This year's Summer Institute brought together fourteen teachers, from elementary to college, to explore writing and writing instructions. The institute was hybrid, which meant that teachers could join in-person in Lincoln or via Zoom, and it was facilitated by NeWP Director Rachael Shah, UNL Education faculty member Lauren Gatti, and Lincoln East High School teacher Bill Dimon. Participants earned 6 graduate credits.
This year's participants were playful and exploratory in their EQUIPS, which are teacher-led interactive workshops on various topics in writing instruction, a hallmark of the summer institute. Topics ranged from writing with picture books to place-based poetry, and some EQUIPS took the group off-site to locations such as art museums and the state capitol.
Teachers also worked on their own writing in writing groups, culminating in an anthology, and participated in inquiry conversations around breaking out of formulaic writing, trauma-informed teaching, and creative injury. The group engaged in another NeWP tradition, a writing marathon through campus and downtown Lincoln.
The institute was lively, intellectually engaging, and rejuvenating, with participants jokingly referring to the program as "teacher camp" by the end. We're excited to welcome this dynamic new group of NeWP teachers to our network!
Look for details about next year's summer institute coming soon.