Schools across the nation are signing up for Digital Learning Day, a national campaign that celebrates innovation in the classrooms on February 1st. On this day, administrators, teachers, parents, and students everywhere will unite to discuss the ways in which technology has revolutionized the curriculum and exchange ideas on how to improve computer literacy. Started [...]
Writers in the Schools (WITS) is offering a second price reduction for qualifying schools.Through a generous donation from the Simmons Foundation, Writers in the Schools (WITS) announces a second price reduction for the 2011-2012 school year. The new price—which is nearly half of last year’s fee—is available for Title 1 schools with 60% or more students eligible [...]
By Marcia
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Also posted in art, creativity, education, essay, Houston, student, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged creative writing, literacy, Standardized test, Title 1 School
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The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities recently released a report entitled “Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools.” It describes an educational system in crisis and suggests that arts-rich schools may be the answer to this country’s dire situation. One of the most potent recommendations is to increase the [...]
Writers in the Schools is a proud sponsor of the Houston Arts Partners inaugural conference, Shaping the Future of Education & Creating 21st Century Leaders, taking place on September 13, 2011 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston as part of National Arts in Educations Week. The conference will bring together a diverse representation of 300 educators, administrators, researchers, [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in art, creativity, Lesson plan, writers in the schools
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Tagged Arts, Education, Houston, houston arts partners, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Professional development, training, workshops
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WITS welcomes new and returning writers to the 2011-2012 school year with two exciting afternoons of training on Friday, August 26th, and Saturday, August 27th. Renee Watson, author, actress, and teaching artist for Community Word Project, will kick off orientation with a workshop on Talking Back to the World: Empowering Students to Define Themselves through [...]
If you’re a teacher trying to figure out her first-day-of-school writing prompt, visit the Northern Nevada Writing Project (NNWP) for some wonderful, interactive writing lessons that will get you off to a brilliant beginning. The NNWP WritingFix page is set up for teachers and features many helpful ideas, routines, and practices for the writing classroom. [...]
By Marcia
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Also posted in education, inspiration, Lesson plan, publishing, writers in the schools
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Tagged Classroom, Education, Educators, K through 12, Lesson plan, student, teacher, Teaching Resources
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In order to continue serving Houston’s low income students, WITS has reduced fees to levels used in the 1990s. Interested parents, teachers, and school administrators can find out more about this opportunity here.
5) Students gain self-esteem through authorship and public performances. 4) In 10 years of data, WITS students show marked improvement in literacy skills and higher standardized test scores. 3) We tailor the project to match your students’ needs and your school’s budget. 2) WITS in-services and professional development workshops have changed teachers’ lives. 1) WITS [...]
By WITS Houston
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Also posted in creativity, education, essay, Houston, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged empowering writers, get wits, Professional development, professional development for teachers, Standardized test, texas, wits
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When I applied to intern at Writers in the Schools (WITS), I wasn’t exactly sure what I would learn. As an education major, I had no background in creative writing and very limited experience with non-profits. I wondered what sort of insights would I gain from working with WITS. Two short months later, I am leaving [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in art, creativity, education, Houston, imagination, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged creative writing, Education, Houston Internship, intern, summer internship, teacher, teaching internship, WITS Internship
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WITS is looking for 10-12 writers who can teach the joy of creative writing to young people. Employment is part-time, typically 2-6 hours of teaching one day a week from September – May. A yearlong commitment is required; however, writers who are selected to be on the WITS roster are not guaranteed immediate teaching opportunities. The [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in education, fiction, Houston, poetry, writer, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged creative writing teacher, paid writing jobs, teacher jobs, teacher positions, teaching creative writing, teaching jobs in Texas, writers in residence, writing jobs
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One of my favorite lessons to teach this year was the Companion Poem. I based the lesson idea loosely on William Blake’s companion poems from Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. In these two books Blake included some poems by the same title and generally about the same topic, but written from different perspectives. [...]
It’s common to have students with writer’s block. They sit and stare at the paper. They fidget and talk to friends. They complain they have no ideas. Teachers use many strategies to get the “reluctant writer” to start writing. This summer my teaching partner and I are using what we call the “Brain Pop” to [...]
Psychometrician Johnson O’Connor studies factors leading to career achievement. His studies cover a wide range of areas, including age and level of education. Every time he analyzed the data, he got the same results: the better a person’s vocabulary, the better correlation with success. Scientists think that that a bigger vocabulary is connected to the [...]
I used to go into classrooms with a very clear idea of the poems and stories I wanted the students to create. I imagined beautiful, lyrical language, deep emotional revelations, memorable, personal themes. Then I started reading some of the research about boys and writing. I learned from experts such as Ralph Fletcher and Peg [...]
This week AOL named the six best summer camps in Houston, and ours made the list! Here’s the write-up: Once upon a time there was a summer camp that inspired a passionate love affair with writing. And every camper lived happily ever after. For ages 4-18. Check out the Summer Creative Writing Workshops sponsored by WITS and [...]
