National Writing Project Conference in Philadelphia

The National Writing Project Annual Meeting, held in Philadelphia, PA, November 18-21, 2009, offered seven members of the Santee Wateree Writing Project opportunities to engage in rich discussions with members of other writing projects from across the United States as well as time to reflect on our own progress and plans for our local site here in the Tri-County area. Our representatives attended various sessions devoted to timely topics such as the burgeoning uses of technology in the classroom, tapping into students’ creativity, clarifying copyright laws, organizing writing retreats, dealing with rural poverty, and building reflective practice. We also benefited from a visioning session with Tom Fox who helped us to clarify our present role and to cast a vision for what we would like our Santee Wateree Writing Project to do in the future. Some of us came home with satchels loaded down with protocols for looking at student work, ideas for diving into digital storytelling, possibilities for pod-casting, hopes for embedding professional development at our sites, as well as tons of ready-to-use materials to support our teaching of writing and to share with others.

In addition to the exposure to the hot topics about writing, the Santee Wateree contingency also had time—though somewhat limited—to enjoy the beauty and culture of Philadelphia itself. Visits to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross’s home, spectacular in their own rights, actually paled in comparison for some of us who basked in the warmth of a visit to Edgar Allan Poe’s home. A trip to the Reading Terminal Market brought memories of travels to some who have traveled far and wide and left those of us who are not cosmopolites taking it all in with our mouths agape.

The journey—into a land rich with history—reminded us all of the rich journey into which we can invite our students as we teach them the joy of writing, equipping them with strategies for success while providing them with opportunities to explore their own interests. Who knows? Perhaps we have our very own Poe right here among us now. Without our collaborative expertise, he could be in a classroom napping; napping instead of preparing himself to wow us one day with his writing for which we will be clapping, clapping. Celebrate with us as we seek to advance the cause of the Santee Wateree Writing Project as we implement some of the ideas we gathered at the National Writing Project Annual Meeting.

-Posted by Diane Champion