Summer Institute F.A.Q.s (Frequently
Asked Questions)
Question categories:
Who is eligible
Q: Do
you need to be a language arts teacher to participate?
A: Teachers of any discipline who are
interested in writing may participate.
Time
Q: How much of a time commitment is this institute?
A: The institute takes up five weeks of classes, daily from 8 to 4 pm, and there is a weekend retreat during the five week period. The institute includes follow up meetings for additional items such as distribution of final writings. You will need to write, refine, and research both inside and outside of class. There is preparation time allotted in classes; however, fellows will find the need to work outside of class and that time commitment will be contingent upon their needs.
Q: Can I still have time for family, etc?
A: Yes, your summer
will still have time for family and vacations. Even though this is
a huge time commitment, there is still time for relaxation and family
activities.
Cost
Q: What is the cost of this program?
A: The anticipated cost for the 2008 Invitational Summer Institute is approximately $100 - $150.
Course Content and Workload
Q: How will the institute combine personal writing with a focus on academics?
A: There are almost two different factions within the class, and fellows will work on creative writing part of the time while working on academics another part. In this way, they can focus their attention in a variety of ways.
Rationale
Q: How will this be worthwhile to my teaching practice?
A: Not only will you research and write about issues you find most pressing as a teacher (topics that are crucial to your classroom), you will also receive writing ideas to pass on to the students. The methods supported here integrate fluidly with good practice and formal assessments. The focus is for teachers to become writers, and even the most resistant grow to love this form of expression. In this way, you can model writing practice for your students.
