What is the Writing Project?

The UNC Charlotte Writing Project is a site of the widely acclaimed National Writing Project, a nationwide professional development program for teachers started in 1974 at the University of California, Berkeley. The primary goal of this project is to improve student writing achievement by improving the teaching of writing. Although it operates independently, the UNC Charlotte Writing Project is a part of a network of more than 189 independently funded sites across the US, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and it is effectivelyy changing the course of writing instruction.

Each site conducts annual summer institutes attended by local teachers of all grades and disciplines. Together, these teachers prepare for leadership roles by demonstrating their most effective practices, studying research, and improving their knowledge of writing by becoming writers themselves. After the institute, Writing Project teachers conduct project-sponsored staff development programs in their own schools and in neighboring schools and districts. By extending their knowledge and leadership, Writing Project teachers improve the teaaching of writing and student learning in their communities.

Interested in learning more about our work and how we might support your teachers? Please contact:

Dr. Heather Coffey, Director

UNC Charlotte Writing Project

hcoffey@uncc.edu