"The visit to the art museum gave me an opportunity to step back from the busy challenges of everyday life and get a sense of renewal.  The exhibits were very inspiring--I especially appreciated the opportunity to share reflections with other people.  The artist Benny Andrews has such a powerful way of creating people and events in his work.  And the water color illustrations of E.B. Lewis (Langston Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers and two other) are beautiful--I wanted to purchase all of his children's books!  It was good to make connections with what the artists created visually and our responses in writing. I am so thankful for the time to relax and gain rejuvenation.  I look forward to the next "continuity" day! "  Cathy Hall TC '09

"Continuity Saturday" at Burroughs and Chapin Art Museum

The Open Summer Institute with Katie Wood Ray was an awesome experience for the sixty plus attendees. Read and listen to the voices of our participants below.

• "To be a writer you have to  be a reader and study other works of art. I have the feeling I will be a better teacher through that journey."
• "I will go back to my classroom and organize text and collect anchor text. Sharing with each other helps us understand they are really writers."
• "Listening to Katie speak is like jumping into a cold mountain lake on a hot summer day--so invigorating!!"
• "I have a deeper understanding about how writers read to have a clear vision of the "craft" of writing, with examples, prior to writing."
• "I will continue to have my students stand on the shoulders of giants......"
• "Prompts.....No More."

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The CAWP directors are pleased to announce the Summer 2010 Open Institute with Bary Lane.  Barry Lane is an internationally known author and speaker, who travels the world sharing his unique style of motivating students to become better writers.  This site is your gateway to a host of teaching aids.  This is also the home of Discover Writing Press, which produces the books and audio and visual tapes and CDs by Barry Lane and other fine writers which support the classrooms of writing teachers worldwide. The actual dates have not been confirmed but it will be in July 2010. “We are please to have Barry back at Coastal,” explained Dr. Janet Files, Director of the Coastal Area Writing Project.

Visit this site later for more information about dates and registration. A professional development opportunity you would not want to miss.

Visit Barry's Website at Discovery Education.

Download application by clicking here.

Julia Pressley, Technology Teacher Consultant, and Bill Gaskins, Tech Liaison, attended the first Technology Leadership Network Retreat in Lake Tahoe, California July 8-12, 2009. Along with Julia and Bill, experienced site leaders from National Writing Project sites from Nebraska, Missouri, Tampa Bay, and other sites gathered to craft resources that will benefit their individual site and other sites across the country. CAWP site was chosen to attend through an application process that was submitted in late January.

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