The Western PA Writing Project
visit our new web site
wpawritingproject.org
About Us
The Western Pennsylvania Writing Project is a collaborative program of the University of Pittsburgh and area school districts to improve writing and the teaching of writing at all grade levels and in all disciplines. Our project was created in 1984 with initial funding from the Bay Area/National Writing Project and matching support from the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The project is a partnership of teachers of writing at all levels, from kindergarten through college, who come together in Summer Institutes, school-based workshops, and informal meetings throughout the year to pool their ideas, research and classroom experience.
As a National Writing Project site, we are guided by these principles in designing and offering our programs:
Teachers themselves are the best teachers of other teachers; classroom teachers have a credibility that no outside consultant can match.
Teachers of writing must write themselves. Firsthand experience with the writing process usually has a profound effect on teachers' ideas and classroom practice.
The intuitions of teachers can be a productive guide for field research, and practicing teachers can conduct useful studies in their classrooms.
Real change in classroom practice happens over time; effective staff development programs are ongoing and systematic, making it possible for teachers to come together regularly to test and evaluate their best practices.