About
"While students should be writing more, they are writing less"
The first of its kind in Canada, the Manitoba Writing Project is an Associated International Site of the National Writing Project (NWP) in the United States. There are nearly 200 local NWP sites across the U.S., co-directed by faculty from universities and K-12 schools. The NWP is one of the oldest professional development programs in the U.S. and is the only federally-funded program that focuses on the teaching of writing.
While strong ties with the NWP are important to its success, the Manitoba Writing Project (MBWP) is also defining itself as uniquely Manitoban. The project began with a qualitative study we conducted with educators across the province. Through the research, we found a significant discrepancy: while writing—across levels and disciplines--has become increasingly important to the academic success of Manitoban students, opportunities for Manitoban educators to develop their capacities to write and to teach writing are increasingly rare.
While strong ties with the NWP are important to its success, the Manitoba Writing Project (MBWP) is also defining itself as uniquely Manitoban. The project began with a qualitative study we conducted with educators across the province. Through the research, we found a significant discrepancy: while writing—across levels and disciplines--has become increasingly important to the academic success of Manitoban students, opportunities for Manitoban educators to develop their capacities to write and to teach writing are increasingly rare.
"opportunities for Manitoban educators to develop their capacities to write and to teach writing are increasingly rare"
In effect, while students should be writing more, they are writing less. And, in the context of a networked, connected world, where technology can enable students to engage in writing about authentic issues through a range of formats and modes with audiences around the globe, we see a missed opportunity. When it does happen, writing in school tends to offer students a very limited scope of topics, formats, and audiences—mostly written only for a teacher to read for the purpose of assessment.
In response to the research, we launched the Manitoba Writing Project, which merges our ongoing research in writing for/as social justice and human rights with our roles as teacher educators and our work with schools. Through several new initiatives—including a free, one-day forum for educators and an ongoing evening series of events on writing—we are building a professional network to connect educators through opportunities to collaborate, share, and learn.
Most significantly, in summer 2014, we offered the first Summer Writing Institute, a two-week intensive course in Writing for/as Social Justice and Human Rights. This course has since been offered again in August 2015 and July 2018 with new teachers, participants, guests, and expanded topics.
In response to the research, we launched the Manitoba Writing Project, which merges our ongoing research in writing for/as social justice and human rights with our roles as teacher educators and our work with schools. Through several new initiatives—including a free, one-day forum for educators and an ongoing evening series of events on writing—we are building a professional network to connect educators through opportunities to collaborate, share, and learn.
Most significantly, in summer 2014, we offered the first Summer Writing Institute, a two-week intensive course in Writing for/as Social Justice and Human Rights. This course has since been offered again in August 2015 and July 2018 with new teachers, participants, guests, and expanded topics.
"build, share, and learn"
To learn more about us, including our Summer Writing Institutes, partners, and our members, click on these links. They'll take you where you want to go!