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News About the Eastern Iowa Writing Project
 

 Summer Institute News

The 2008 Summer Writing Project Institute was attended by Iowa and Illinois teachers and facilitated by Mary Mulvihill (Pleasant Valley), Janet Hunt (East Moline), and Mike Millar (Aledo).  The group met for four weeks and studied about teaching and learning writing.  During that time teachers wrote, read, talked, and planned.  An on-site library of 500 professional books and a notebook of hundreds of articles gave impetus to expanded thoughts about teaching and learning.  The luxury of time to read and write during the institute met with great approval by the teachers. Some comments from teachers in the 2008  institute included the following:

I feel like this class, EIWP has been a gift to myself.

I have learned so much from this Writing Institute….I feel it makes learning more comfortable and less threatening. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have to pursue our own learning with the extra time given.

I find myself thinking about writing nearly all the time. Actually, I’ve come to think of writing as a gift.

The professional readings have provided much insight into the world of writing as well; many of these ideas can be incorporated into my classes too.

What I see as the true strength of the institute is the time for reading, writing,and reflection.  Thank you for having the foresight to value this aspect of your program and not shorten it!  The time given is awesome!

This writing institute is a community.  We’ve gotten to know each other, find common interests (besides teaching and students) and share funny stories with each other. I feel like I’m being challenged creatively and mentally.  I haven’t felt that way in years.

I  feel this institute has allowed me the time to really delve into what’s going on inside of me, as a writer, as a teacher, as a person. 

I am thrilled with the content of the institute and I’m glad I decided to take the course.

EIWP Seminar

Since the 2003 – 2004 school year, EIWP has held a year-long writing seminar for EIWP institute teachers each school year.  The seminar is designed for teachers to continue to study their teaching during the year and to dialogue with other teachers about what is happening.  Another seminar is being held during the 2008-2009 seminar for ten teachers who have completed an EIWP summer institute. The facilitator for the seminar is Mike Millar, a fifth grade teacher from Aledo, IL.
 

EIWP Young Writers’ Conference

On May 13, 2007, 450 students from first through sixth grade attended the Annual EIWP Young Writers’ Conference on the St. Ambrose campus.  The morning is was a celebration of writing for students who shared a piece of their own writing with a group of other students.  They also had the opportunity to attend a workshop on some aspect of expression including writing and the arts.  All students were treated to an assembly by Comedy Sportz, the popular improvisational acting troupe from Rock Island. It was a great morning that was made possible by assistance from seventy teachers and retired teachers.  The 2009 Young Writers’ Conference will be held on Tuesday, May 12. The featured performer will be Mike Millar who is a teacher poet, song writer, guitar player, and co-director of EIWP.

EIWP Young Writers’ Camps

The EIWP Young Writers’ Camps will be held again in June 2009.  The Young Writers’ Camps have been very successful. Students enjoy the opportunities to write and share their writing.  Many parents and others attend a reading of writing by the students on the last day of the camps.  Each student receives a T-shirt and receives a published collection of student writing from the camp. Please watch for additional information about the Young Writers’ Camps. Camps are available for first grade, second/third grade, and fourth/fifth grade.

 If you are interested in additional information about any of these programs, please contact Dr. Dick Hanzelka at HanzelkaRichardL@sau.edu or call him at 563-333-6380.

A New Student Program

Starting October 11, Chris Agy, one of our veteran Young Writers’ Camp teachers will continue a new venture started last year.  The first Young Authors’ Club was launched during 2007-2008 with twelve third, fourth, and fifth grade writers. The Young Authors’ Club will meet for ten Saturday mornings during the  2008 – 2009 school year. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Dick Hanzelka at HanzelkaRichardL@sau.edu or at 563-333-6380.

St. Ambrose University
518 West Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
(563) 333-6000
duleydebras@ambrose.sau.edu