Welcome to the 2018 Invitational Summer Institute of the Lake Michigan Writing Project.

We are teachers from West Michigan, K-16, studying the teaching of writing together. We read. We write. We respond. We reflect. We plan for next year.

Mission:

“The LMWP exists to improve the teaching of writing in America’s schools through K-16 collaborations, knowledge construction, and community engagement.”

Collaboration – The LMWP exists to create diverse, respectful, and inclusive spaces for K-16 teachers to collaboratively study the teaching of writing in all disciplines.

Knowledge – The LMWP exists to generate evidence-based knowledge about responsible practices in the teaching of 21st century writing through collaborations among K-16 teachers of writing.

Engagement – The LMWP exists to engage K-16 teachers, students, community members, and policy makers in efforts to improve the teaching of writing

We are “teachers teaching teachers” to collaborate, to construct knowledge, and to engage their community.

Vision:

The Lake Michigan Writing Project in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at GVSU will assist teachers locally and nationally to improve the teaching of writing. Our network of teacher leaders will work in innovative and inclusive ways to

• create knowledge to support high impact experiential and intercultural learning opportunities,
• offer collaborative teaching and learning experiences for K-16 teachers,
• promote these learning opportunities,
• mentor new teacher leaders,
• model inclusion and change for the university by respectfully connecting local, national and global communities of teachers, and
• promote applied sustainability in education.

Guiding Principles:

We value

• Respect: A collegial environment where K-16 teachers listen to one another and act in an open and transparent manner.
• Diversity: Diversity of teaching level, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, culture, and perspective as a source of creativity and knowledge.
• Integrated Knowledge: Explorations of 21st century writing practices and technologies that cross disciplinary boundaries and grade levels.
• Risk-taking: Observation-based innovation to encourage individual approaches to scholarship, teaching and learning.
• Engaged Scholarship: Advocacy work and experiential programs that meet the needs of teachers and learners in our community
• Collaboration: Programs that enable educators from all grade levels to work together.