dog, but older students can use this same format to create non-fiction books based on their research.

Cathy warmed us up by having us use our bodies to exemplify certain vocabulary words like droop, stomp, etc.

She then read an excerpt to us from Chicken Soup for Little Souls: Best Night Out with Dad
Our groups were tasked with dramatizing certain key words/concepts - like loneliness and disdain as a way to kinesthetically understand the reading.

Did you miss something wonderful? Yes, but stay tuned. There's an opportunity for more professional development in February and it's manuahi for LWP alum.

January Continuity at Kealakehe Elementary

2011-12-16T14:05:00.001-10:00

Staying with our journey around the island, the January continuity will be on Saturday, January 7 at Kealakehe Elementary School, P3 Classroom from 1-3:30. It's a perfect time to spend time with the family in the morning and get some you time in the afternoon.

For fellow Hiloans (East Side!), Costco run.

Shawna will be our hostess with the mostest and Cathy Riehle will invite us into her classroom for drama and playwriting. Shawna also promises us another mystery presenter.

In addition, our two LWP directors, Michele and Avis, will be sharing some news from their time at the NWP meeting as well as sharing some thoughts on the future of the Lehua Writing Project.

Hope to see you there, after all it was such fun the last time. Check it out here.

Celebrate Picture Book Month

2011-11-16T11:40:00.000-10:00

Just sharing a post from my middle school book blog:

Celebrating Picture Book Month in the Middle

"I have always believed that literature begins in the cradle -- the poems we say to the babies, the stories

we tell them -- prepare them to become part of the great human storytelling community. We humans are

the only creatures in the known universe who make and remake our world with story."

- Jane Yolen from her Picture Book Month essay

Dianne de Las Casas is hosting a Picture Book Month site for the month of November, so I thought I'd concentrate on some of my favorite Picture Books that we use at the Middle School. We may have a different intent in bringing them into the classroom, but I think that it works because it continues to connect us to the "great human storytelling community."

Summary: Vashti is a frustrated artist who is ready to give up in her art class when her teacher challenges her to just make a dot, then sign it. When her teacher honors Vashti's efforts and helps her to see her work from a different perspective, Vashti is inspired to push herself and with practice and confidence, her dots do become great pieces of art. At the end when she meets a young, frustrated artist Vashti is able to turn around and become a mentor for this young child.

What it looks like in the Middle:

I love to start the year off with this book, read it aloud, then ask my students why I read it. What does this story have to do with this class and what I expect from you?

That's usually all I need to ask. Some of what the students get from the book about the coming year:

Just do it (in this case, since it's English, just write)
When you write it, put your name on it, own it
Don't edit yourself ahead of time
Work will be honored and published
Push yourself to do better
Mentor others

What are your go-to picture books and what do you do with them at your level?

Renshi Poetry in the Social Studies Classroom

2011-10-31T10:48:00.000-10:00

Renshi is a Japanese linked poetry form. The authors link their poems by starting with words from the last line of the poet before them. Sometimes there is no particular theme, and the theme evolves as the poets link their poems, and sometimes, like this one, the poets have a particular theme or event that they are all writing about.

At the Bamboo Ridge Press site, four poets, Christy Passion, Juliet Kono, Ann Inoshita and Jean Toyama are currently working on an online renshi around the Massie Affair. They started in August and the four will go for one year. Each poet has two weeks from the post of the author that they follow to post their new renshi.

What really excites me about this is the possibility of meaty, important writing in your non-language arts classroom. If you are familiar with some of the tools used by History Alive!, this is like Jumping into the Slide, only in writing. Basically, the students become the participants and put themselves in another's shoes as a way to fully immerse themselves in history. Check out the poems and you'll get it right away.

Historical background for this Renshi: The Massie Affair
The Massie Case is still one of the most controversial events in Hawai'i history. On September 12, 1931, Thalia Massie, wife of Naval officer Thomas Massie, was allegedly assaulted and raped in Waikiki by five local men. The trials highlighted the delicate racial balance of the Territory of Hawai'i.

Grace Fortescue, Thalia Massie, Lieutenant Thomas Massie (Advertiser file photo)

When a mistrial was declared and the five local men accused of the assault were set free, Lt. Massie, Thalia's mother Grace Fortescue, and two enlisted men kidnapped and murdered one of the defendants, Joseph Kahahawai. The four white defendants were represented by Clarence Darrow (of the Scopes Trial fame). They were found guilty of man-slaughter, and Territorial Governor Lawrence Judd commuted their sentences to one hour served in his company.

Joseph Kahahawai (Advertiser file photo)

The Massies and Grace Fortescue left Hawai'i by steamship and there was never a retrial on the rape case. The young couple divorced soon after returning to the Mainland.

Thalia Massie committed suicide in Florida in 1963.

Interested now?

Go check out the poetry as it unfolds this year.

Ann Inoshita, one of the poets also held a Renshi workshop for teachers and students, so her tips and examples are here.

Key Elements of a Fabulous Continuity

2011-10-24T14:48:00.000-10:00

Our October 22 continuity event was a major hit with 12 participants representing 4 years of Summer Institutes (not bad considering we're 5 years old). We changed the location to UH Hilo but we still had one teacher from Waimea and one teacher from Kona attending. Yeah!

What made this continuity so successful?
The elements of a successful continuity. . .
1. Variety = Two teacher consultants sharing demo lessons from different grade levels and with very different teaching styles. It's not that hard with the "taskmaster" present to keep the day flowing.

Lynn Nagata brought us into her elementary classroom and took us through a poetry writing workshop with "happy memory poems". Since she does this every year, she was also able to let us see her student anthologies.

Tamara wanted to try theatre of the absurd with her middle school students and she really challenged our thinking. We didn't think we could do it, but we were all able to write our 20 line monologues for our own Theatre of the Absurd in 20 minutes. Along the way, all of us, including Tamara, went on a journey of discovery by talking pedagogy and practice, parameters and assessment possibilities.

2. Joy = Writing and Sharing - we wrote together, we learned together, we shared together, we laughed together, we rejuvenated each other.

3. Food - duh. What's a Writing Project event without food. Sorry, no pics, I was busy eating.

Three elements to a successful continuity - Variety, Joy, Food. I hope all your professional development opportunities have the same elements for success.

Aloha, "The Taskmaster"

The next continuity session is scheduled for January 7 in Kona (tentatively at Kealakehe elementary).

Why I Write: To Awaken the Spirit in the Downtrodden

2011-10-18T08:06:00.000-10:00

Twin brothers Al Mills and Nnamdi Chukwuocha use poetry and social action "to awaken the spirit of awareness buried deep within the souls of the downtrodden." Their poem, "Why I Write," aims to teach children about the importance of self-expression and how it can help them through their struggles and challenges.

Watch the Twin Poets in action—teaching and reciting.

The poem "Why I Write" isn't just a poem for Al Millis and Nnamdi Chukwuocha; it's their story of devotion to art and community and speaks to their goal of helping children grow up in the face of poverty and violence in the tough Riverside neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware.

This NWP series of essays on "Why I Write" is so inspiring! We're going to start our day this Saturday on this exact prompt, so come ready to write.

-Cathy

Student Voices: What Makes a Great Teacher

2011-10-15T09:50:00.000-10:00

If you're not using the NWP site for resources, there are so many goodies that will confirm what you're doing, give you more insights, give you research that can back up your teaching, etc.

Check it out. In the meantime, here's an interesting article from the website.

Summary: The latest report from The College Board's Student Voices series gives students the opportunity to be a part of the national dialogue on education and to provide input on what it takes for teachers to be effective in the classroom.

In our national conversations about how to reform education, we sometimes overlook our best and most obvious resources: students. Policymakers and educators seldom seek their advice on how to improve our nation's classrooms. This is unfortunate. Without students' input, we have little chance of successfully improving the teaching and learning process.
In order to start reversing this trend, The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center , along with the National Writing Project and Youth Communication , has compiled an exciting new report that helps answer a critical question on school reform: What makes a great teacher?

Read the article, get a pdf of the 10 practices that students think are most important for effective reading, and get other resources to inspire you.

Ms. @ 40 Essay Contest

2011-10-01T10:20:00.000-10:00

Ms. Magazine Essay Contest

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Ms. magazine in January 2012, Stanford University's American Studies Program, the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, and the Program for Feminist Studies is sponsoring an essay contest that has writers look at some iconic Ms. magazine covers and write about what it means to you.

Over the years, Ms. magazine has covered everything from feminist grassroots oganizing to in-depth investigative reporting to national politics. The letters to the editors from readers over the past four decades reveal the magazine's incredible impact on the everyday lives of women around the country.

"For women throughout the country, it was mind-blowing. Here was, written down, what they had not yet admitted they felt, had always feared to say out loud, and could not believe was now before their eyes, in public, for all to read."
--Carolyn Heilbrun, Gloria Steinem biographer

More information, entry link and a picture of all the covers are linked here, but here's the gist.

What: 150-word essay about one of the covers
By when: October 15, 2010
Prize: Ten $100 cash prizes for the best short essays judged on originality, vision, awareness of feminist issues, and quality of expression
Winning entries will be shown next to the covers at Stanford University for their celebration

This information came my way via TC Esther Kotke, but NWP was asked to disseminate this information to our teachers (sorry, I've been out of the loop and didn't get this message earlier to you).

I'm typing this as I'm sitting in my 2nd of three grad classes this weekend, so maybe you too will have some time to write something down by October 15.

Good luck and happy writing.

October 20: National Day on Writing

2011-09-29T11:02:00.000-10:00

To celebrate this year's National Day on Writing (Thursday, October 20), the New York Times National Learning Network, the National Writing Project and Figment is accepting student work on the question "Why Do You Write?"

They want to hear all the diverse answers in the form of a poem, a short story, a play, a personal essay. . they want it all.

Submissions are going on from September 28 through October 29.

Want other ways to get involved in the National Day on Writing?
Check out the NCTE site for more tips and ideas for you and for your students. The easiest thing to do is to write, but you can also involve your students, involve your staff, involve your families, involve your community. Invite an author. Tweet. Comment.

Write

Write

Write (not just on one day, but every day)

Renew Yourself with October's Continuity Session

2011-09-26T12:28:00.000-10:00

It's almost fall break and we're all looking forward to a little down time - so enjoy, relax, feel the sand in your toes and the sun on your face because after that week, it's back to school.

Let Lehua Writing Project extend that joy for a little longer. Come to the October continuity session and renew yourself because "me" time is sacred!

Continuity is all about teachers teaching teachers. It's about being niele and peeking into each others' classrooms to see what they're doing, to check out their student work, and to steal, borrow, pilfer (it's all good) whatever we can to bring back to our own classrooms.

We'll be in Hilo this time at UHH UCB331 from 8:30-11:30 on Saturday, October 22. If you're coming from the west side, north side, south side, make a day of it. Go to our Farmer's Markets, plan to go out to lunch, bring a colleague, do some shopping, rejuvenate.

We invite you to peek into Lynn Nagata's elementary inclusion class for Happy Memory Poems and Tamara Morrison's middle school English class for playwriting and the "Theatre of the Absurd." She'll also be sharing out mana'o on Lee Cataluna's playwriting workshop at UHH.

If you're coming, email me at caikeda@ksbe.edu - I'll try to send out evites too, but come - let's catch up. I haven't seen you folks in a long time and I miss the fun.

Mahalo,
Cathy

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day

2011-05-03T15:46:00.000-10:00

Every day is a day of thanksgiving, but if no one has spoken your name in kindness, offered a lending hand, given you a free smile or a warm embrace today, then know that today we speak your name, we honor your strength, we marvel at your stamina and we acknowledge the hard work you put into every day, not for any monetary gain, but for the intangible rewards of being a teacher.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day to our Dear Friends, Colleagues, Heroes

Summer Reading List Item: A Place to Stand

2011-04-27T07:54:00.001-10:00

Thank you Esther Kottke for sharing this video on Facebook.

This is a teaser trailer for Jimmy Santiago Baca's memoir A Place to Stand. If you're looking for a non-fiction book to read this summer, this looks good.

From Amazon.com Reviews:

Anyone who doubts the power of the written word to transform a life will know better after reading poet Jimmy Santiago Baca's wrenching memoir of his troubled youth and the five-year jail stint that turned him around.

Congratulations also go out to Esther for being accepted to the High Desert Writing Project this summer. She will be as valuable an asset to them as she is to us. Hoʻomaikaʻi!

Why Hawai'i Needs Writing Project

2011-04-08T21:14:00.000-10:00

We are an island state in the middle of the ocean. When the wind shifts from tradewinds to southerly Kona winds, the whole state is covered in volcanic haze. When there is a threatened dock strike, every roll of toilet paper, from Kauai to Ka'u is whisked off the shelves by customers envisioning a cut off of all our supplies. As a small state, one community's suffering is all our suffering.

If you look at our students and our schools in a clinical, statistical way, we are labeled as "less than," "deficient," "not meeting." We are a majority of minorities. We are a marginalized people. But look closer. We are a rich quilt of ethnicities. We are a mirror for a better world. We each possess voices that need to be heard. In our hearts we contain old knowledge that hold answers for these times. In our na'au, our gut, we are centered to the teachings of the world.

Hawaii needs Writing Project (National Writing Project, Hawaii Writing Project, Lehua Writing Project) because this is a network of teachers that understands and values the knowledge of our people.

This is a network that uplifts the marginalized people and gives them a voice, even while others try to take that voice away.

This is a network of educators and community supporters that understands that all our answers are already within us. We don't have to worry if the planes aren't flying or the ships aren't coming in. Writing Project shows us that we have everything we need right in our own backyard.

We need Writing Project because they understand that literacy is the bridge to freedom from oppression, from colonization, from conformity.

We need Writing Project because they adamantly believe that the quality of the student comes from the quality of the teacher. I'm sure the National Writing Project leaders don't know the following Hawaiian proverb, but they live it - and that's what Hawaii needs - an educational support group that can help us to bring out the mana, the power, that already resides in us, so that we can pass that mana onto our own students.

I maika‘i ke kalo i ka ‘ōhā. The goodness of the taro is judged by the young plant it produces.

One voice is not enough. NWP bloggers have been blogging about their own thoughts on the power of NWP as well as their outrage that our government is not supporting national literacy programs like National Writing Project. If you want to read more blogs, go to the #blog4nwp archives.

Tell us about your experience with Writing Project by posting your own blog or commenting on this one.

Always remember, you are not alone. ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia. No task is too big when done together by all.

Aloha,
Cathy Ikeda

Lehua Writing Project Spring Conference Feedback Form

2011-04-03T18:05:00.001-10:00

Feedback Form

Lehua Writing Project Spring Conference

2011-04-03T18:01:00.003-10:00

Local Hawaiian author, Kimo Armitage speaks at the Lehua Writing Project Spring Conference.We had a fabulous day with literacy teachers from the Big Island attending our Conference at Kealakehe High School in Kailua Kona. It was nurturing and inspiring to be around so many teachers dedicated to writing and the teaching of writing. Mahalo!

It's Not Too Late to Invite a Friend

2011-03-31T12:40:00.000-10:00

Aloha e nā kumu,

This is just a reminder that besides the 15 gung ho education warriors that are slated to come to the first (and perhaps last) Lehua Writing Project Spring Literacy Conference, there is still time for you to come join us AND even invite a friend to come along. The conference is this Saturday (see the previous post) and I'll even include the invitation link for your convenience.

Invitation link

True, we are all busy. We have obligations. We have commitments. It's far. The guest author, Dr. Kimo Armitage, and I are flying in and out from Honolulu. We know about far. So why is it important?

We must continue to seek out professional development in order to "regain our educational standing in the world." Linda Darling Hammond wrote an article in the Washington Post from the first ever International Summit on Teaching held in New York and she says that the United States has been "pursuing an approach to teaching almost diametrically opposed to that pursued by the highest-achieving nations."

Going to a conference or a workshop to learn how to better implement the prescribed "literacy program" mandated by your school is NOT professional development. Let's name it for what it is. That kind of training is further colonization and oppression of the students who we claim to love. We as educators are being disrobed of our intellect, our curiosity, our critical thoughts until we stand naked and raw.

Let us not teach with complacency, but as Paulo Friere says, let us teach with "rage and love, without which there is no hope." (Pedagogy of Hope) Choose professional development that will give you the ammunition you need to never back down when you feel that policies and practices are not in the best interest of your students (past, present and future). Some relevant mana'o from the article for us:

The first ever International Summit on Teaching, convened last week in New York City...was, perhaps, the first time that the growing de-professionalization of teaching in America was recognized as out of step with the strategies pursued by the world's educational leaders.

How poignant for Americans to listen to this account while nearly every successful program developed to support teachers' learning in the United States is proposed for termination by the Obama administration or the Congress: Among these ... the National Writing Project and the Striving Readers programs that have supported professional development for the teaching of reading and writing all across the country.

Jeannine and I hope you can make it to the conference. We will need to discuss our next steps this weekend, as well as probably try to work with Hawaii Writing Project on Oahu. We know we can offer a summer institute and this spring conference. What comes next is just our passion for good teaching, our commitment to improving literacy, and our aloha for the teachers who help na pua o Hawai'i, our greatest asset.

Me ka ha'aha'a,
Cathy

Lehua Writing Project Spring Confererence Registration

2011-03-22T20:44:00.001-10:00

Registration

Tweets from Japan

2011-03-14T06:52:00.000-10:00

Paul Bryant, SI10, shares a link to some translated tweets from Japan. I am putting an excerpt here, but if you want to read more, here's the link

Writing in the 21st century may have evolved, but the power of writing to showcase our humanity, our hopes, dreams, tragedies and triumphs does not change. We are connected through time as well as geography by the words that are written and passed on.

Tweets from Japan (English Version)

Here are tweets from Japan amid of the earth quake crisis (translation by @vida_es_bella, otherwise noted).

* ディズニーランドでの出来事

http://twitter.com/unosuke/status/46376846505426944

ディズニーランドでは、ショップのお菓子なども配給された。ちょっと派手目な女子高生たちが必要以上にたくさんもらってて「何だ？」って一瞬思ったけど、その後その子たちが、避難所の子供たちにお菓子を配っていたところ見て感動。子供連れは動けない状況だったから、本当にありがたい心配りだった

* At Tokyo Disneyland

They distributed sweets that are part of their merchandise. High school girls with heavy makeup took away more candies than they would possibly eat and that raised my eyebrows. Later, I saw those girls giving the candies to kids at evacuation areas. Families with kids had limited mobility and couldn't get to where the candies were distributed. Go girls!

[by http://twitter.com/ocilam/status/46464612069146624]

snacks at shops were offered @ Tokyo Disneyland. High school girls helped distribution to families with kids.

Bill Severs NWP Federal Funding

2011-03-04T14:52:00.000-10:00

On March 2, President Obama signed a bill to keep the government running until March 18. The bill cuts about $4 billion in spending from the FY 2011 budget, eliminating a number of education programs, including the National Writing Project, Reading is Fundamental, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and Teach for America.

These cuts, which jeopardize the work of the NWP—the nation's leading effort to improve writing and learning—impact NWP’s federal funding beginning October 1, 2011.

For the latest information on the budget, and other programs affected, visit Education Week's blog.

The National Writing Project is not giving up and according to NWP President Sharon Washington, we are able to continue funding until the summer, so our summer institutes will not be affected.

If you are interested in tangible ways to help, NWP Works! is a ning set up with information, the latest news and ways to get involved and stay involved.

March Continuity: Blues Rift Writing with Tamara Wong Morrison

2011-02-16T07:41:00.001-10:00

You're invited!
If you haven't been able to make our other two continuity sessions (with Risa Carles and Shawna Fischer), there's still one more before the spring conference. Join us on Saturday, March 5 at NHERC from 9-12. *Major apologies to Shawna for misidentifying her in an earlier post.

Poet, teacher and writing project alum Tamara Laulani Morrison will be doing a demonstration lesson on composing in-character BLUES RIFTS. See how she helped her students to writea blues rift as the characters in their novels (Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird).

Hele mai. Come. You deserve to read, write, share, laugh, be energized, be rewarded, be inspired.

Ho'omakaukau? Ready?
Look out for an evite from Jeannine or just email me at caikeda@ksbe.edu.

Hope to see you there!

Aloha from Orlando

2010-11-18T03:44:00.001-10:00

Jeannine and I are here at the NWP national convention at Disneyworld to gather ideas, meet and greet and bring back all kinds of exciting ideas for Lehua Writing Project. Stay tuned as we blog more and share pics.

Toodles for now,
Cathy

Lehua's Sponsor Professional Development at Pahala Plantation and Kailiawa Coffee Farm

2010-11-07T18:38:00.007-10:00

Place-Based Literacy: A Journey Through Hawaii's Ranching and Agricultural Past

November 6, 2010, the Lehua Writing Project sponsored a professional development for teachers at the Pahala Plantation. We toured the home, cottages, former store, and bank. In addition we visited with an award winning K'au coffee farmer at his family run farm. Teachers are blogging about their experiences and posting podcasts! See our ...pics on FB and at http://placebasedliteracybigisland.blogspot.com.

A Poem Inspired by Pepe the Lamplighter by Jeanne Hart

2010-11-07T18:31:00.002-10:00

Jeanne Hart was inspired by the reading at our October Continuity of Peppe the Lamplighter. She shares her poem with the Lehuas.

Peppe the Lamplighter author Elisa Bartone illustrator Ted Lewin ISBN 0-590-22310-0

Prompt: How do I “light the lamp”?

A warm welcome, a smile, a “have a great day!”
Invitations to learning, to listen today.
Crayons and scissors, markers and paint,
Glue-paper-treasures … what need I say?
Blocks, cars, and fire trucks, big space on the floor –
Come build a city, we’ll travel today!
Puzzles for solving, pegs fit in boards,
Laces for beads and so many more!
A warm invitation, unspoken but there …
Come into my classroom and learn as you play!

The preschool classroom is a joyous space filled with toys, books, activities galore. A room filled with “things” has little true value if the children who visit don’t see and feel the love and excitement the teacher pours in. Indeed a classroom without toys, but a teacher who cares can open the mind to a leaf, a twig, or the sun’s warm embrace.
jeanne hart 23 October 2010

A Glimpse into the Classoom

2010-10-27T14:38:00.000-10:00

One 4th grade homeroom teacher in Japan has his students write and read aloud their "notebook letters" to their classmates. Watch this moving video to reenergize yourself and see the magic of writing in students' lives.

http://wimp.com/homeroomteacher/

Risa Carles Presents at Oct 2010 Fall Continuity

2010-10-23T10:54:00.004-10:00

Nine "fellows" from the Lehua Writing Project met at NHERC in Honokaa, October 23, 2010 from 9-12. After morning greeting and renewing friendships, Jeannine read Pepe the Lamplighter and invited participants to reflect on how they brought light and hope to their students. After writing and sharing in a conference group, Risa Carles shared a teaching demonstration on mood, tone, and imagery. Upcoming continuities are January 29th, 2011 and March 5th 2011. The first annual Spring Conference will be April 2nd.

Please note that you will soon be receiving a survey requesting your input for what programs and services you would like to see the LWP offer Summer 2011-Spring 2012.

Mahalo to all who attended!

Write! Publish! Dance for Joy!

2010-10-13T15:16:00.000-10:00

To celebrate the second National Day on Writing this October 20th, why not publish your piece of writing in our own local gallery Na Leo o Hawaii (the voices of Hawaii). We are especially looking for place-based pieces that celebrate life on the Big Island or your own one hānau (sands of birth).

How? Go to our gallery (linked for you here) and on the bottom of the page is a button to contribute your own writing. If you've already submitted a piece, aʻole pilikia (no worries), the gallery can now take two pieces per person.

What are you waiting for? It's time to "let's dance. . .let's shout. . . SHOUT. . .,"and shake those fingers over the keyboard and get writing! (OK, that's not how the song goes, but you know what I mean).

2010-10-13T13:54:00.001-10:00

The Second National Day on Writing Will Be Celebrated in Two Weeks on October 20!

Three NCTE members talk about writing and the National Day on Writing on NWP Radio with NCTE member Elyse Eidman-Aadahl of the National Writing Project:

"A Conversation with Barbara Cambridge": Barbara Cambridge, director of NCTE’s Washington, DC, Office, talks about how and why the first Day and the National Gallery of Writing were established. NWP Radio, October 11, 2010
"A Conversation with Bob Yagelski": NCTE member Bob Yagelski talks about 1,000 writers writing on the National Day on Writing. NWP Radio, October 12, 2010
"Writing at the Center: The National Day on Writing": NWP Radio, October 14, 2010
Sadlier-Oxford Publishers
(advertisement)

. . . Connect with Writing and the National Day on Writing
NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing, from NCTE
Reading and Writing and Teens: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Literacy, new from NCTE, October 2010
Writing to Read: A Collection of NWP Articles, from the National Writing Project
What Works in Writing Instruction, new from NCTE, October 2010
NWP 2009 Annual Report: Focus on Content Area Literacy, from the National Writing Project
Taking Initiative on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders, from NCTE

Place-Based Learning Experience at Anna's Ranch

2010-09-26T08:29:00.000-10:00

Teachers Shawna Fischer and Jeanne Hart (Kealakehe Elementary) at Anna's Ranch

Saturday, September 25 was a beautiful day in Waimea to kick off the Place-Based Learning course sponsored by the Lehua Writing Project. Participants met at Anna's Ranch and immersed themselves in the history of this place.

According to director Jeannine Hirtle, "Anna Lindsey ran that ranch with the help of only one ranch hand from 1945-1995! She brought amazing innovation to cattle ranching here on the Big Island through her intelligence, tenacity, and work ethic! Her legacy is inspiring!"

If you were a participant yesterday, let us know how it went, and if you feel like you missed out on a great learning opportunity, contact Jeannine at hirtle@hawaii.edu to get more information on upcoming events.

One more pic, for the cowboys

Storyline Online

2010-08-19T16:56:00.001-10:00

One of our 2010 Fellows, Esther Kotke posted this site on our ning, but I finally was able to check it out and had a wonderful experience. The site is http://storylineonline.net/ and students can have some favorite books read to them by professional actors. I listened to To Be a Drum read by James Earl Jones, but I noticed some other LWP favorites like Thank You, Mr. Falker, Knots on a Counting Rope, and Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge.

While the actors do the reading, the video shows the illustrated pages and subtitles appear on the bottom so that students can follow along in their own books or read together from the screen.

In addition, there are activities and questions for each book. The site is out of funding, so they probably won't add any more books, but they have a nice little collection.

To Be a Drum can still be used in my high school class because it's a nice companion piece to Paul Laurence Dunbar's "Sympathy," and it works as a hook to give them some background knowledge to start their research on slavery in America.

Thanks Esther for sharing this resource. If you find resources that would benefit other teachers, let us know. We'd love to hear from you.

Join the English Companion Ning

2010-08-09T17:02:00.000-10:00

If you're a secondary English teacher, this is a cheap way to get professional development advice (FREE) from other professionals (your colleagues).

Go to this ning now and join http://englishcompanion.ning.com
Why?
There are 19,476 members - mostly English teachers, some student teachers, some professors, some newbies.
There are 177 special interest groups to join: from new teachers, to teaching with technology, teaching 7th grade ELA, poetry, etc.

This discussion that I took a screen shot of is about how you will spend your first day, first week of the school year 2010. There are 336 replies to this question, and one of them is about creating an animoto of the things the students will do in class for the year and playing that as they come in and before the syllabi are handed out.

So did you join yet?

Radical Learning!

2010-05-25T09:34:00.000-10:00

Giving Our Students 21st Century Skills

2010-05-24T09:58:00.001-10:00

Now that it's practically summer, and we all have a little breathing room before we start planning again for next year, it's a great time to surf (the web) for technology projects that will enhance your students' writing skills, hone their technology skills and give them real-world writing experiences.

Here's an example that my colleague and I kind of whipped up with two weeks left of the school year. The kids were challenged to try different genres for their independent reading, but my colleague wanted to know if they really were understanding, so we set up a blog site for them, invited all 106 of them to be authors, negotiated format and "rubric" elements by looking at other blog sites, then each student published three book reviews. It took two of us to edit the 300 posts in one week's time, but next year, we'll spread it out more. Ahhh, there's always next year.

Please share your own literacy success stories with us. We'd like a glimpse into your classroom.
Until then, you can check out our blog at http://tweenthepages.wordpress.com

Listening to the Sounds of Silence in the Classroom - National Writing Project

2010-04-01T11:40:00.001-10:00

Spring Meeting Day 3 was a day for professional development.

The keynote speaker was Katherine Schultz, author of the book Rethinking Classroom Participation: Listening to Silent Voices. She suggests that teachers take a nuanced view toward classroom silence, understanding its complex functions and regarding it as a form of participation.

I think as teachers of multicultural students, we are aware of the silence of our students not as a sign of ignorance or stupidity, but as a sign of cultural norms. For me, if students are overly vocal or if they have prolonged eye contact with me, it's actually a sign of aggression on their part. I found it helpful to hear someone else talk about a behavior that is normal for us, and she helped teachers to broaden the view of participation in the classroom.

Schultz is the director the Philadelphia Writing Project and is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

Check the link below for more information on her and more of her mana'o:
Listening to the Sounds of Silence in the Classroom - National Writing Project

NWP Spring Meeting in DC: Day 2

2010-03-28T16:28:00.000-10:00

Day 2 in DC was our main lobbying day, but as we were walking to the Dirksen Senate offices for our morning rally, we caught the tourist bug and had to take pictures of the beautiful cherry blossoms that were already in bloom. These were at the Japanese American memorial.

Congresswoman Maizie Hirono was nice enough to stop by at the rally to offer up support to all the NWP teachers to encourage us for the work that was ahead today. What was really nice was that she talked about leading with aloha. Many people stopped us to thank us for coming, because if we didn't come, they wouldn't have heard Congresswoman Hirono speak. She did a great job of representing our state and as someone who signed our Dear Colleague letter to support NWP, we say mahalo a nui loa to Ms. Hirono.

The main thing that I learned about the new budget is that the federal government would like to give a lump sum of federal money back to the state for educational programs, and each state would be in charge of doling out money to programs that would have to compete for the federal money. We are not against competition, however, as a national program, we are not able to compete. We are a national network, not a state network. For example, if California's multiple writing projects got funding from California, but Hawaii and Alaska didn't get funding, what would happen to the national writing project? As the Lehua Writing Project, without the infrastructure and support of the NWP, we wouldn't exist.

The Dear Colleague letter supports our need for direct funding. Our job on this day was to meet with Senator Akaka's aide to talk about our program, to talk about the need for our kind of professional development in Hawaii, and to encourage him to sign the Dear Colleague letter. We met with Arun Revera who was coming off of a very long night (Senate was getting ready to vote on the health bill). He was very warm and receptive, and in karmic coincidence, Arun and Jeannine lived very near each other in Texas, and he went to HPA. His mother still lives in Waimea and they both frequent Waimea Coffee. It was destined to be a great meeting. We talked about our program, we shared mana'o from Cathy Riehle, Merle Yoshida and Joanne Yoshida, answered his questions, and he assured us that he would ask Senator Akaka to sign the letter. We will follow up with him this week after their own spring break.

Senator Akaka and his office continued to show us hospitality by arranging a private capitol tour (we were joined by 4 kids and their advisor from 4H Hawaii) and when we got back, Senator Akaka gave us some of his precious time before he went back to the floor for another vote. We also found out that when we see senators giving testimony on C-Span, they're usually talking just to the stenographer and whichever young senator is doing time as the speaker. Everyone else is in committee meetings or doing other work. The staff keeps track on C-Span to what's going on, and when a vote is near, there are buzzers that go on in the senate offices.

It was such a full day with so many cool things going on, but the best thing was our meeting with Hirono and Akaka. We weren't able to meet with Senator Inouye, but Paul LeMahieu met with his education aide on our behalf before we got to DC, and although Senator Inouye is very supportive, because he is the chairman of the appropriations committee, he is not able to sign the Dear Colleague letter. It would be like signing it to himself, and would not be appropriate.

NWP Spring Meeting in DC: Day 1

2010-03-26T10:31:00.000-10:00

There's a reason why Hawaii has not been represented at the NWP spring meeting in about 8 years. If you thought driving to NHERC everyday was far, try getting on a plane on Tuesday night, 1 hour to Honolulu, 1 hour layover in Honolulu, 6 hours on the plane to arrive in Phoenix on Wednesday morning, 1 hour layover, then 4 hours on the plane to Washington DC = 13 hours of travel. We had one hour to shower, and get to our first meeting in the evening.

We were going to bow out of the meeting after traveling for so long, but Pat Fox, one of our mentors, told us to "power through" so we did. Thank goodness. At Wednesday night's meeting, they helped us to strategize our meetings with our representatives, they explained the pitfalls of the proposed federal budget for FY 2011 and what it would mean to NWP, and they went over our talking points and addressed ways to answer the hard questions in case our representatives were a little less supportive.

Most importantly, it gave us time to practice scenarios before we trudged off to bed.

Agenda for day 2:
Get ourselves to the Dirksen Senate office building by 8:00
Introduce Congresswoman Maizie Hirono to the NWP contingent as soon as she arrived
Let her speak
Get more questions answered
Head to our first appointment with Akaka's education aide
Private capitol tour
Spring meeting reception in the evening at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Why School? Join the conversation

2010-03-09T10:18:00.000-10:00

Title: Why School? Reclaiming Education for All of Us

Author: Mike Rose

Publisher: The New Press (2009)

Hardcover: 192 pages

I don't tout a book that I've never read, just as I don't give students a writing assignment that I haven't already written myself, but the National Writing Project book group ning is having an online discussion of this book and the coversations have been quite intriguing. Imagine, adult conversation centered around big questions. It made me feel like a professional again. If you too are yearning for those adult conversations, this is a great group to join.

From the New Press website:

A powerful and timely exploration of this country’s public education goals, and how they are put into practice, by the award-winning author and educator
I ask how to educate a vast population, what to teach and how, who will do it, what the work will mean. We still ask these questions because we haven’t satisfactorily answered them. And the way we answer them says a lot about who we are—and what we want to become.
—FROM WHY SCHOOL?

In the tradition of Jonathan Kozol, this little book is driven by big questions. What does it mean to be educated? What is intelligence? How should we think about intelligence, education, and opportunity in an open society? Why is a commitment to the public sphere central to the way we answer these questions?

Drawing on forty years of teaching and research, from primary school to adult education and workplace training, award-winning author Mike Rose reflects on these and other questions related to public schooling in America. He answers them in beautifully written chapters that are both rich in detail—a first-grader conducting a science experiment, a carpenter solving a problem on the fly, a college student’s encounter with a story by James Joyce—and informed by a deep and powerful understanding of history, the psychology of learning, and the politics of education.

Rose decries the narrow focus of educational policy in our time: the drumbeat of test scores and economic competition. Why School? will be embraced by parents and teachers alike, and readers everywhere will be captivated by Rose’s eloquent call for a bountiful democratic vision of the purpose of schooling.

About the author: Mike Rose, a professor in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, is the author of Lives on the Boundary, The Mind at Work, and Possible Lives. Among his many awards are a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Grawemeyer Award in Education, and the Commonwealth Club of California Award for Literary Excellence in Nonfiction. He lives in Santa Monica.

Lehua Writing Project Now Recruiting for Invitational Summer Institute

2010-02-16T10:53:00.003-10:00

The Lehua Writing Project, the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s local site of the National Writing Project, is now recruiting for the Summer Invitational Institute (ISI). The National Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation's educators on sustained efforts to improve writing and learning for all learners. This summer institute provides professional development in writing and the teaching of writing using a teachers-teaching-teachers model.

This ISI is a four-week intensive program held midway between the East and West sides of the Big Island at North Hawaii Education Research Center (NHERC) in Honoka’a. It meets from June 14 to July 8 from 8:30-4:00 PM and awards three Graduate Credits in Education upon successful completion of the program. Full tuition scholarships are available for teachers who interview and are accepted for the ISI. In addition, participants receive stipends for books and travel. Each participant pays a small administrative fee to the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
The National Writing Project (NWP) is the only federally funded program that focuses on the teaching of writing. Support for the NWP is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, foundations, corporations, universities, and K-12 schools.

Two awareness sessions are available for interested participants. The first is February 13, 2010 from 9-12 AM (Saturday) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in UCB 312, and the second is March 5, 2010 (Friday) from 9-12 AM at the Kealakehe Elementary School Library in Kailua-Kona. This will be rescheduled to March 6, 2010 (Saturday) if this Friday becomes a school day. If you are interested in attending an awareness session please RSVP to the directors at the e-mails below. We encourage you to come and find out more about the Lehua Writing Project.
Please contact Director, Dr. Jeannine Hirtle, hirtle@hawaii.edu or Co-Director Cathy Ikeda, cathyi@hawaii.edu for more information.
To apply directly please fill out this online application. The direct link (if you wish to copy/paste) is:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHpMd09Wa2JtRTNSM1FOMjYwdTVqaGc6MA
Applications need to be in by March 15, 2010. Interviews will be scheduled and notifications will be sent out by April 1, 2010. At this time, participants need to enroll at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Transcripts will be required for complete enrollment.
Web Sites of Interest:
http://www.lehuawritingproject.blogspot.com
http://www.nwp.org
UH Hilo Summer Application: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/depts/summer/index.php

Updates from NCTE: Check Out Read/Write/Think for many valuable resources

2010-01-12T18:16:00.002-10:00

NCTE Inbox

Please add inbox@ncte.org to your address book and/or safe sender list
to ensure delivery of your INBOX e-newsletter.

January 12, 2010
Please Note: Next week's INBOX will be emailed on Wednesday, January 20.

Have You or Your Students Written for the National Gallery of Writing Lately?
...news
News links are provided for informational purposes, do not imply endorsement by the National Council of Teachers of English, and were live when this issue was published; free registration or a paid subscription may be required for some news articles.

It's Like Magic: That's What Writing Is
Gallery of Writing Showcases Writing's Power
The National Gallery of Writing has sparked a wide variety of galleries and writings. NCTE members Helene Zablocki, Vince Puzick, James Brewbaker, Patrice Hollrah, Joan Kaywell, David Whitin, Phyllis Whitin, Linda Adler-Kassner, Crag Hill, and NCTE Executive Director Kent Williamson are mentioned. The Council Chronicle, November 2009

Better Than Ever: The New ReadWriteThink.org
Since 2002 ReadWriteThink.org has provided literacy educators access to an ever-growing collection of free education materials. Voted "Best Site from Which You Can Download Free Lessons and Materials" on the 2008 Edutopia poll, RWT now has a completely redesigned and updated website filled with hundreds of lesson plans, calendar resources, printouts, and interactive tools.

Big Island Reading Festival 2010

2010-01-07T12:25:00.000-10:00

Secondary teachers and students are invited to the Big Island Reading Festival on April 16, 2010 at KMC in the Volcanoes National Park. If you would like a flyer, please email Cathy at caikeda@ksbe.edu.

Also, if you would like to be in the online book club, go to http://bigislandreadingfest.ning.com/

Collaborative Podcast from Lehua Writing Project's November Continuity

2009-12-02T12:24:00.002-10:00

Please take a few moments to listen to what we learned at our November continuity. We collaboratively created a podcast. Mahalo to our continuity leader, Stephanie Shepherd!

Because Digital Writing Matters

2009-11-30T10:08:00.000-10:00

Nwp Digital Is Breakfast Slideshow

View more documents from devossda.

November Continuity 11/14/09 Technology in the Classroom

2009-11-14T10:21:00.000-10:00

Stephanie Shepherd led us through a FABULOUS technology workshop on blogging and podcasting and had the teachers set up their own blogs. Yeah!

To check out all the resources Stephanie provided, here's a sharetab of her links as well as some of our own blogs.

http://sharetabs.com/?tahoeshepherds

So why should we use blogs and podcasts/vodcasts in our classrooms?

▪Offers another sense modality (aural) for students to express themselves and absorb or manipulate information
▪Increased student motivation
▪Teachers or students can record audio about homework assignments, assignments, feedback, announcements, etc. thus the classroom is extended and enriched
▪Many students already have audio players, so it taps into an existing technology.
▪Blogging is highly effective way to help students to become better writers. Research has long shown that students write more, write in greater detail, and take greater care with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, when they are writing to an authentic audience over the Internet.
▪Anecdotal evidence suggests that students' interest in, and quantity of, writing increases when their work is published online and -- perhaps even more importantly -- when it is subject to reader comments.

Directions to NHERC

2009-11-13T16:44:00.002-10:00

I hope we get to see as many of you as possible at the Nov 14 continuity training at NHERC with Stephanie Shepherd leading. Below is their phone, street address and a link to Google Maps! Please bring a laptop if you have one available! Mahalo!!!!

Telephone:
(808) 775-8890

Fax:
(808) 775-1294

Street:
45-539 Plumeria St., Honokaʻa, HI, 96727
NHERC on Google Maps

Fall Continuity Nov 14, 2009

2009-10-31T10:41:00.005-10:00

The Lehua Writing Project Invites You

The November continuity session led by Stephanie Shepherd will be on writing and technology. Feeling overwhelmed? Feeling like your must do list is overtaking your want to do's? Join us, bring your friends, get inspired, get re-energized,and write with abandon.

November 14, 2009: 9-12
NHERC in Honoka'a

Fall Continuity Nov 14, 2009

2009-10-31T10:41:00.000-10:00

2009-09-25T12:11:00.002-10:00

Writers- teachers - lovers of the Big Island, there are 26 days to submit your pieces to the local gallery Na Leo o Hawaii

http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/88467

Gallery Title: Na Leo o Hawaii - Voices of the Big Island

Gallery Description: This gallery will highlight the voices of the Big Island of Hawaii - from our kupuna (elders) to our keiki (children) - from the fishing village of Milolii to the town of Hawi. This gallery is about living on the Big Island.

If you'd like an easy tutorial to submitting your work, please watch the how-to video below:

How to submit your writing

Our first continuity workshop: vocabulary with Ann Buffington

2009-09-12T09:37:00.005-10:00

6 teachers/writers gathered in Honoka'a this morning to reunite, write, eat and learn from Ann Buffington (LWP'08) about what she learned last summer about academic vocabulary literacy.

If you missed it, look for our next one next month.

2009-08-28T16:17:00.002-10:00

The Lehua Writing Projects invites you to its first Fall Continuity
September 12, 2009
9-12 @ NHERC
Guest Speaker: Ann Buffington
Topic: Best Practices in Vocabulary Instruction

Bring a snack to share and come ready to share your stories of implementing the writing process.
RSVP to lehuawp@gmail.com

There will be a discussion of upcoming events and the 2010-2011 renewal grant.
The Teacher Research Group will have Information about its formation and stipends.

Hawaiian Women Writers Reading 8/30/09

2009-08-24T20:17:00.003-10:00

COME AND CELEBRATE
Native Hawaiian Women
appearing in newly
published anthology
Readings, Reception, Discussion, Book Signing

Sunday, August 30, 2009
2:00-5:00 p.m.
UHH Performing Arts Center

Readings by Writers: Phyllis Coochie Cayan, Pualani Kanahele,
Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Mahealani Perez-Wendt, Nalanikanaka`ole,
Rachelle “Snookie” Maikui, Doodie Cruz, Muriel Hughes, Cathy Ikeda,
Jackie Pualani Johnson,Jerelyn Makanui-Yoshida, Tamara Wong Morrison

Other writers include Keonaona Aea, Cheryl Bautista, and Relyn Timbal, of the continental states;
the late Eleanor Ahuna of Hilo; and the late Haunani Bernardino of O`ahu and Hilo.
Free and Open to the Public

Sponsored by: the Performing Arts Department, the English Department, Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, Ka Haka Ula O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language; the Hawaiʻi Life Styles Program from the Hawaiʻi Community College; and the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, with additional support from the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Na Leo O Hawaii Now Accepting Submissions

2009-07-07T08:43:00.003-10:00

In celebration of the October 20, 2009 National Day on Writing, and with the help of NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English), we now have our own local online gallery that is a part of the larger National Gallery. Na Leo o Hawaii, the voices of Hawaii, is for all of us who live on the Big Island. Please help me to get the word out to your colleagues, your students, your kupuna, and please submit your own piece. We are looking for any kind of writing about growing up or living on the Big Island - from eating ice shave at Kawate's, camping at Spencer Beach Park, shoveling snow into your pickup truck from Mauna Kea and making "ice men" in your front yard, or spending New Year's at grandma's house with all the cousins. More information and a flyer will come out when school starts, but the site is up and ready for your own submissions, as well as your family's submissions.

Instructions:

Go to http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/88467
Create a login
Add personal information and your piece
If your children or grandchildren are submitting and they are under 13, a parent will need to help them sign up with your email
The NCTE will send an email back to you with an online permission form
Once the permission form is submitted, you will get an email back when your child's piece can be submitted (it's a fast process)

Thanks for passing on the word.
If you have other questions, please contact me.

Mahalo,
Cathy
Curator, Na Leo o Hawaii local gallery
cathyi@hawaii.edu

NWP SITE BULLETIN June 2009

2009-06-23T09:05:00.000-10:00

- NWP Site Bulletin -

REACH OUT AND WRITE!

Please take a moment this summer to write or email your legislators. Let them know you appreciate their support for the writing project. Tell them something you did in your classroom this year or plan to do next year. Give them a glimpse of your summer institute or another writing project opportunity that is making a difference to your teaching. Be brief. One or two short paragraphs from an educator like you will assure members of Congress that their commitment to the NWP has a specific and lasting impact. Let your voice be heard and your work be recognized!

Here are three great opportunities. Pick one. Pick all if you choose!

* WRITE DURING THE SUMMER INSTITUTE -- a chance to write from your heart and from the program that is the heart of the writing project.

* WRITE BEFORE YOU GO BACK TO SCHOOL -- a chance to share your excitement about returning to school with new plans, new ideas, new enthusiasm. Forward your summer writing, such as Op-Ed pieces and other reflections on the importance of writing and the impact the writing project has on teachers and students in your area.

* PLAN A LOCAL EVENT FOR THE NATIONAL DAY ON WRITING, OCTOBER 20, 2009 -- For more information go to http://www.ncte.org/action/dayonwriting.

Let us hear from you. Share your letters to Congress and any responses you receive by sending them to us at publicaffairs@nwp.org. This not only helps us keep up with the extraordinary work you do, but also helps shape our national advocacy effort.

For more tips on writing to your legislators, follow this link:
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/2455.

Teachers as Connectors

2009-06-06T22:20:00.002-10:00

What do you think about Will Richardson's quote? Agree?
Will Richardson is a Web 2.0 guru as well as the author of the blog Weblogg-ed. The graphic was done by Dean Shareski.

Summer Institute Orientation 5/23/09

2009-05-23T13:55:00.006-10:00

Ten of us, all women, made our way upcountry to Kalōpā, Hāmākua to meet, greet, write, share, and take in the serenity of the park. It was also a time to orient ourselves to the shared journey of summer institute, as well as a time to think about our inquiry topic and vision for our classroom. All the women came with strengths, talents, a willingness to write and a desire to improve their teaching, so thank you! We are looking forward to a transformative summer experience.

NCTE Web Seminars for Fall 2009

2009-05-21T12:49:00.002-10:00

NCTE is excited to announce the 2009 Fall Web Seminar lineup. Don’t miss another opportunity. As a bonus, you will receive a copy of the Web seminar on CD. This On Demand version offers the convenience and flexibility to share this quality professional development experience with colleagues any time.

Here’s just a sample of the upcoming Web seminars:
Supporting Beginning English Teachers: Induction, Mentoring, and Assistance
Tom McCann
August 12, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Administrators and School Leaders

Planning for Success in your Gradual Release of Responsibility Classrooms
Nancy Frey
August 19, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Administrators and School Leaders

Homework: To Assign or Not to Assign? What to Really Consider
Kay Haas, Stacy Kitsis, Buffy Salee, and Neil Rigler
August 26, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Administrators, School Leaders, and Teachers

Creating Your Digital Writing Workshop
Troy Hicks
September 17, 2009
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Middle, Secondary

Middle School Content Area Literature: Picturing the Possibilities
Mary Jo Fresch and Peggy Harkins
September 22, 2009
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Middle

Reach Out & Learn Something: Classroom Connections Wherever You Are
Bud Hunt
September 30, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. EDT
Audience: Secondary and Teacher Leaders

Storytelling 2.0: New Possibilities within a New Practice
Sara Kajder
October 21, 2009
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. EDT
Audience: Elementary, Middle, Secondary

Integrating Grammar into the Context of Writing
Jeff Anderson
October 27, 2009
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EDT
Audience: Elementary, Middle
Literature Circles in the Middle and High School Classroom
Katie McKnight
November 4, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
Audience: Middle

Write from Wrong: Strategies for Addressing Student Plagiarism
Barry Gilmore
November 10, 2009
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST
Audience: Secondary
Reading Shakespeare with All Our Students
Mary Ellen Dakin
December 3, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
Audience: Middle, Secondary

Principals are Writers Too!

2009-05-20T09:19:00.008-10:00

Lehua Writing Project is grateful for Art Souza, west Hawaii superintendent, for allowing Merle Yoshida and I to present a mini writing project workshop with his principals and SRSs (school renewal specialists).

We had a great time yesterday at NHERC as the principals participated in our memory box exercises, talked, wrote, laughed, ate, shared, wrote more, responded and reflected. We also were able to push again for investing in teachers, and the ways that Lehua Writing Project can help with the state's new literacy initiative.

The principals are also willing to model for their teachers by submitting their first draft writing that we did yesterday. We'll get it up soon. They felt that if they want their teachers to take this kind of risk, they need to lead. Ho'omaika'i!

In addition, the 4 complexes were able to get together and start talking about their vision of an excellent writer, not just for their school, but for K-12.

Please mahalo your principals for being so open and enthusiastic participants.

Unlucky Arithmetic for Teachers: 13 ways to raise a nonwriter

2009-05-06T08:31:00.003-10:00

(This is a post from my blog Mana'o for Educators that I thought I'd share here) - Cathy

Did you have a journal? Were you a writer as a child? Did you lose that passion when you grew up? How long has it been since you, as an adult, have written for yourself -- not because you had to, or it was expected of you, or you were grading papers, but for the pure joy of writing?

Cathy Song, Hawaii's own "poet laureate" started writing at a young age. She says, "our family travels started my writing. I guess I was around nine years old when I decided I wanted to be the family chronicler." My own journey started with a Holly Hobie journal given to me when I was seven as a way for me to fill in the empty spaces left from my parents' divorce. My mother gave me a journal every year for the next 30 years.

Are we nurturing that passion for writing in our students? Or are we killing that passion with our focus on writing for testing, formulaic writing, and the unhealthy balance of reading first?

Choice Literacy, working off the text "Unlucky Arithmetic: Thirteen Ways to Raise a Nonreader" by Dean Schneider and Robin Smith came up with a list for teachers on sure fire ways that we, as teachers, can effectively kill the passion for writing in our students. Just some mana'o to think about.

Unlucky Arithmetic for Teachers: Thirteen Ways to Raise a Non-Writer

(from Choice Literacy.com)

1. Tell children that writers write at desks, not under them and most certainly not on the carpet.
2. Correct all misspellings, including letters spelled backwards; Howe kaan wee reed mistaaks? Puuulease.
3. Squash the talk. Writing is for learning vocabulary and sentence structure. Talk is time away from thinking about their writing.
4. Absolutely, positively no writing-in-the-style-of another author. Children have to find their own voice.
5. Don't encourage drawing in writer's notebooks. They're for writing, obviously. If you allow drawing though, ignore the scribbles. There's no story there. Promise.
6. Once kids learn how to spell, throw out the markers and crayons. Only use pencil. That way, mistakes can be erased.
7. There is a time for reading and a time for writing. By no means mix the two. It can get confusing.
8. Limit writing on the computer. Serious writing only happens on the page.
9. Under no circumstances talk about the relationship between art and language in picture books. It's right there; they can figure it out, surely.
10. Lined paper is for writing, unlined paper is for drawing. Get it right. If you don't, who will?
11. Children are writers-in-waiting; you already know how to write so you don't need to keep a writer's notebook, they do.
12. Make sure children revise and edit on days set aside for revision and editing. There is a writerly plan - stick to it.
13. Avoid showing children your own writing (if you do it); they're more interested in published writing, not yours. Come on.

Want other ways to nurture the passion for writing in your students? Join us for the Lehua Writing Project summer institute. Send an email to Jeannine Hirtle (hirtle@hawaii.edu) or me, Cathy Ikeda (cathyi@hawaii.edu). Be nurtured, be validated, be a writer, grow writers.

Summer Writing Institute Reading List

2009-04-27T10:51:00.002-10:00

If you are joining us for this summer's writing institute, here's the books we'd like you to choose from for your professional library book conversations. Please choose one. They can be ordered at Borders, Amazon.com or Heinneman.

Elementary

The Art of Teaching Writing, Lucy Calkins (ISBN 0-435-08817-3
What You Know By Heart: How to Develop Curriculum for your Writing Workshop, Katie Wood Ray (ISBN 978-0-325-00364-1)

Middle

In the Middle, Second Edition: New Understanding About Writing, Reading, and Learning, Nancie Atwell (ISBN 978-0-86709-374-2)
Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Ralph Fletcher, JoAnn Portalupi (ISBN 978-0-325-00362-7)

High

High School Inside Out, Third Edition: Strategies for Teaching Writing, Dan Kirby, Tom Liner, Dawn Latta Kirby (ISBN 978-0-325-00588-1)
Content-Area Writing: Every Teacher's Guide, Harvey Daniels, Steven Zemelman, Nancy Steineke (ISBN 978-0-325-00972-8)

Other

Writing to Learn Mathematics: Strategies That Work, K-12, Joan Countryman, ISBN 978-0-435-08329-8

National Writing Project E Voice

2009-03-26T17:25:00.002-10:00

Welcome to E-Voice, the National Writing Project's bi-monthly email newsletter that provides news updates, links to articles of interest to writing teachers, and other information about the NWP community. Read the current issue.

Resources for parents and educators: Adolescent Literacy.or

2009-03-12T06:34:00.003-10:00

Adolescent literacy.org is a resource for parents and educators of kids in grades 4-12. It's a free e-newsletter and it's got a nice balance of writing and reading resources as well as blogs, multimedia videos with experts and YA authors as well as literacy strategies.

Right now I'm watching a video by Dr. Steve Graham of Vanderbilt University. It's long, so it would be a great shot of PD for spring break. Not only does he talk about why he was interested in writing, he also says that the best preparation for writing teachers is to go through writing project.

He also talks about self-regulated strategy development, peer revising, collaborative writing and grammar instruction.

Happy Square Root Day!

2009-03-03T08:35:00.003-10:00

I'd like to officially say that although most of us at the Lehua Writing Project are current or former English teachers, we are NOT allergic to our math colleagues, and in fact we are more alike than not. So in that spirit, Happy Square Root Day! (3/3/09) For the math challenged amongst us, 3 is the square root of 9 8-)

The last square root day was on Feb. 2, 2004, and the next is seven years away, on April 4, 2016.

Enjoy the day by reading a math children's book like:
Math Curse by John Scieszka
Your Momma Thinks Square Roots are Vegetables by Bill Amend
The Grapes of Math by Bill Tang or
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Reporting Data

2009-02-21T14:31:00.003-10:00

Pat and Paul suggested that LWP go online site profile to get the categories to get the categories for collecting data.

Resources on http://www.nwp.org

2009-02-21T14:13:00.004-10:00

Please check out these great online resources through NWP. These are reading resources that will help support the work of the Writing Project. http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/doc/nwpsites/summer_institute.csp

Viva la Revolución: Transforming Teaching and Assessing Student Writing through Collaborative Inquiry http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/2655

Nominate a Teacher to Attend SI 2009

2009-02-11T11:30:00.000-10:00

Aloha, We are requesting your nominations for teachers who you feel who benefit, enjoy, and contribute to SI 2009! Our best recruiters are teachers who have been through the writing project, so we want your nominations!

We have a flier we'd like to you mail to teachers who you think might be interested in the LWP. It is located in the SIDEBAR of http://www.lehuawritingproject.pbwiki.com. Please take a few moments to consider who you might nominate. E-mail them your invitation and the flier, and e-mail us, your nomination/recommendation.
hirtle@hawaii.edu and cathyi@hawaii.edu

MAHALO!

Lehua Writing Project Invitations

2009-02-11T11:27:00.000-10:00

Aloha,

We have two events for the Lehua Writing Project. They are both "meet and greets" to talk to national leaders,Pat Fox and Paul Oh. We are inviting Lehuas to one or both events and/but for your convenience we have put an event on the west side and on the east side.

East Side, Friday, February 20th from 5-7 @ UH Hilo in UCB 312
West Side, Saturday, February 21 from 9-11@ Parker Ranch Food Court

We miss you all and want to see you at one or both of these events and we want your input to the national leadership about your perception of writing on the Big Island. We want all your ideas as we build our new writing project. Any of you who want to contribute and/or play a leadership role, we welcome!

Please RSVP so we know how many people to prepare for!

Thanks,
Cathy and Jeannine

"Off with their heads!"

2009-01-08T11:38:00.000-10:00

This Sunday's Star Bulletin ran an article on Hawaii State superintendent of schools, Patricia Hamamoto's push for the legislature to give the DOE more power to replace teachers, principals and staff at some campuses that have been failing the No Child Left Behind law despite extra support to help them raise student achievement over the years.

The plan would allow Hamamoto to replace staff if the school was in restructuring for at least three years. The proposal would allow Hamamoto to replace workers at schools that have been under restructuring for three years or longer. It also could change membership of school community councils and control of the campus could be handed over to private companies.

Harsh? I thought so, but the most interesting thing about this topic is that the comments to this article are not really all that harsh. In fact, I was intrigued by the number of posts that think that this idea sounds pretty logical, and despite the all or nothing nature of this proposal, many people thought it might work to bring up scores.

According to the article,

"28 state schools, including one charter school, have been unable to exit restructuring in three or more years, prompting the Education Department to consider "reconstituting" those schools - a more aggressive aspect of restructuring aimed at changing a school's culture.

"What we are trying to do is work with those schools that are not making significant academic growth after three or more years," Assistant Superintendent Daniel Hamada said about the idea, noting schools have had "the opportunity to improve."

Hamada's saying that the 28 schools have had "the opportunity to improve" basically means that 5 million was given to these schools to implement the program of the day (like America's Choice), provide training to at least one overworked teacher leader that then becomes the one responsible for getting the rest of the hostile staff to buy into the program, as well as consultants that come in and check your bulletin boards. When one program is not working, they bring in the next program of the day.

The 28 schools they're looking at for possible replacement of staff (teachers and principals) are: Honolulu District: Central Middle, Dole Middle, Kalihi Kai; Central District: Wahiawa Elementary, Wahiawa Middle; Leeward District: Kamaile Elementary Public Charter School*, Maili Elementary, Nanaikapono Elementary, Nanakuli Elementary, Nanakuli High and Intermediate, Waianae Intermediate, Waipahu Elementary, Waipahu Intermediate; Windward District: Kahaluu Elementary, Parker Elementary Hawaii District: Hilo Intermediate, Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate, Kau High and Pahala Elementary, Keeau Middle, Kealakehe Elementary, Kealakehe Intermediate, Laupahoehoe High and Elementary, Naalehu Elementary and Intermediate, Pahoa High and Intermediate; Maui County: Hana High and Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai High, Molokai Middle

* The Education Department's proposal to the Legislature would allow Hamamoto to recommend that a charter school be reconstituted. (Source: Dept. of Education)

Here's what's pissing me off about this. I admit that I'm no longer in the "system" and in fact have been out of the system for 6 years now, but you know that thing with people that have lost weight -- when you see them every day, you don't notice, but for those people that are on the outside, who haven't seen this person every day, they notice when there's a change. . .well I have not been in the DOE system to see the changes every day, but I've been watching from the outside, and what I see breaks my heart. I listed the schools and it all looks very "dataish," but I know these schools. I've been on the campus of every single school that's listed from Hawaii District. I know some of these principals and teachers. I know what they bring to the table. What experiences they have, what training they've been through. What talents have been squashed and swallowed in these six years. I've been watching the disempowerment of these strong, talented teachers who know their students more than any consultant will ever know these students. They understand their communities more than any outside program will ever understand their communities. Yes, I am the coward who left. Who could not stomach the feeling of helplessness. I am the one who stood in front of my AP class at Hilo High and realized that there were no Hawaiian kids and decided to leave the system, follow the Hawaiian kids to what many believe is a "cushy" job at an independent school. But I've been watching and mourning for my colleagues who had the guts to stay, and the professionalism to try and make it work.

The state of California has 100 schools who have not met AYP in over six years, and yet only 10 of them opted to hand school management over. Even with that, there were very mixed results. ????

I think Hamamoto needs to talk directly to Lehua Veincent, principal of Keaukaha School, who brought his school out of restructuring by knowing his kids, knowing their strengths, bringing in the community to educate the children, and bringing in support staff who also knew these kids and were committed to helping them. While she's at it, come talk to Merle Yoshida (Kalanianaole School) and Cynthia Perry (Pahoa High and Intermediate). Give the power back to the teachers who know these kids, are committed to seeing them succeed, and are committed to these communities where they live and work. I mourn because our teachers, my friends, must work in a hostile environment where their voices are not valued, their experience is not treasured, their cries for help fall on deaf ears. You can replace these teachers and their 20 years of experience, but there's no one out there who will love these kids and love this community as much. Look closely at these teachers, especially our outer island teachers. They are not sending their kids to private school. They are born and raised in these communities. Why would they stay so long in a profession that does not treat them as professionals if not for the kids that they cannot leave behind? They ho'omau (persevere) because they must.

They DESERVE more power. They DESERVE to be heard. We need to LISTEN with our mind open and our mouth closed.

Originally posted in Mana'o for educators http://puremanao.blogspot.com

We Got It!

2008-12-30T15:31:00.000-10:00

Lehua Writing Project is now officially its own site and we are offering our first SI this summer!
When: June 15 - July 2, 2009
Where: North Hawaii Educational Research Center (NHERC) in Honoka'a
Application deadline: March 2, 2009

Check this site for our flyers and and please pass them along to your colleagues.

Happy New Year and Mālama Pono,
Jeannine Hirtle and Cathy Ikeda

Children's Books for the Presidential Race

2008-09-04T15:33:00.000-10:00

From the article "Campaign Trail - David's List: And the Winner Is. . ." by David Richardson in Reading Today, (vol. 26, #1, p.14), Here's a list of some children's books for the presidential race.

Vote! by Eileen Christelow (Clarion, 2008) ages 6 and up
KidChat American Adventure: 201 Questions to Make you Think, Talk and Giggle About our Nation's History by Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie (Roaring Brook, 2008) ages 10 and up
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin (Atheneum, 2008) ages 6 and up
See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House by Susan Goodman, illustrated by Elwood Smith (Bloombury, 2008) ages 9 and up
LeRue for Mayor: Letters from the Campaign Trail by Mark Teague (Blue Sky, 2008) ages 5 and up
Vote by Philip Steele (DK Eyewitness Books, 2008) ages 11 and up
So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small (Philomel, 2004) ages 8 and up
Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner (Simon and Schuster, 2008) ages 8 and up

Lois Ann Yamanaka to read in Hilo

2008-07-15T10:58:00.000-10:00

Lois Ann Yamanaka, Hilo girl and author of Saturday Night at Pahala Theatre, Name Me Nobody, Heads by Harry, and Wildmeat and Bully Burgers as well as other novels and a children's book will give a reading and talk at the Kinoole Farmer's Market on Saturday July 26 at 10:00. The "market" is open from 7:00 a.m.-12 noon. If you've never heard Lois Ann read, she is a wonderful story teller. A former middle school teacher, she is a co-director of Na'au, her writing school based in Honolulu.

Getting Ready for ED 694: Advanced Writing Institute

2008-06-04T14:05:00.000-10:00

Aloha! Welcome to ED 694: Advanced Writing Institute

I'm so looking forward to working with you June 9-20th, 9-4, in UCB 314, at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. I'd like to help you get ready for this experience!

Please bring on the 1st day, Monday, June 9th:

1. Your Text
2. A journal (optional)
3. A laptop (optional)-Let me know right away if you do not have one so I can check one out for you to use at school.
4. A flash drive
5. A lunch
6. A basket or bag of small objects ( 5 or 6) which represent you.
7. A collection of pictures from throughout your life that are meaningful to you. They can be of anything, place, or person--just meaningful to you.
8. A digital camera or cell phone with camera capabilities.
9. A UH User Name and Password. Go to http://myuhinfo.hawaii.edu/page/getstarted to get that information.
10. A plastic box or bag filled with desk/craft items: markers, pens, scissors, glue, post it notes (LOTS of post it notes), etc.

On Thursday, June 12th (depending on the weather)

We are going to take a field trip to Akaka Falls to photograph, sketch, and write. You will need to bring a lawn chair, a journal or laptop, some hiking shoes, appropriate clothes, and a snack.

There will be a field trip Wednesday, June 18th class as well. Right now, tentatively, we are going to Mauna Kea, not to the summit, but just in the park to write on the mountain. Again, this is weather dependent.

Please RSVP that you got this message. I will be sending you an invitation to join a NING and a blog. Please accept both invitations, because we will be using both and that is how I will be communicating with you.

Mahalo!
Jeannine Hirtle

Text Mapping: Literacy Strateby

2008-06-04T14:01:00.000-10:00

Aloha, I was reading an article in the Teacher Gazette today by Cheryl Sigmon. The article overviews the process of text mapping to help students understand text structure. The way it work is the teacher picks a portion of text to analyze. She/he copies the pages of the text and tapes them so they are vertical like a scroll. Then she passes out scrolls to groups of students. The students then mark up the scrolls using highlighters or felt pens. Read this article to see how they do it and how it helps!

Technology Helps Boost Writing Skills

2008-04-16T07:47:00.000-10:00

Students' writing skills were in the spotlight in early April, as a new report suggested that an increasing number of U.S. students understand the basics of writing. And one of several possible reasons for this trend could be the growing use of writing software tools among educators.

Read about it in this E-News article.

NWP SITE Bulletin and Announcements

2008-04-15T10:57:00.001-10:00

Hi! I wanted to share this NWP Site Bulletin with you all. I also have a question. Have you each read the NWP book, Because Writing Matters? I want to order copies for our site, if not, or if some of us have. I think each new institute that comes through should read that, but not necessarily buy it.

Please comment and follow up on anything you think we should address here!

You can comment by e-mail, of course, and/but, you might like to try commenting on our Lehua Writing Project blog. It might be a nice place to share our messages and ideas with each other. When you join this blog, you can check to have an e-mail notification sent to you when someone posts a message. The address is http://lehuawritingproject.blogspot.com.

It might also be a nice place to share our writing as well as our messages and ideas. Just a thought.
We have had over twenty inquiries about the Advanced Summer Institute and we have 10 people signed up. Yeah!!!! I'll share the spread sheet with you all so you can see who signed up!!!

Do each of you want to help in writing our grant to become a formal site this summer? Shel has set money aside for us to go on a 2 day retreat to do do. Merle, is going to let us know about her vacation plans. Do the rest of you have vacation plans for the week after the summer institute? Could you do a two day writer's retreat? If so, know of any good B&B's we could go to? Would you rather write somewhere else and not do an overnight? Just let me know in the next week so I can let Shel know and make reservations!

I'm so looking forward to our work this summer.

Thanks!
Jeannine

Twitter.com

2008-02-27T11:44:00.000-10:00

Remember those long, leisurely summer days in summer institute when you actually had the freedom to write? Don't you miss the cameraderie that came from shared writing and response? When reality hits, do you find yourself having to do everything BUT write for your own pleasure?

Join Twitter.com and keep up with old friends, meet new friends, network and WRITE again.
Twitter is a forum for free speech in 140 character chunks, so everyone has time. You can twitter on your computer, or you can even twitter on your phone.

Follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/cathy_ikeda

Spring Writer's Workshop

2008-02-03T18:55:00.000-10:00

The Hawaii State Writing Project on the Big Island is pleased to announce that
Newberry Award Winning Author, Cynthia Kadohata, will lead a Writer's Workshop on the Big Island at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, April 15, 2008 at the University Campus Center from 5-8 PM. All Hawaii Writing Project alumni and teachers interested in learning more about the craft of writing are invited. The registration deadline is March 21, 2008.

Please send registration information via e-mail to hirtle@hawaii.edu.

Registration:

Name
E-Mail
School
Phone Contact Number

Lehua Writing Project

2008-02-03T18:39:00.001-10:00

This is the home project for the Lehua Writing Project at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Lehua Writing Project

Free K-5 Literacy Workshop with Kathy Collins

January Continuity: Non-Fiction Writing and Reading Comprehension through Drama

January Continuity at Kealakehe Elementary

Celebrate Picture Book Month

Celebrating Picture Book Month in the Middle

Renshi Poetry in the Social Studies Classroom

Key Elements of a Fabulous Continuity

Why I Write: To Awaken the Spirit in the Downtrodden

Student Voices: What Makes a Great Teacher

Read the full report (PDF)

Ms. @ 40 Essay Contest

Ms. Magazine Essay Contest

"For women throughout the country, it was mind-blowing. Here was, written down, what they had not yet admitted they felt, had always feared to say out loud, and could not believe was now before their eyes, in public, for all to read." --Carolyn Heilbrun, Gloria Steinem biographer

October 20: National Day on Writing

Renew Yourself with October's Continuity Session

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day

Summer Reading List Item: A Place to Stand

Why Hawai'i Needs Writing Project

Lehua Writing Project Spring Conference Feedback Form

Lehua Writing Project Spring Conference

It's Not Too Late to Invite a Friend

Lehua Writing Project Spring Confererence Registration

Tweets from Japan

Tweets from Japan (English Version)

Bill Severs NWP Federal Funding

March Continuity: Blues Rift Writing with Tamara Wong Morrison

Aloha from Orlando

Lehua's Sponsor Professional Development at Pahala Plantation and Kailiawa Coffee Farm

A Poem Inspired by Pepe the Lamplighter by Jeanne Hart

A Glimpse into the Classoom

Risa Carles Presents at Oct 2010 Fall Continuity

Write! Publish! Dance for Joy!

Place-Based Learning Experience at Anna's Ranch

Storyline Online

Join the English Companion Ning

Radical Learning!

Giving Our Students 21st Century Skills

Listening to the Sounds of Silence in the Classroom - National Writing Project

NWP Spring Meeting in DC: Day 2

NWP Spring Meeting in DC: Day 1

Why School? Join the conversation

Lehua Writing Project Now Recruiting for Invitational Summer Institute

Updates from NCTE: Check Out Read/Write/Think for many valuable resources

Big Island Reading Festival 2010

Collaborative Podcast from Lehua Writing Project's November Continuity

Because Digital Writing Matters

November Continuity 11/14/09 Technology in the Classroom

Directions to NHERC

Fall Continuity Nov 14, 2009

Fall Continuity Nov 14, 2009

Our first continuity workshop: vocabulary with Ann Buffington

Hawaiian Women Writers Reading 8/30/09

Na Leo O Hawaii Now Accepting Submissions

NWP SITE BULLETIN June 2009

Teachers as Connectors

Summer Institute Orientation 5/23/09

NCTE Web Seminars for Fall 2009

Principals are Writers Too!

Unlucky Arithmetic for Teachers: 13 ways to raise a nonwriter

Summer Writing Institute Reading List

National Writing Project E Voice

Resources for parents and educators: Adolescent Literacy.or

Happy Square Root Day!

Reporting Data

Resources on http://www.nwp.org

Nominate a Teacher to Attend SI 2009

Lehua Writing Project Invitations

"Off with their heads!"

We Got It!

Children's Books for the Presidential Race

Lois Ann Yamanaka to read in Hilo

Getting Ready for ED 694: Advanced Writing Institute

Text Mapping: Literacy Strateby

Technology Helps Boost Writing Skills

NWP SITE Bulletin and Announcements

Twitter.com

Spring Writer's Workshop

Lehua Writing Project

"For women throughout the country, it was mind-blowing. Here was, written down, what they had not yet admitted they felt, had always feared to say out loud, and could not believe was now before their eyes, in public, for all to read."
--Carolyn Heilbrun, Gloria Steinem biographer