San Marcos Writing Project

The San Marcos Writing Project (SMWP) is one of 190 sites of the National Writing Project (17 in California), which
is a professional development network of teachers whose goal is to improve student-writing
achievement by improving the teaching and learning of writing in the nation's schools.
The writing project is a resource for teachers and school districts. During the school
year, writing project teachers can also provide professional development workshops
for other teachers in their schools and communities. We host Open Institutes around
relevant topics for two weeks in the summer or two to three day workshops during the
school year. We also host Young Writer's Camps for two weeks in the summer at school
sites around North San Diego County for students in grades two through eight.
Resources for Educators during School Closings due to COVID-19
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Fall and Winter Virtual Workshops
- Oct. 16, 2021 9:00-10:30: “Encouraging Writing Improvement Through Growth Matrices”
with Sierra Zounes
- Learn to use growth matrices to promote focused writing improvement in specific areas
and help students avoid the “one and done” mentality. This systematic process guides
students through metacognitive reflection about their writing where they learn how
to identify their struggles, self-evaluate, assign personal growth steps, and receive
teacher feedback. Flyer and registration information here
- Oct. 30, 2021 9:00-10:30: “The Ultimate Classroom Magazine Project” with Harmony Bell
- Nov. 6, 2021, 10-11:30: Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy
- Dr. Gholdy Muhammad will demonstrate researched-based culturally and historically
responsive equity practices and offer pedagogical examples of lesson and unit plans. Flyer and registration information here
- November 13, 2021 9:00-10:30 “Apply Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genius framework
to your curriculum”
- led by SMWP Teacher Leaders Kriscia Cabral and Cathy Lachel. Teacher leaders who
have applied Dr. Muhammad’s framework to their curriculum will share their examples
and support teachers in developing their own applications. Flyer and registration information here
- Feb. 12, 2022 10-12: “Getting started with Project Based Learning” with Dr. John Spencer
Invitational Summer Institute 2021 website
Teen Writers' Camp July 26-30, 2021
- July 26-30, 2021: Oak Valley Middle School
- Each day 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. will include: workshop setting, writing Project-trained
teachers, writing notebook and writing supplies provided
Objectives:
- Creative Writing - Writing Prompts and Strategies, Mentor Writing, Poetry, Writing
Strategies, Author
Visits
- Academic Writing - Argument Writing, Tips for Writing Success, Self-Editing and Monitoring,
Visits from
those in Writing Careers
Register Today! Informational Flyer
Young Writers' Camp August 2-6, 2021
- August 2-6, 2021: Highland Ranch Elementary
- Each day 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. will include: participate in daily lessons that focus
on social, emotional and individual strengths for each child, learn about genre and
figurative language focused lessons, write in a friendly, supportive setting, write
fiction, poetry, or autobiographical sketches and essays, work on correctness for
publication: grammar, spelling and punctuation
The San Marcos Writing project invites students entering 2nd through 6th grade to
participate in a
workshop led by Writing Project teachers. Registration fees include a notebook, writing
materials and all
supplies necessary for the workshop. Please join our Writing Camp that will emphasize
social, emotional
and individual growth for each child.
Register Today! Informational Flyer
New Teacher Writing Institute
- July 19-23, 2021: 2021 New Teacher Writing Institute
- Each day (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) will include: demonstrations with practical resources to
use
immediately; time to work with experienced classroom teachers; and opportunities to
collaborate
with grade-level colleagues.
This 5-day, virtual (via Zoom) writing institute for new K-12 teachers (0 to 5 years)
will provide numerous opportunities for you to become more comfortable with engaging
students with high-interest writing. Writing Institute topics will include:
• Creating the conditions for standards-based, effective writing in your classroom
• Providing meaningful feedback for student writing, all while handling the “paper
load”
• Writing with ELD & Special Ed students
• Using technology to facilitate learning
• Meeting students’ social-emotional learning needs
Register Today! Informational Flyer
Invitational Summer Institute
The San Marcos Writing Project (SMWP) provides opportunities in professional development
for K-12 teacher practitioners in all disciplines, administrators, and curriculum specialists. The SMWP is a National Writing Project
site dedicated to the improvement of student learning through the effective teaching
of writing in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Our aim is for fellows
to come away from the Institute with a renewed sense of excitement about and commitment
to teaching, writing and the teaching of writing. This institute will focus on effective reading and writing strategies in face to face and online classrooms.
June 21 - July 22, 2021 | Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Plus 2 half-day follow-up meetings on Saturdays during the 2021-2022 Academic Year
(1 in Fall, 1 in Spring)
- Participants will receive a $500 stipend for attending the five-week summer institute
and $100 for attending a fall meeting and $100 for attending a spring meeting. There
is no cost to district or school.
- Participants may receive up to 6 units of graduate credit for a reduced fee.
Apply Today! Informational Flyer Contact Laurie Stowell with Questions
SMWP 20th Anniversary Celebration: Postponed
- Postponed until Spring or Summer 2021. Details to be released.
SMWP In the News
Conferences
Additional Information & Resources
- ELA Common Core Inservice Options
If you are interested in becoming more familiar with the California Common Core State
Standards, exploring strategies to align current teaching practices with the new standards,
developing materials to use during the school year, and understanding how the new
assessments could impact practice, invite SMWP teacher leaders to your school site!
Learn more.
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- What is the Writing Project?
The San Marcos Writing Project (SMWP) is one of 190 sites of the National Writing
Project (17 in California), which is a professional development network of teachers
whose goal is to improve student-writing achievement by improving the teaching and
learning of writing in the nation’s schools.
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- What is the Summer Invitational Institute?
The summer invitational institute is the centerpiece of the work of the writing project.
All writing project sites offer a 20-day summer institute in the middle of the summer.
The San Marcos Writing Project offers a five week, four days a week summer institute
in July with a daily schedule of 8:30-4:00. Teachers apply and twenty to twenty-five
are invited to attend. The invitational institute develops teacher leaders in the
area of writing. All writing projects operate on a teachers-teaching-teachers model.
Teachers attend the invitational summer institutes at Cal State San Marcos to share
their own best practice and develop their own writing skills.
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- Who attends the Writing Project?
The San Marcos Writing Project serves teachers in kindergarten through twelfth grade
in all disciplines. It is important for articulation about writing occurs across grade
levels. There is also ample opportunity for discussions in grade-alike groups.
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- What happens after the summer institute?
All teachers who attended the summer institute come back together four times a year
for reunions. These reunions often have guest speakers who address relevant writing
topics. Teachers can also participate in book groups (books provided by the project)
and/or writing groups throughout the school year. The San Marcos Writing Project offers
a writing retreat at Mission Inn in Riverside once a year in the fall. We also offer
an annual professional conference that writing project teachers can attend and present
their best practice to other area teachers. Teachers suggest other means of support
at the invitational institute. Teachers who attend the invitational institute can
take advantage of the support of the writing project for the remainder of their professional
careers.
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- What else does the writing project do?
The writing project is a resource for teachers and school districts. During the school
year, writing project teachers can also provide professional development workshops
for other teachers in their schools and communities. We host Open Institutes around
relevant topics for two weeks in the summer or two to three day workshops during the
school year. We also host Young Writer’s Camps for two weeks in the summer at school
sites around North San Diego County for students in grades two through eight.
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- Summer Institute Website Archive
- Summer Institute Videos