Writing to Win draws DWP teachers
by DWP Director Nancy Zuercher, University of South Dakota
Ten DWP teachers participated in the three-day Writing to Win Workshop in Mitchell in June. Earning certification as Writing to Win Phase 1 coaches were Melissa Dyson, Lil Manthei, Dixie Lynn Norberg, Tammy Maeschen, Jeannette Jennings, Teresa Berndt, Jon Huber, Debbie Harrison, Lori Hawley, and Nancy Zuercher. Each one can now lead workshops for the program’s Phase 1, Journal Writing.
Writing to Win is based on NWP principles, including teachers modeling their writing for students. Writing to Win also stresses writing often, writing in every class, and self-assessment. On the “Research Base” section of the Writing to Win website, it states, “Writing to Win is a compilation of instructional tools and strategies collected by a group of classroom teachers with whom Dr. Combs worked in the early 1980’s. As he led the creation of the resources guides, the best practice of current research was his guide. Publications of the National Council of Teachers of English, The National Writing Project, The National Curriculum Report, The Center on Education and the Economy and The Assessment Training Institute contributed to the process.”
South Dakota’s DOE has purchased the program and is now in its third year of implementing it, at first through School to Work. Cindy Heckenlaible and Karen Rahn are also certified Phase 1 coaches.
Participation in the workshop is part of DWP’s strategy to place our teachers where they can support and influence state programs with their writing project experiences.
