The San Joaquin Valley Writing Project

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WRITING PROJECT
Celebrating Over 25 Years of Excellence in
Teacher Development and Training

San Joaquin Valley Writing Project
LEE Dept. CSU Fresno
5005 Maple Ave.
Fresno, CA 93740-8025
559-278-0219
Joanne McKay, Co-Director
Kathee Godfrey, Co-Director
Faith Nitschke, Co-Director
Dr. Gail Tompkins, Consulting Director

THE WRITING PROJECT MODEL

The San Joaquin Valley Writing Project (SJVWP) at California State University, Fresno is a cooperative school and university program to improve the writing of all students, elementary through university levels. Our goals are to improve writing instructions and empower teachers who teach writing and use writing as a tool for learning. The SJVWP is one the 15 sites affiliated with the California Writing Project and one of more than 160 sites across the United States and around the world that are part of the National Writing Project.

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE NATIONAL WRITING PROJECT MODEL

Working as partners, universities, and schools can promote effective school reform.
Teachers are the best teachers of teachers; successful practicing teachers have greater credibility with colleagues than outside experts.
Invitational institutes should involve teachers from all levels and disciplines.
Writing is fundamental to learning in English and the language arts and all other disciplines.
Writing needs instruction and practice from the early grades through university levels.
Because the processes of writing can best be understood by engaging in them, teachers of writing or who use writing should write themselves.
Real change in classroom practice doesn't happen all at once, but rather, over time.
Effective professional development programs are ongoing and systematic, bringing teachers together throughout their careers to examine successful practices and current research.
What is known about the teaching of writing comes not only from research but from the practice of those who teach writing.
By promoting no single "right" approach to the teaching of writing, the National Writing Project allows for a critical examination of a variety of approaches from a variety of sources.

National Writing Project Link