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THE PHILADELPHIA WRITING PROJECT

Welcome to PhilWP

PhilWP is a practitioner network, connecting K-university educators with teachers, principals, parents, and out-of-school-time leaders to explore literacy, writing, teaching, and learning across grade levels and disciplines. Each year, new teacher-leaders join the PhilWP network and work in classrooms and other education spaces, supporting young people as writers and learners. A site of the National Writing Project, PhilWP has served Philadelphia schools since 1986.

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News & Events

Invitational Summer Institute on Writing and Literacy

Since 1986, the Philadelphia Writing Project has sponsored an Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) on Writing and Literacy for K-16 educators in the Philadelphia region. The institute engages teachers in reflective inquiries into practice and the processes of teaching and learning.

This year's ISI is supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant from the Library of Congress. In the ISI, teachers will consider how texts such as historical primary sources can support interdisciplinary learning, challenge assumptions of a single story, and connect to contemporary issues and civic conversations". The institute will open inquiries into community, equity, justice, and civically engaged argument writing.

Program Dates:

  • Orientation: Saturday, June 3, 2023
  • Two-Week Institute: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 to Friday, June 23, 2023 and Monday, June 26, 2023 to Friday, June 30, 2023, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • One Saturday Meeting in October 2023

 

Visit the Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) page for more information and to apply.

Six images in a row, each of African American women. First, from left to right, a full body black and white portrait of Harriet Tubman standing next to a chair with her hands on the arm of the chair. Second, black and white portrait of Marian Anderson turned, facing to her left, singing, in 1940. Third, cropped black and white newspaper drawing of a side profile of Dr. Rebecca J. Cole sitting at a meeting with other women as she holds a writing implement toward her mouth as she listens. Fourth, sepia toned photo of Dr. Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander wearing glasses and standing in Ph.D. graduation regalia with her hands classed at her waist. Fifth, black and white portrait of Jessie Redmon Fauset wearing a long pearl necklace. Sixth, black and white, upper body portrait of Fanny Jackson Coppin looking slightly to her left.

We launched the work of PhilWP’s National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Building a More Perfect Union grant in 2022 to make visible the hidden histories of African American women with an Advanced Summer Institute at the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP).

Join us for our Concluding Panel – Thursday, March 30, 2023 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at AAMP, 701 Arch Street. We will conclude with a public reception highlighting and celebrating the work of teachers and students as we consider what it means to continue “Building a More Perfect Union.” Participants will be invited to explore the AAMP exhibit “Rising Sun on American Democracy.”

Click here to view the program descriptions. Register here.

Youth Programs

The Black Girls Literacies Project

The Black Girls’ Literacies Project is a year-round inquiry community designed to support adolescent Black girls ages 14-18 in defining and practicing self-love. We read, write, tell stories, and create multimodal artifacts. The group meets every other Wednesday at the Penn Women’s Center, 3643 Locust Walk Philadelphia, PA 19104, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. Limited to 20 students. For more information contact Barrett Rosser at philadelphiawp@gmail.com.

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Project Write

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 to Friday, July 21, 2023 and

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Friday, July 28, 2023

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In collaboration with Independence National Historical Park, PhilWP welcomes students entering grades 9-12 who want to write, explore history, and develop their digital and artistic talent. This summer, students will participate in a two-week program to explore the power of language and learn about the city where our nation began. The cost is $300. Scholarships are available for Philadelphia students. Limited to 25 students. Register here.

Philly Journalism Camp

Wednesday July 26, 2023 to Friday August 4, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Students entering grades 9-12 will explore journalism as a way of making an impact through writing. This six-day hybrid program will include presentations by professional journalists and multiple opportunities for publication using text, photography and short videos. Students will research and write about events and ideas of interest and get feedback from journalism teachers and other participants. The cost is $150. Scholarships are available for Philadelphia students. Limited to 30 students. Register here for Philly Journalism Camp.

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Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Philadelphia Writing Project serves as the Regional Writing Affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Art & Writing Awards are coordinated by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which seeks to identify and support exceptional writers and artists. Learn more about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. 

Congratulations 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards honorees. View the list of local winners.

Teaching with Primary Sources 

Since 2018, PhilWP Teacher Consultants (TCs) have integrated sources and strategies from the Library of Congress' Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Program into our professional development offerings. PhilWP has also partnered with School District of Philadelphia Learning Networks 2 and 11 to expand our leadership capacity around teaching with primary sources. This work has been funded by generous PhilWP supporters and grants from the Library of Congress.

PhilWP TCs are currently developing curriculum collections and hosting a series of webinars for supporting civically engaged argument writing with primary sources. Teachers are invited to apply to our June 2023 Invitational Summer Institute, which will focus on teaching with primary sources and argument writing.

PhilWP Update

 

The PhilWP Update provides news and current information for local teachers and partners. Sign up for the PhilWP Update.