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THE PHILADELPHIA WRITING PROJECT

Since 1986, the Philadelphia Writing Project has sponsored an Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) on Writing and Literacy for K-16 educators in the Philadelphia region. The institute engages teachers in reflective inquiries into practice and the processes of teaching and learning.

This year's ISI is supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant from the Library of Congress. In the ISI, teachers will consider how texts such as historical primary sources can support interdisciplinary learning, challenge assumptions of a single story, and connect to contemporary issues and civic conversations. The institute will open inquiries into community, equity, justice, and civically engaged argument writing.

In addition to featuring resources from the Library of Congress, the ISI will engage with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy Framework as well as resources for argument writing developed by the National Writing Project's College, Career, and Community Writers Program.

Applying for the Institute

Program Dates:

The 2023 Invitational Summer Institute will be held Tuesday - Friday, June 20 - 23 and Monday - Friday, June 26 - June 30, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is one Saturday meeting in October.

Complete the Invitational Summer Institute application here.

Credits

Participants will receive 1 CE from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania upon successful completion of all course requirements. 1 CE is equivalent to 3 continuing education credits recognized by the School District of Philadelphia and other educational entities. The course also awards 30 ACT 48 credits.

Cost

Free tuition credit for Philadelphia teachers; $150 book fee

Membership

Participants who complete all fellowship requirements with a grade of passing become Teacher Consultants in the Philadelphia Writing Project and members of the Pennsylvania Writing Project Network and the National Writing Project.

Application Process

The application process is competitive. Applicants need to:

(1) Complete our online form, providing contact information, school information, professional information, and a personal narrative.

The narrative portion asks you to describe your views of teaching and learning, especially ways that you see writing as a part of a life-long learning process. It also asks you to discuss aspects of your teaching that you would be interested in sharing or enhancing by exploring through conversations about classroom practices with other teachers (limited to 500 words, which is equivalent to 1 single-spaced page).

(2) Submit the following documents via email to philwp@gse.upenn.edu or by mail to:

Philadelphia Writing Project
PO Box 30941
Philadelphia, PA 19104

  • letter of commitment filled out and signed by you and your principal or designee.
  • OPTIONAL: A single copy of student writing accompanied by an explanation of the assignment and any questions or concerns