 | The LSU Writing Project The Louisiana State University Writing Project, established in 1985, is a professional development program designed to help teachers in all subject areas and at all grade levels learn new strategies for helping their students become accomplished writers and learners. This collaborative university-school partnership is dedicated to improving the quality of student writing in the schools through its approach of “teachers teaching teachers.” This means identifying successful teachers of writing, bringing these teachers together in invitational Summer Writing Institutes, and preparing them to lead workshops for other teachers. Participants join a network of teacher consultants who actively provide ongoing professional development for schools and districts. |
The LSU Writing Project is one of nearly 200 sites in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that comprise the National Writing Project. It is centered in the Department of Educational Theory, Policy, and Practice of the College of Education of Louisiana State University, from which it serves ten parishes in the southern part of the state. NWP initiatives broaden attention to reading and writing across the curriculum by helping teachers in content areas such as science and social studies improve the reading and writing skills of their students. |
 | Summer Invitational Institute |
| For five weeks, Monday through Thursday, in the summer, a cadre of teachers from various parishes and schools in the Baton Rouge area come together to learn about the writing process and the teaching of writing and to develop themselves as writers. Participants meet to write and discuss writing, to read recent research monographs, and to prepare presentations. Through these activities, they enrich their understanding of the theory and practice of teaching writing in kindergarten through college classrooms. |
| Grant and Community Partners | Louisiana Parishes Served By the LSU Writing Project | |
| • Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) • LSU Board of Regents • Big Buddy’s WordPlay | East Baton Rouge West Baton Rouge West Feliciana East Feliciana St. Helena | Pointe Coupee Iberville Ascension St. James St. Charles |
Leadership Team
Elizabeth Willis, PhD
Ken Farizo, PhD
Cynthia Edmonston
Jared Wall
Joan Robbins
Connie McDonald
Thomasine Mencer, PhD