Dakota Writing Project

Four teacher-consultants in the Dakota Writing Project have been chosen to attend NWP writing retreats this summer, to work on professional articles about their teaching practice.

Jeannette Jennings (O'Gorman, Sioux Falls) will attend the NWP Writing Retreat B in Santa Fe, New Mexico August 2-5, 2007, where she will work on preparing an article for publication. DWP co-director Michelle Rogge Gannon said, "Jeannette began this article at a local writing retreat sponsored by the Dakota Writing Project and will now have the opportunity to develop this piece further, with the guidance of NWP editors."

Dawn Lewis (Burke Public School), Sue Morrell (Wagner Community Public School), and Reva Potter (Belle Fourche Middle School) will attend "Writing and Technology: A Professional Writing Retreat" at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City, Nebraska, July 25-29, 2007. Participants will have the opportunity to write about classroom activities involving technology or to use newer forms of technology to write their articles, such as digital storytelling, podcasting, or weblogging. Gannon, who is one of the facilitators for the Nebraska retreat, noted, "The Dakota Writing Project will be well represented by this fine group of teacher-consultants, who have demonstrated their commitment to integrating writing and technology."

At both of these retreats, participants will become part of a writing community. They will participate in writing groups, meet with facilitators and guest editors, and spend sustained time working on their writing. According to the NWP website, "The retreats highlight the value of teachers writing about their practice and create the time and support for this work. Writing from the retreats finds its way into local, regional, and national publications, making visible the beliefs and practices of writing project teachers to a broad audience of teachers, administrators, legislators, and policymakers."