Seven Valleys Writing Project

SEVEN VALLEYS WRITING PROJECT PROGRESS

Recent Developments

• Completed our first Summer Institute at SUNY Cortland's Main Street facility located in the Beard Building.
• Awarded matching funds from the Department of Education’s National Writing Project (NWP) and SUNY Cortland.
• Established Advisory Board of district and College representatives including President Erik Bitterbaum and others from SUNY Cortland
• Received strong support from faculty in many secondary education areas on Cortland’s campus.

Our greatest accomplishment so far, however, can be measured by our ability to garner support for the simple message of the NWP: schools teach learning more than they do any particular subject. Writing is a powerful tool for making knowledge in all disciplines and for all ages. The NWP supports the efforts of master teachers who wish to deepen their understanding of their subjects and their pedagogical efficacy by developing themselves as writers. Teachers in the region have responded to this message with strong enthusiasm and commitment.

Future Plans

• Finances: We are working on tertiary grants that will help us support the Writing Project in future years in addition to the college’s matching funds.
• Publicity: We have strong support on campus through Pete Koryzno’s office
• Technology: We are working to develop grants for technology in the Beard Building
• In-service: Teachers will be presenting in-house demonstrations of writing pedagogy on campus starting in the fall of 2008

Contact Information

• David Franke, Director. 112 Old Main Building, English Department, SUNY Cortland, Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045. dtfranke (at) cortland (dot) edu; (607) 753-5945
• Brian G. Fay, Co-director. OCM BOCES Cortland Alternative High School, 250 Port Watson St., Cortland, NY 13045. brianfay (at) gmail (dot) com: (607) 758-9564