What can PLWP do for Administrators?
We can work with you and your school’s professional development team to deliver a school-based inservice series based on your school’s needs. To arrange for one or more of our National Writing Project school-based in-services, contact: Jane Frick, site director (Phone: 816 271-4315) or Heidi Mick, PLWP professional development director. Together, we will develop a memorandum of agreement matching the literacy-based services conducted by our NWP-certified Teacher Consultants with your school’s professional development needs and school improvement plans.
Book a Teacher Consultant to Assist with Using TechKnowFiles
Looking for ways to use technology effectively at your school? Browse our TechKnowFiles — online “Best Practice” teaching templates for educators who want to use a particular technology tool to improve learning. The templates were developed by PLWP Teacher Consultants (TCs) as a part of PLWP’s participation in the NWP’s national Seed Sites Technology Initiative, 2005-present. The TCs who created the TechKnowFiles are available to lead workshops or provide consultations at area schools for teachers wishing to implement the technology tools. To arrange for a TC to come to your school, contact Heidi Mick, (PLWP professional development director and TechKnowFile cadre coordinator.)
School Inservices
Since 2002, Prairie Lands Writing Project has successfully conducted inservices throughout north Missouri, including at schools in Stanberry, Chilllicothe, Mound City, Hamilton, Excelsior Springs, Savannah, Platte City, Lathrop, St Joseph, and Kansas City (Park Hill School District). In our programs, PLWP uses the National Writing Project’s model of professional development with its thirty-year track record of improving students’ writing and learning.
As a NWP site, we are an authorized provider of standards-aligned professional development and eligible for NCLB funding under
Title I, Part A (Professional development and mentoring programs for Title I schools and teachers)
Title II, Part A (Professional development for helping teachers meet NCLB teacher requirements; Professional development in subject-matter knowledge, improving teaching skills, and assisting teachers to use Missouri’s content area Grade Level Expectations and Missouri Assessment Program to improve student achievement)
Title II, Part D (Professional development focused on enhancing education through technology)
Our school-based professional development content can include, but is not limited to
Implementing Writer’s Workshop and/or Reader’s Workshop
Preparing students for academic writing and critical reading across the disciplines
Preparing students for writing on demand—district assessments, MAP, ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement, etc.
Helping teachers design curriculum, assignments, and assessments to implement an effective reading and writing program
Using assessment results to inform instruction
Teaching response revision and editing
Using technology to teach writing
Facilitating book study groups for teachers
Middle School Literacy Academies: A Missouri Writing Projects Network Initiative
2007 MWSU Literacy Academies Slide Show
Literacy Academy Flyer
Since June 2006, Prairie Lands Writing Project (PLWP) and the other four National Writing Project sites in Missouri have been under contract with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to deliver Middle School Literacy Academies at each of the state’s nine Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDCs). Read more about how the NWP sites in Missouri (MWPN) developed the statewide inservice series with DESE’s assessment division.
The academies are a multi-year project designed to improve students’ performance on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), Missouri’s “No Child Left Behind” accountability exam. The state’s nine Regional Professional Development Centers host/sponsor the academies, with at least two National Writing Project Teacher Consultants (TCs) facilitating each academy. The TCs use a common format, delivery, set of instructional resources and assessment materials.
For 2007-2008, PLWP is delivering “Year One: Reading and Writing” and “Year Two: Teacher Inquiry” Middle School Literacy Academies at Missouri Western State University (in conjunction with the Northwest Regional Professional Development Center), and at Truman State University (in conjunction with the Northeast Regional Professional Development Center). (continued)
