Orientation

9:30 - 9:45

Welcome!

• The Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) is a local site of the National Writing Project (NWP) at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (PennGSE).

• The first Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) on Writing and Literacy was held in 1986.

• PhilWP is also a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) consortium member. This year's institute is funded, in part, through a TPS grant as well as through generous individual donations to PhilWP.

• This year, we will share some experiences with educators in PhilWP's Advanced Institute. The Advanced Institute is focusing on "hidden histories" of African American women leaders in Philadelphia. The Advanced Institute is being co-sponsored by the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) and partially funded by a grant from NWP and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• PhilWP's partnerships and work on teaching with primary sources means that the second week of our institute will be held at Independence National Historical Park and the AAMP.

• In addition to the ISI, PhilWP sponsors a number of programs throughout the year for educators, students, and families, including Project Write; Scholastic Art and Writing Awards; Kid Writing; Philly School Media Network; Teacher Research and Knowledge: A Celebration of Writing and Literacy; College, Career, and Communities Writers Program (C3WP); and Literature Circles.

• The NWP recently released a document outlining the social practices of teacher consultants. These social practices are foundational to the ISI—and to participation in PhilWP as a teacher consultant (TC).

9:45 - 10:05

Introductions: Who is in the room?

• In breakout groups, talk about the space you're inhabiting right now, particularly the things we can see in your Zoom window.

• Serial Testimony

  • • Protocol (slide 15)

    • More about the protocol: Making space, taking time, sharing power (Mahabir, 2012)

• Sharing your pronouns/asking people's pronouns is a valued practice showing respect for the people with whom you interact.

  • • In 2016, the School District of Philadelphia released policy 252: "A student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s gender identity.

10:05 - 10:15

Break

10:15 - 11:00

Reflecting Further on Teaching in These Times

• Reading: Pitts, J. (2020, May 15). Teaching as activism, teaching as care. Teaching Tolerance.

• Note Taking Document for Small Group Discussion

11:00 - 11:20

ISI Dates, Course Information, and Next Steps

• Slideshow: Reflection and Overview of ISI

  • • Daily focus questions (slide 20)

    • Example ISI traditions (slide 31)

• To Do:

  • • Complete Course Registration Form (by June 10)

    • Submit $150 Course Fee

• On days when we are at Penn GSE, please acquire a green Penn Open Pass.

11:20 - 11:45

Meet with Journal Group