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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.
Payment Options
- Credit Card
All workshops and camps can now be paid by credit card!
- Check
Make check payable to "CSUSM Corp." and mail to:
Laurie Stowell San Marcos Writing Project Director School of Education, Cal State San Marcos 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92078
2025 Summer Institute for K-16 Teachers
- Dates: June 16th - July 12th, 2025
- Times: Monday through Thursday between 8:30am - 4:00pm
- Modality: Hybrid Institute! 2 days virtual and 2 days in person each week.
- Stipdend: Participants will receive a $500 stipend for attending the four-week summer institute and $100 each for two follow-up days during the academic year.
The San Marcos Writing Project (SMWP) provides opportunities in professional development for K-16 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.
- More Information about the 2025 Summer Institute
- The San Marcos Writing Project, based at CSUSM, was established to give teachers an opportunity to expand their skills in teaching writing.
- Teachers will attend a four-week (four days a week) hybrid, intensive institute and two half-day follow-up meetings on Saturdays during the following academic year. There will be an in-person orientation on Saturday June 7. Lunch provided.
- Participants will receive a $400 stipend for attending the four-week summer institute and $100 for attending a fall meeting and $100 for attending a spring meeting. We are adding $100 to this year’s stipend to offset parking fees and gas costs when we meet in person. There is no cost to district or school.
- Participants are eligible to receive up to 6 units of graduate credit for a reduced fee.
- What to Expect during the Summer Institute
In our Summer Institute we will:
• Write, share our writing, and develop confidence in our own writing.
• Learn research-based reading and writing strategies that can improve the academic achievement of native English-speaking students and non-Native English speakers.
• Read and have conversations about current research, policy, and assessment.
• Build content-based curriculum based on the CA ELA/ELD standards
• Learn to use and integrate digital tools that support reading and writing.
• Learn and use strategies for effective teaching of writing.
• Share and learn approaches for teaching writing and critical literacy across disciplines.
• Develop our leadership skills.
• Use writing to renew and care for ourselves and our students.
Participation in the Summer Institute is invitational only. Please apply below to be considered.
Application Deadline: May 23, 2025
Apply for the 2025 Summer Institute
Habits of Highly Effective Teachers of Writing
- Dates: Jul. 7 - Jul. 11, 2025
- Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
- Location: CSUSM Campus
- Cost: $50.00. No refund after June 30th, 2025. (Explore Payment Options)
Whether you are new to teaching or would like to improve on your current skill level, this five-day, in-person writing institute will meet your needs. 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”.
- Using mentor texts to facilitate learning.
- Using technology to support student writing.
- Topics applicable to grades K-12.
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.
Apply for the Habits of Highly Effective Teachers of Writing
AI in the Writing Classroom: Led by Erika Wanczuk and Jenn Roberts
- Dates: Jun. 25 - Jun. 27, 2025
- Time: 9:00am - 1:30pm
- Location: CSUSM campus
- Cost: $60.00 (check payable to "CSUSM Corp.") No refund after June 18th, 2025. (Explore Payment Options)
AI in the Writing Classroom Registration
Teen Writers' Camp
Join the Teen Writers' Camp for Middle School students this summer! Our theme this summer is "Everyone Has a Story". Read details below:
For Students entering grades 6-9
- Dates: Jul. 28 - Aug. 1, 2025
- Time: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 1:30pm
- Place: CSUSM Campus
Learn More about the Middle School Teen Camp
Register for the Middle School Teen Camp
Young Writers' Camp
Stay tuned for new dates!
SMWP In the News
- “Voices of Military Families”: A year long literacy partnership project
- Videos created by Stuart Mesa Students for the “Voice of Military Families” project
Additional Information & Resources
- ELA Common Core Inservice OptionsIf 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Summer Institute Website Archive
- Summer Institute Videos
- 2019 Writing Marathon at the beach
- 2018 Writing Marathon at the beach
- 2017 Writing Marathon at the beach
- 2014 Writing Marathon at the beach
- 2012 Summer Institute
- 2011 Summer Institute
- 2010 Summer Institute
- 2009 Summer Institute
- 1st Year College Students
Contact Us
Laurie Stowell, SMWP Director
lstowell@csusm.edu
Nancy Pace-Skinner, SMWP Co-Director
mspsret@gmail.com
