Oklahoma Writing Project Continues to Grow
Co-Director Audra Plummer.
An affiliate of the National Writing Project (nwp.org), the Oklahoma Writing Project has provided the best in professional development for tens of thousands of teachers from all corners of Oklahoma for over 40 years. OWP works to help teachers become better writers and better teachers of writing. OWP works to improve writing, thinking and creativity for all learners.
Associate Professor Crag Hill is co-director of the OWP, along with JRCoE graduate Audra Plummer. Melissa Wicker, who received her doctorate in instructional leadership and academic curriculum from the college, serves as the OWP teacher-leader.
The goals of the OWP are 1) to improve student achievement by improving the teaching of writing and improving learning in the Oklahoma Schools; 2) to help every teacher of writing realize they can be a writer; 3) to provide professional development for teachers to enhance writing instruction; 4) to network Oklahoma teachers for collaboration of best teaching strategies and how to implement them; 5) to help teachers strengthen leadership skills to build leaders in local schools/districts; and 6) to share current research strategies and practices impacting Oklahoma classrooms.
Hill was a second-year English teacher at Berkeley High School in California when he joined the Bay Area Writing Project, often considered the home of the National Writing Project.
“I was struggling in many of the aspects — day-to-day and year-long — of teaching,” Hill said. “I was improving, but that summer attending BAWP transformed by teaching career in every way. I am in my 31st year as an educator in large part because of that experience. I want to make that transformation available to as many teachers as possible.”
The program is looking to grow its connection with OU students and alumni through professional development offerings and support of the program. Current OU students are invited to participate in professional development events for free or at a reduced cost. Graduate students, along with alumni teachers, are encouraged to apply for the Summer Institute, a learning experience designed by teachers for teachers to increase educators’ knowledge, confidence and capacity to help students learn how to write and think with passion and power (returning in 2021). You can learn more about the Summer Institute at https://www.okwp.org/world-famous-summer-writing-institute.html.
As co-director, Hill represents OWP at the national level and helps design the professional development based on the wants and needs of teachers in the state. Hill also engages the writing and poetry communities in Oklahoma and throughout the country, collaborating with the Mark Allen Everett Poetry Reading Series at OU, to bring writers and poets into classrooms throughout Oklahoma.
For more information on how to become involved in the Oklahoma Writing Project, visit https://www.okwp.org/ or contact Hill at crag.a.hill@ou.edu.