Invitational | NWP Connect

What Do DWP Teachers Say About the Summer Institute?

"The Dakota Writing Project Summer Institute really rejuvenated my teaching and my own personal writing. As a high school English teacher, I was able to regain my confidence as a writer and, now, my students also benefit. I am lucky enough to be in a Tablet 1:1 school, and the technology I have been able to incorporate from DWP, along with the writing activities, has been phenomenal!" —Meghan Wounded Head, Hamlin High School

"The Dakota Writing Project Invitational Summer Institute was one of the best professional development courses I have taken to improve my skills as a teacher of writing." —Sue May, Kindergarten, Beadle Elementary, Yankton

"DWP introduced me to the most meaningful discovery of my professional life: 'teachers teaching teachers.' What a difference this collegial experience has made to my teaching and my writing!" —Sue Morrell, Wagner Community School.

"The Dakota Writing Project showed me the writing process I now use to teach my second graders." --Kerry Koppang, St. Agnes School, Vermillion

"The Dakota Writing Project not only opened my mind to the possibility that you could be a writer and a music teacher at the same time, but it showed me how I could combine my two worlds into one. Music and writing go hand in hand, two art forms that complement one another beautifully. I have tried so many activities that work great, add some zest to my band classes, and enforce how important writing really is. Not only that, but DWP has given me access to a great group of teachers with wonderful ideas that they are willing to share. I have had wonderful experiences traveling, eating, crying, laughing, and writing with these people. I have also developed the confidence to share my writing and ideas with many people, all of whom accept, appreciate, and embrace the same things I do. All that, and my teaching has improved tremendously!" --Dawn Lewis, Burke Public School

"Getting together with K-12 teachers from all disciplines helped me view the writing process from many diverse perspectives. Not everyone approaches writing the same way! I never fail to be inspired by learning from teachers from so many different backgrounds. It reminds me that all teachers really do form a great team!" --Sharon Olbertson, Kilian Community College, Sioux Falls

We encourage you to explore the other areas of the Dakota Writing Project website.You can also visit the website of the National Writing Project, where you will be able to explore links to local sites like ours from around the country.

The Dakota Writing Project is one of approximately 190 sites affiliated with the National Writing Project, a non-profit organization. The mission of NWP is to provide "a collaborative university/school staff development program to improve the teaching and learning of writing in the nation's classrooms." DWP and NWP are dedicated to the improvement of writing in all subjects from kindergarten through college. For more information about the Dakota Writing Project, email us at dwp@usd.edu.

How Does the DWP Invitational Summer Institute Differ From Other DWP Opportunities?

As a teacher or administrator, you may have heard about a variety of Dakota Writing Project events and activities, such as the DWP Invitational Summer Institute, study groups, open institutes, writing workshops, panels, and presentations. How does the DWP Invitational Summer Institute differ from other DWP opportunities?

The DWP Invitational Summer Institute prepares teachers to become teacher-consultants—to become leaders in the teaching of writing in South Dakota. It gives them the opportunity, on a daily basis, to write, do research, share ideas, and become part of a community, as they work together intensively for four weeks. Because their focus is primarily the activities of the Invitational Summer Institute, they grow tremendously in that period of time. You can almost see the light bulbs over their heads starting to glow and burn brighter as the days progress.

Each teacher in the Institute is required to do a demonstration. These teachers are carefully coached in preparing these demonstrations. These institute participants also get to participate in the exciting online National Writing Project E-Anthology, communicating with Writing Project teachers in other invitational summer institutes, from across the nation. We also usually bring in a professional writer for one day to work with teachers on their writing, as part of the idea of the Writing Project is to help them see themselves as writers. At the end, they earn six graduate credits, and they become DWP teacher-consultants, eligible to be hired by DWP to prepare demonstrations and do other work for the DWP.

These DWP teacher-consultants are also eligible for other Dakota Writing Project and National Writing Project opportunities, including writing retreats, the annual NWP meeting, national institutes, conferences, seminars, and other events that help them continue to develop as teacher-leaders. You can read about some of their activities and accomplishments on the main DWP home page.

We encourage educators to participate in any DWP event or activity open to them, as these opportunities will help them to become stronger teachers of writing. At the same time, we encourage educators to apply for the Invitational Summer Institute, a powerful experience like no other, that opens doors.

Dakota Writing Project

What Do DWP Teachers Say About the Summer Institute?

How to Apply:

How Does the DWP Invitational Summer Institute Differ From Other DWP Opportunities?

Teachers, join us for the DWP 2013 Invitational Summer Institute!

At this institute, you will