New Additions to the RRVWP Library!

We have recently added some new titles to the RRVWP library that may be of interest to you! If any of these titles stand out to you, feel free to stop by the office in 318 Minard at NDSU and check them out.

Teacher Feature - Angela Hase

This week’s featured teacher is Angela Hase. She currently teaches AP Language and Composition at Moorhead High School in Moorhead, Minnesota. She completed the RRVWP’s Summer Institute in 2012, and last month she co-facilitated the Writing Project’s Winter Writing Retreat at Maplelag Resort.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading several books. I'm always reading several because each type takes such a varied amount of time to complete. I am about halfway through The Courage To Teach by

Teacher Feature - Kurt Reynolds

This week, learn a little more about our featured teacher, Kurt Reynolds.

Tell us a little about yourself: 

 I currently teach Lit and Language 9R (a remedial reading class), College Composition I and II (both college in the high school classes where students are dual enrolled and earn college credit through NCTC) at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, MN.  I also teach summer classes at our Area Learning Center and an introduction to education class, Teaching and Learning 250, in the fall semester at UND.

My most recent accomplishments were that I presented a roundtable session at NCTE 2015 in Minneapolis called "The Book Report is Not Dead: The Sticky-Note Book Report in a 1:1 MacBook Air Classroom.  Or An Alternative to the Traditional (Boring) Book Report."

I also presented at TIES (a technology conference in Minneapolis) last December on "The Five Digital Tools I Can't Teach Without" and "Digital Culture in

Teacher Feature - Alissa Helm

Hello readers! Let me introduce you to this week's featured teacher, Alissa Helm. 

 First, tell us a little about you: I currently teach 7^th grade language arts on a STEM/AVID team at Cheney Middle School in West Fargo, ND. This is my 10^th year teaching, eighth at the 7^th grade level, but all at the middle level. I love being involved in an interdisciplinary team developing projects and meaningful learning experiences. I enjoy integrating the content areas and helping kids make connections between writing and reading and all other content. This summer, I will be teaching at our first ever Cheney STEM Academy summer school, trying out new ideas I can use during the school year. I will also be attending an AVID conference in Minneapolis focused on critical reading strategies. I became involved in the Red River Valley Writing Project in 2010, and I have continued to be involved ever since. The connections I have made with colleagues at different levels have been especially meaningful. In fact, I have developed a
strong friendship and working relationship with Kelly Sassi, NDSU professor, after meeting at the RRVWP. She has opened up so many opportunities for me, including

Quick update

We---your Red River Valley Leadership Team---have been working and thinking and writing and working... Last week we had a retreat to plan a year-long calendar, talk about grants and programing, and figure out our priorities. It was productive and fun, typical for the work we do together.

One of our priorities is to re-energize this blog, so look for new stuff here very soon.

RRVWP's continuing work

The Red River Valley Writing Project has received a $20,000 grant to enhance teacher leadership. The project offers regional teachers professional development opportunities, including institutes held at NDSU and UND, that consider local needs and the expertise of effective local teachers.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Supporting Effective Educator Development grant will allow Kelly Sassi, assistant professor of English and education, and her University of North Dakota colleague Kim Donehower, associate professor of English, to develop a 2013 summer institute at NDSU that focuses on writing across content areas. With the support of the grant, Sassi said she hopes to better prepare K-16 teachers for the growing challenges they face in the classroom.

“Teachers in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, like teachers across the nation, are facing the challenges of redesigning their curriculum to meet the new writing demands of the Common Core State Standards,” Sassi said.

NDSU also hosted the 2012 summer institute, held July 16-27 with pre-institute meetings May 18-19. Five follow-up meetings are scheduled this fall for the 13 teachers who participated under the direction of Sassi and Grand Forks Central High School Spanish teacher Pam Fisher, who serves as outreach coordinator for RRVWP.

The summer of 2013 will be the 13th consecutive year the Red River Valley Writing Project has received funding through the National Writing Project, a network of 210 university sites that aims to increase the quality of student literacy and writing through programs that improve teachers’ knowledge and understanding of writing.

“Teachers today need time and space to do meaningful professional work in an environment where they and their work are respected,” Sassi said. “With this grant funding, the Red River Valley Writing Project can provide teachers with that professional home.”

More information on the Red River Valley Writing Project is available at www.rrvwp.org.

Stay tuned

The Red River Valley Writing Project leadership team has some interesting things in the works. A few meetings here and there, some discussions, etc......keep it here and you'll find out what's up.