NNWP
College of Education
Mailstop 288
Univ. of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada 89557

Phone: 775-784-1161
Fax: 775-784-4758

New Course!  Writing Across the Curriculum Techniques: Wacky We-Search and Deeper Student Thinking

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

Here's an exciting new course for 2008-2009 that brings together the recent work of three Northern Nevada Writing Project Teacher Consultants. Thanks to a grant from the Northwest Regional Professional Development Program, this course will be offered three times during the 2008-2009 school year.

Course Details: Writing is a tool that can (and should) be used in every classroom, no matter what the content. Students who can write about what they’ve learned are able to show their teachers exactly how deep they understand the topic. Well-crafted writing across the curriculum lessons and prompts help teachers find ways to make students think deeply about topics while showing what they understood about the day’s lesson.Come explore enjoyable ways to assign writing a cross the curriculum tasks, using Barry Lane’s 51 Wacky We-Search Reports and the NNWP’s Going Deep with Compare & Contrast Guide. Participants will each get a complimentary copy of both these excellent resources when they complete the course.

Intended audience: Upper elementary through high school teachers.
Credits: 1 WCSD recertification credit
Cost: $25...If you're a Northern Nevada Writing Project TC, you will have your $25 reimbursed at the completion of the course.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: Mondays and Tuesdays, February 2, 3, 9, 10 and 23, 2009 4:15 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: 380 Edison Way, North Training Room (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructors:  Corbett Harrison, NNWP's Technology Liaison; Carol Gebhardt, Coordinator of the NNWP's Going Deep with Compare & Contrast Guide; and Denise Boswell, Coordinator of the HistoryFix Website.

Our Lesson-Building Workshop Series!  Using Picture Books as Mentor Texts for Skill-Based Writing Lessons

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

The NNWP offers a four-part lesson-building series every year. Teachers can take one or all in the series that explores four different types of "mentor texts": picture books, chapter book excerpts, literature excerpts, and poetry.

Course Details: The most effective writing lessons skillfully use a “mentor text,” which is a published piece of writing that students borrow ideas or stylistic devices from as they take an original piece of writing through the writing process. In this course, participants will take part in six excellent writing lessons that are presented by some of the Northern Nevada Writing Project’s most dynamic writing teachers. For the final session of the class, participants will bring in a favorite picture book and design a brand new writing lesson for their own classrooms.

Intended audience: K-12 teachers.
Credits: 1 WCSD recertification credit
Cost: $25...If you're a Northern Nevada Writing Project TC, you will have your $25 reimbursed at the completion of the course.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp (This course will be available for registration in September of 2008)

When: February 3, 10, 17, and 24th, 4:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Where: Double Diamond ES, Computer Lab (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructor:  Kim Polson, NNWP Family Outreach Coordinator

New Course:  Still Writing On! Experiencing a True Writer's Workshop

Access this inservice class's companion website by clicking here.

Course Details: This class is designed to encourage teachers in their current writing program as well as acquaint them with best practices as indicated in current professional literature. Participants will be actively involved in a wide variety of writing activities. Through reflection on our own experiences, direct participation in an authentic writer’s workshop, and a close examination of current professional literature, participants will choose writing strategies that will support and advance their classroom practices.

Intended audience: K-8 teachers.
Credits: 1 WCSD recertification credit
Cost: $25...If you're a Northern Nevada Writing Project TC, you will have your $25 reimbursed at the completion of the course.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: Mondays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2009 4:30– 7:45 p.m.
Where: Silver Lake Elementary, 8719 Red Baron (Reno), room D2 (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructor:  Patty Foncault, NNWP TC

New Course!  Writing Across the Curriculum Techniques: Wacky We-Search and Deeper Student Thinking

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

Here's an exciting new course for 2008-2009 that brings together the recent work of three Northern Nevada Writing Project Teacher Consultants. Thanks to a grant from the Northwest Regional Professional Development Program, this course will be offered three times during the 2008-2009 school year.

Course Details: Writing is a tool that can (and should) be used in every classroom, no matter what the content. Students who can write about what they’ve learned are able to show their teachers exactly how deep they understand the topic. Well-crafted writing across the curriculum lessons and prompts help teachers find ways to make students think deeply about topics while showing what they understood about the day’s lesson.Come explore enjoyable ways to assign writing a cross the curriculum tasks, using Barry Lane’s 51 Wacky We-Search Reports and the NNWP’s Going Deep with Compare & Contrast Guide. Participants will each get a complimentary copy of both these excellent resources when they complete the course.

Intended audience: Upper elementary through high school teachers.
Credits: 1 WCSD recertification credit
Cost: $25...If you're a Northern Nevada Writing Project TC, you will have your $25 reimbursed at the completion of the course.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: Mondays and Tuesdays, March 2, 3, 9, 10 and 24, 2009 4:15 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: 380 Edison Way, North Training Room (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructors:  Corbett Harrison, NNWP's Technology Liaison; Carol Gebhardt, Coordinator of the NNWP's Going Deep with Compare & Contrast Guide; and Denise Boswell, Coordinator of the HistoryFix Website.

Final Spring Session!  I-Pods Across the Curriculum: Song Lyrics, Video, and Podcasts to Inspire Powerful Writing

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

Course Details: Ready to establish a “Classroom I-Pod”? A classroom I-Pod belongs to the teacher, and from it, songs, videos, and podcasts can be played to inspire student writers. In this course, teachers will participate in half a dozen demonstration lessons that showcase innovative writing lessons inspired by media that can be played on a classroom I-Pod. Participants will each receive a classroom I-Pod and I-Pod accessories to help them present lessons to their students. Who may register? This session of this new inservice is for NNWP Teacher Consultants only.

Intended audience: Any NNWP Teacher Consultant or Specially-invited Secondary Teacher
Credits: 1 state recertification credit
Cost: None (this is a grant-funded inservice course)

This session of this new inservice is for NNWP Teacher Consultants only. The course will be offered in the Fall of 2009 to all teachers, but this session is "by invite" only. If you're a TC and would like to participate, please contact Rob Stone through Groupwise.

When: Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 4:00– 8:15 p.m.
Where: Reed High School, 1350 Baring Boulevard, Room 501 (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructors:  Rob Stone, NNWP's I-Pod Coordinator, and Corbett Harrison, NNWP's Technology Liaison.

Back by Popular Demand!  Integrating Art and Writing with K-6 Grade Writers

Course Details: Great student writing is often preceded by a meaningful art project. Great student artwork is often preceded by a meaningful writing project. This course will explore artistic and writing prompts that complement each other while demonstrating step by step procedures that provide success for student and teacher. Class participants will share a successful writing and art project they use in their classroom. We will also discuss adaptations to different grade levels and teaching styles.

Intended audience: K-6th teachers.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: March 12, 19, 26, and April 2, 9, 4:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Where: Whitehead Elementary , 3570 Waterfall Drive (Sparks), room TBA (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructor:  Sandra Young, NNWP TC

Back by Popular Demand!  Using Excerpts from Chapter Books as Mentor Texts for Skill-Based Writing Lessons: A Lesson-Building Workshop

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

Course Details: The most effective writing lessons skillfully use a “mentor text,” which is a published piece of writing that students borrow ideas or stylistic devices from as they take an original piece of writing through the writing process. In this course, participants will take part in six excellent writing lessons (all inspired by excerpts from chapter books) that are presented by some of the Northern Nevada Writing Project’s most dynamic writing teachers. For the final session of the class, participants will bring in a favorite chapter book and design a brand new writing lesson for their own classrooms.

Intended audience: Focus will be for upper elementary through high school teachers.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: March 30, April 6, 20, and 27, 4:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Where: Reed High School, 1350 Baring Boulevard (Sparks), room TBA (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructor:  Amie Newberry, NNWP TC

New Course!  Improving Narrative and Memoir with 4th - 8th Grade Writers: authentic writing test preparation ideas and lessons

Click here to print/view this course's one-page flyer.

Course Details: Our fifth and eighth grade writing examinations are well-known for prompting students to write a passage that is narrative in nature. In this new in-service course, we will use two of Ralph Fletcher’s books--How to Write Your Life Story and Marshfield Dreams--to explore the authentic techniques a published author gives to students who are writing to narrative prompts or creating longer memoirs. Using Fletcher’s advice, teachers will craft both narrative passages and classroom mini-lessons that can be shared with their students. Participants will each receive one complimentary copy of both books when they have completed the course.

Intended audience: 4th - 8th grade teachers
Credits: 1 WCSD recertification credit
Cost: $25...If you're a Northern Nevada Writing Project TC, you will have your $25 reimbursed at the completion of the course.

To register: http://www.solutionwhere.com/wcsdregistration/cw/main.asp

When: March 31, April 7, 21, and 28, 4:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Where: Mendive Middle School, 1900 Whitewood Drive, Room 512 (Driving Directions)
Lead Instructor:  Dena Harrison, NNWP 6 Traits Coordinator

The following two Community courses require no registration, but participants must contact the group leaders listed below to find out meeting times and locations:

The NNWP's Community of Writers
Looking for a forum to share your writing?  Join NNWP consultants bi-monthly for our writing response group. Meetings are held alternating Wednesdays in the homes of group members beginning at 4:30. Up to two inservice credits available.

Contact Jodie Black (jblack@washoe.k12.nv.us) for more information.

The NNWP's Community of Readers
For 2007-2008, our Community of Readers in-service will focus on award-winning children's literature.  Come join us as we read Newberry Winners and Coretta Scott King Winners.  After reading and discussing the books, our group will be selecting one or more of the titles on which to design writing lessons that we will post and share on-line.  Meetings will be held on various Mondays throughout the school year.

Contact Kim Leslie (kleslie@washoe.k12.nv.us) for more information.

Our Mission

The Northern Nevada Writing Project is committed to improving student writing by promoting the teaching of writing, recognizing teacher expertise and leadership, building a foundation of research, and encouraging teachers as writers.