September+2010

UPWP September 2010 Newsletter

Fall changes happening in the UPWP Community

** Congratulations to the newest TCs! ** **We are excited to have them join the NWP community. **  Marty Paulsen, Sarah Clement, Andrea Kleinpaste, Ruth Ryynanen, Damia Toyras, Andrew Doutree, Carrie Karvakko, Patricia Kivioja, Betty McCall, Erica Marais Mead, Tom Morrison, Corey Soumis,

** Saturday Sessions and Writing Marathon ** There will be 5 opportunities this fall to write, share, and have collegial dialogue. The Saturday sessions are scheduled as follows: Reminder you can earn directed-study credit if you attend at least 3 of the 5 fall sessions. Please note below as there is a __change about when you must complete the paperwork__.
 * September. 11, Marquette
 * October 2 (Writing Marathon during the fall colors in the Copper Country) TBA
 * October 9, Marquette
 * November 13, Marquette
 * December 11, Marquette

** Changes Happening **  The Leadership Team continues to look for ways to make our community not only grow in numbers, but in ways to keep TCs connected. A **new website** and **redesigned wikispace** are both being worked on by Tech Liaisons Brianna and Kara. Please let them know if you have any suggestions for either. They plan to have the new website up by December 1.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> Another change is related to the **mini-grants**. In the past, the mini-grant applications were due in April. We've decided to change to allow for **3 different dates**, October 10, January 10, and March 10. For more information on mini-grants, visit the mini-grant page.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> Related to **Saturday Sessions and directed-study credit**, the decision was made to require the directed-study __paperwork to be completed TCs at the first session__. If you cannot attend the first session and want credit by attending the succeeding three sessions, you must complete the [|directed-study form]and get it to Mark Smith by the first session. Please be aware that the form does require your signature.

**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> Thank you! ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Thank you to **Stephen Smith, Kara Graci, Brianna Bancroft, Amy Laitinen, and Heather Hollands** for planning summer workshops. For different reasons, the workshops were not held but we truly appreciate the time they put towards the planning. It is our hope that with better communication with MARESA and earlier coordination with Stephen, the workshops can move forward. We do know that Amy and Heather are in the process of working with another NWP-Michigan site to bring a satellite of the NY Holocaust Educator's Conference to Kalamazoo. More information will be forthcoming as their plans progress. This follows the STAR Project held in Gwinn in May, arranged by Heather and Amy, but heightened by **many Gwinn Schools TCs**. The event provided the community the opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor. To view a digital story chronicling the event, visit [|YouTube The Star Project.]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> **Marsha Page'**s MARESA workshop was a go. Her two-day workshop for elementary teachers went well. We hope to see some of the participants apply for the 2011 UPWP Summer Institute as __Marty Paulsen__ did this past year after taking Marsha and Stephen's 2009 workshop. It is never too early to start recruiting the 2011 Fellows. Point possible candidates to the About the Summer Institute page.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> **Marsha and Jan** spearheaded a Title I Family Literacy Night for the Marquette Area Public Schools. The night, with a focus on writing, took place April 21, 2010 at Sandy Knoll Elementary School. UPWP and Marquette Area Public Schools combined forces to plan, organize and host the event. Thirty families met in the gym for an orientation which led to writing poetry inspired by George Ella Lyon’s, Where I’m From. Parents and children then visited a variety of stations including Digital Storytelling where family poems were recorded. At the close of the evening, every family left with their own CD documenting wonderful memories of writing together. Thank you to all the Leadership Team members who attended; Mike Laitinen, photographer; **TCs Allison Marlowe, Cindy Flatt, and Erin Donovan**; and the NMU students who provided computer support.

**<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Action Research Group Forming ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> The 2010 Advanced Institute brought together 7 TCs from different years, different grade levels, and different areas of the UP (and 1 from downstate). **Debbie Goldsworthy, Stacy Harrison, Heather Nayback, Michelle Bradley, Ann Chappell, Mary Sinclair, Marcia VanWolvelaere** spent 3 days looking at student writing using the NWP's Analytic Writing Continuum. Some of the group is venturing into a new arena for our site--action research. Paula will lead the group, using what she learned while working with the Boise State WP the past year. **Jolene Hetherington** will bring her knowledge from the Boise experience to the group also. __If anyone else is interested in trying an action research project__ in their classroom, please contact Paula. The group's first meeting is planned for Sept. 18. You may earn graduate credit.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Professional Development Form <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">If you have lead any professional development since Sept. 2009 (even leading faculty/dept. meetings) please fill out this simple form. The form is available on the wikispace for you to enter data any time you do PD. The Leadership Team truly appreciates your help. The data will be used in our CFA (see below) to help us maintain our grant funding.

**<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Input and Ideas Wanted ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> As the Leadership Team begins to prepare our annual Continuing Funding Application we reflect upon the amount of work being done at our site. We continually look for opportunities and develop opportunities for our TCs. If you have ideas for our site be it related to youth programs, continuity (for TCs) programs, professional development for non-TCs, or another area, please contact Mark or Jan. We would love to support you.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">MCTE Conference October 29. ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">More information is available [|here.] **