Tar River Writing Project

On Wednesday, August 20, TRWP Co-Director Will Banks, TRWP Associate Director Jennifer Sharpe-Salter, and new TC Terri Van Sickle were interviewed by Frank Stasio on the WUNC/NPR show "The State of Things".

The interview itself can be heard on the website for "The State of Things" and includes a history of the Tar River Writing Project and its connections to the larger national network, as well as insightful commentary from area teachers about writing in K-12 schools.  TC Terri Van Sickle also reads a short excerpt from one of the stories she wrote as part of the 2008 Summer Institute.

The 2008 TRWP Summer Institute was visited by a writer from ECU's Pieces of Eight, who graciously write a short piece on the joy and excitement she saw in the room.  The TRWP had a banner summer with 15 participants and 4 institute facilitators!

With its array of warm-hued floor lamps and an always-on coffee maker, the
home for the Tar River Writing Project in ECU’s Bate Building feels more like a
cozy writers’ lair than a classroom.

And that’s by design. For the second summer in a row, ECU English professor
Will Banks and English education professor Todd Finley are helping the
region’s public school teachers to get in touch with their creative side.

“We want teachers to think about themselves as writers, and to explore how
this work can transform the ways they teach writing,” Banks said.

*****

Natasha Martin, who just finished her first year teaching English at Greene
Early College in Snow Hill, is one of several teachers new to the profession who
participated in the program.

“Being a new teacher, I don’t have a lot of frameworks in place, so it’s been
good having other people here to talk about what they’ve done that’s worked in
the classroom,” she said.

You can read the rest of the article in Pieces of Eight (pdf)!

On June 26, fifteen teachers from around Eastern North Carolina began their adventure as part of the 2008 Invitational Summer Institute.  The TRWP is excited about the knowledge, expertise, and excitement that these folks have brought into the project!

Participants for the 2008 Invitational Summer Institute include the following:

• Catherine Allen (The Oakwood School)
• Trela Anderson (Fayetteville State U)
• Mahalia Breen (Williamston High School)
• Joanne Dunn (East Carolina University)
• Shannon Gorka (Pactolus School)
• Carleen Lewis (Ayden Middle School)
• Randall Martoccia (East Carolina University)
• Melissa Morlock (Williamston High School)
• Natasha Simmons (Green Early College)
• Jennifer Smyth (Hertford County High School)
• John Suralik (Havelock High School)
• Sharon Sweeley (Nash Central High School)
• Terri Van Sickle (West Craven High School)
• Delane Weathersby (Northwest Elementary School)
• Betsey White (Greene County Middle School)

The Summer Institute is again being facilitated by Professors Will Banks and Todd Finley, though this year Associate Director Jennifer Sharpe-Salter and Technology Liaison Jonathan Bartels have joined the leadership team and are taking an active role in designing and implementing the Institute.

The Tar River Writing Project is pleased to announce that applications are  now being accepted for participation in  the 2008 Invitational Summer Institute. 

The 2008 Invitational Summer Institute will run Monday - Friday, June 26 - July 25, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Participants can expect four weeks of rich and  purposeful interaction with other teachers as they take time to  write and explore together. 

Just look what previous Summer Institute participants have said about the experience:

One of the best things I experienced as part of the Summer Writing Institute was the effect of a nurturing and supportive environment on the development of writers. Students with this type of experience will write willingly. During the institute we supported, praised, encouraged and provided meaningful feedback on our writing pieces and every activity. We felt free to share our pieces in this type of an environment.
-- Veronica Roberson

I loved the sharing and the process that unfolded. The Institute brought in so many teacher consultants that were inspiring and full of concrete ideas to use in the classroom. The articles selected for our readings guided me intensely in my research, the exercises stretched my mind; I played with new ideas, and muddled through the chaos that we were warned about as part of the writing process.
-- Jane Gardner

The Tar River Writing Project steeped me in a writing community that continues even now that my summer institute experience has ended.  This community sustains my writing and teaching life by inspiring me, encouraging me, giving me feedback on my writing, and sharing their writing and teaching journeys with me.
-- Jennifer Sharpe-Salter

Breaking news!  The participants for the 2007 TRWP Summer Invitational Institute have been selected and we're ready to host our first Pre-Institute for prospective participants to meet and learn more about what's in store this summer in the writing project.

• When?
  Saturday, June 2, 2007

• Time?
  9:00 am – 2:00 pm

• Where?
  ECU Bate Bldg, Rm 2015

At the Pre-Institute, participants will receive books and materials related to the Summer Institute, will learn about the Summer Institute itself, and will experience a teaching demonstration. A light deli lunch will be provided.