Raising the bar for student writing
Discover how the implementation of a student-authored publication project can inspire your students to generate authentic, compelling pieces of writing. Over the course of five days, we'll delve into each phase of the Student Press Initiative publishing process, support you in building a publication unit plan for your classroom, and explore the effectiveness of project-based learning. At the end of our time together, you'll walk away with a blueprint for student publications that you can implement in your classroom!
Throughout this institute, you'll be able to:
- Learn the Student Press Initiative (SPI) approach to student-authored publication projects, including the five phases of our publishing process
- Interact with experienced coaches, teachers, and students who have participated in publication projects with SPI
- Explore best practices for creating a culture of writing in your classroom, including guided inquiry and the use of mentor texts as inspiration for writing
- Imagine and design a unit plan for your classroom, which will include strategies for supporting students in writing for specific audiences and purposes
- Earn 30 CTLE credits
What makes student publishing so valuable?
Support students in establishing their voices as writers: By engaging in an intensive genre study of real-world texts, including analysis of content, structure, and craft, students can hone their individual writing skills. Our research shows that student writing skills improve by 25% after engaging in a publication project with SPI.
Experience higher levels of engagement: What are your favorite texts? Who are your favorite authors? Questions like this can help breed inspiration at the start of a publication project, and they allow teachers and students to build upon their shared interests. When working together for a common goal, students are more engaged and more enthusiastic in their learning.
Connect writing to a larger purpose: Student writing is often read by one person (a teacher), and for one reason (a grade). Writing for an authentic audience and purpose allows students to gain skills and perspectives that will serve them beyond the classroom. After publishing their work with SPI, students often reflect that through their writing, they feel they're having a greater impact on the world.
Support students in establishing their voices as writers: By engaging in an intensive genre study of real-world texts, including analysis of content, structure, and craft, students can hone their individual writing skills. Our research shows that student writing skills improve by 25% after engaging in a publication project with SPI.
Experience higher levels of engagement: What are your favorite texts? Who are your favorite authors? Questions like this can help breed inspiration at the start of a publication project, and they allow teachers and students to build upon their shared interests. When working together for a common goal, students are more engaged and more enthusiastic in their learning.
Connect writing to a larger purpose: Student writing is often read by one person (a teacher), and for one reason (a grade). Writing for an authentic audience and purpose allows students to gain skills and perspectives that will serve them beyond the classroom. After publishing their work with SPI, students often reflect that through their writing, they feel they're having a greater impact on the world.
Meet your facilitator
|
Cristina Romeo Compton
Dr. Cristina Romeo Compton received her doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2016, with a concentration in the teaching of English. She began her career in education as a New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching in a Title 1 school while completing her Masters in Childhood Education. At CPET, Cristina serves as the Director of Program Development and the leader of the Student Press Initiative (SPI). In each of her roles, she focuses on cultivating CPET partnerships through curriculum design, unit planning, and project-based learning. Over the past seven years, her work with SPI has supported more than 5,000 teachers and students in developing projects that culminate in professionally designed, print-based publications. |
Schedule
Each day of the institute will focus on one of the five phases of the publishing process. By the end of the institute, you'll have a grasp on all five phases, and will be equipped to implement a student-authored publication project in your classroom.
Publishing Phase |
Focus |
Phase 1 |
Laying the groundwork: Identify the genre, audience, and purpose for a publication. Explore strategies for defining your project and the implications for your instruction. |
Phase 2 |
Planning the project: Uncover strategies for scaffolding, planning, and studying mentor texts that will inform the trajectory of your project, and get acquainted with a critical component of publication projects: the production calendar. |
Phase 3 |
Putting it Together: Discover the importance of backwards planning, and how it can inform your curriculum and instruction. Explore promising practices for supporting your students with the main phases of the writing process, including: pre-writing, drafting, and revision. |
Phase 4 |
A Great Production: Support students with individual and collaborative revision processes, including how to prepare polished writing for a larger audience. Explore best practices for providing feedback to students. |
Phase 5 |
Going Public: Prepare your students for sharing their work via public readings, and what it takes to host a book release celebration. |
FAQ
What are CTLE hours, and should I register for them?
Beginning in 2016, a registered holder of a NYS professional classroom teaching certificate, educational leadership certificate, or Level III teaching assistant certificate is required to successfully complete 100 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours. Teachers College is a state-approved provider of CTLE hours, and participants can earn up to 30 CTLE hours for attending this institute. Attendance will be verified before CTLE credits are awarded.
CTLE information must be included on your registration form. If you decline CTLE hours at the time of registration and change your mind afterward, you'll need to contact us prior to the first day of the institute. Once the institute begins, we can no longer accommodate CTLE requests.
Can I pay for my registration using a purchase order?
Absolutely! Have your school contact [email protected] to initiate this process. A PO must be created by your school & received by CPET prior to registration closing in order for a promo code to be generated.
Once we've received a PO, we will provide your school with a promo code to distribute to the teachers they are funding. The promo code will allow you to bypass Eventbrite's payment section, so that there is no out-of-pocket cost to you. You will still be required to complete a registration form.
Is there a New Teacher Network membership discount available for this institute?
No, there is no discount available for this institute. Please visit our events page to view upcoming workshops & conferences that are offered to NTN members at a reduced price.
What if I need to change or cancel my registration?
If you need to change your registration for any reason: contact us at [email protected].
If you need to cancel your registration and receive a refund: contact us at [email protected]. We can offer refunds through February 11, 2020.
Can I register for only part of the institute?
We do not offer per session registration for this institute — if you register, it is expected that you will attend all days of the institute.
Where do I go on the first day?
All sessions will take place on the Teachers College, Columbia University campus, which is located at 525 West 120th Street New York, NY 10027. You will receive a specific room number from us closer to the start of the institute — the room number will be sent to the email address you included on your registration form.
Teachers College requires visitors go through security at the Zankel Hall entrance upon arrival. Please have your ticket (electronic or hard copy) and a photo ID on hand to help facilitate this process.
Where can I learn more about the Student Press Initiative?
The Student Press Initiative (SPI) is one of our signature initiatives — its mission is to revolutionize education by advancing teacher leadership in reading and writing instruction. Through publication, we raise the bar for what, how, and why students write. You can learn more about this work here.
Can I see some examples of your student-authored publications?
You can find sample publication projects here, or you can check here to view & purchase the latest publications we've created with our partners.
Will I see any sample projects during this institute?
Yes! Each day will include a project spotlight and a peek into a publication that has been produced by the Student Press Initiative. We'll offer you an inside look at the process through the experiences of professional development coaches and teachers — there'll be time for an exploration of how the speaker's publication was created, why it was meaningful for their practice/learning, and a chance for Q&A. Past project spotlights have included:
The dates for these sessions don't work for me — are there any other options?
Absolutely! We can provide sessions tailored to you and/or your school on dates that work for you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or (212) 678-3161 to get started.
Beginning in 2016, a registered holder of a NYS professional classroom teaching certificate, educational leadership certificate, or Level III teaching assistant certificate is required to successfully complete 100 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours. Teachers College is a state-approved provider of CTLE hours, and participants can earn up to 30 CTLE hours for attending this institute. Attendance will be verified before CTLE credits are awarded.
CTLE information must be included on your registration form. If you decline CTLE hours at the time of registration and change your mind afterward, you'll need to contact us prior to the first day of the institute. Once the institute begins, we can no longer accommodate CTLE requests.
Can I pay for my registration using a purchase order?
Absolutely! Have your school contact [email protected] to initiate this process. A PO must be created by your school & received by CPET prior to registration closing in order for a promo code to be generated.
Once we've received a PO, we will provide your school with a promo code to distribute to the teachers they are funding. The promo code will allow you to bypass Eventbrite's payment section, so that there is no out-of-pocket cost to you. You will still be required to complete a registration form.
Is there a New Teacher Network membership discount available for this institute?
No, there is no discount available for this institute. Please visit our events page to view upcoming workshops & conferences that are offered to NTN members at a reduced price.
What if I need to change or cancel my registration?
If you need to change your registration for any reason: contact us at [email protected].
If you need to cancel your registration and receive a refund: contact us at [email protected]. We can offer refunds through February 11, 2020.
Can I register for only part of the institute?
We do not offer per session registration for this institute — if you register, it is expected that you will attend all days of the institute.
Where do I go on the first day?
All sessions will take place on the Teachers College, Columbia University campus, which is located at 525 West 120th Street New York, NY 10027. You will receive a specific room number from us closer to the start of the institute — the room number will be sent to the email address you included on your registration form.
Teachers College requires visitors go through security at the Zankel Hall entrance upon arrival. Please have your ticket (electronic or hard copy) and a photo ID on hand to help facilitate this process.
Where can I learn more about the Student Press Initiative?
The Student Press Initiative (SPI) is one of our signature initiatives — its mission is to revolutionize education by advancing teacher leadership in reading and writing instruction. Through publication, we raise the bar for what, how, and why students write. You can learn more about this work here.
Can I see some examples of your student-authored publications?
You can find sample publication projects here, or you can check here to view & purchase the latest publications we've created with our partners.
Will I see any sample projects during this institute?
Yes! Each day will include a project spotlight and a peek into a publication that has been produced by the Student Press Initiative. We'll offer you an inside look at the process through the experiences of professional development coaches and teachers — there'll be time for an exploration of how the speaker's publication was created, why it was meaningful for their practice/learning, and a chance for Q&A. Past project spotlights have included:
- The Barriers We Faced, The Bridges We Built, created in partnership with Special Education students at the Bronx High School of Business
- Beyond What You See, candid reflections from teachers and students at East River Academy, located on Rikers Island
- Growing Through Change, created in partnership with the Morris Academy for Collaborative Studies
- Make the World a Better Place, a collaborative anthology consisting of pieces from students in Pre-K to 6th grade at MiSK Schools in Saudi Arabia
- We Are What We Eat: food-inspired narratives written by students at Kingsbridge International High School
The dates for these sessions don't work for me — are there any other options?
Absolutely! We can provide sessions tailored to you and/or your school on dates that work for you. Reach out to us at [email protected] or (212) 678-3161 to get started.
