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Programs for Educators


Kernels of Wisdom 
A creative writing workshop for K-12 teachers

Register Here
Saturday, November 4, 2023
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Modality: Synchronous, Via Zoom (link to be sent to registrants)
Cost: $30
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Join Power of the Pen and the National Writing Project at Kent State University for Kernels of Wisdom - a morning of highly engaging sessions to bring out the best in students’ writing. Keynote speaker NWP-KSU Associate Director Jeff Harr [pictured right] will address honoring creative writers. Jeff has taught middle and high school ELA in the Kent City Schools for 33 years advising everything from Power of the Pen to the Drama Guild to girls’ basketball. He has been a Teaching Consultant of the NWP at KSU since 2007 and writes plays for teens at Theatrefolk.com. Currently, he teaches in the Expedition Academy, foolishly accompanying 9th and 10th graders–who are in significantly better shape than him – into the mountains on outrageously grueling hikes. The keynote is followed by two breakout sessions of your choice led by NWP-KSU teacher consultants and Power of the Pen coaches.  Register Here

Kernels of Wisdom is ideal for anyone looking for fresh ideas for inspiring student writers; perfect for Power of the Pen coaches. Registration information coming soon!

Download a sharable Kernels of Wisdom 2023 flyer below.

kernels_of_wisdom_2023.pdf
File Size: 668 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2023 NWP-KSU Event Calendar

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​Click for a quick view of 2023 programs and events.

Past Events

 Words Taking Flight: Inspiring Writing With Place-Based Education - Program Highlights

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On April 29, 2023, NWP-KSU and The National Park Service offered a morning workshop called "Words Taking Flight: Inspiring Writing through Place-Based Education" at The Ledges Shelter in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. National Park Service Education Specialist Heather Berenson led us on an amazing bird walk filled with quotes like...
  • “Birds are sounds of life and holders of unknown stories."
  • “You start bird watching, and the whole world opens up to you.”
  • “Loosen your eyes as you search for birds in their environment.”
Teacher Consultant Maggie Chernick inspired us with an excellent presentation titled The Worlds Is Our Classroom accompanied by a handout that highlighted work in her classroom as well as resources for incorporating place-based education in any classroom.  

Participant reflections Included:
  • "I feel so energized by today’s workshop. Thanks for giving me a new language for this work and for all the resources."
  • "I feel more empowered to reach out to the community as a resource for learning. I look forward to building a fresh standards-based writing program with a science/s.s. focus that utilizes place-based learning."
  • "This workshop has helped me think about ways to connect my kindergartners to their families and communities NWP Teacher Leader Maggie Chernick and National Park Service Education Specialist Heather Berenson."
Looking for more NWP-KSU & CVNP partner programs? Join us for "Back to school - with joy" on August. 10. Details in our summer program slideshow.

Highlights from the NWP-KSU TC Reunion ​Sat., February 11, 2023

NWP-KSU teacher consultants from around the state met for our first NWP-KSU Reunion on February 11, 2023. Dr. Lori Wilfong, NWP-KSU director, welcomed attendees to the Kent Stark Campus with coffee and breakfast. Former NWP-KSU Director Dr. Alexa Sandmann inspired us with a short talk titled “Writing: The Art of It”. A Grounds for Thought gave us all the opportunity to write and share. We enjoyed a book swap, shared lessons, and relaxed and reconnected with NWP friends and colleagues. 

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Pop-Up at Cuyahoga Valley National Park during Write Out 2022

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On a beautiful fall day, visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) stopped at NWP-KSU and CVNP’s Pop-Up table.

TC Maggie Chernick was there to encourage writing as a way to celebrate park moments.

Phrases from visitors included…

"Wonderful turtles basking in the sun without a care in the world"
  • "Live life in the moment"
  • "Sand is like a violin, moving when someone touches it"
  • "The sky opens before me framing the fall rainbow,"
  • "A noble glimpse of the bald eagle between the trees."​​


Kernels of Wisdom Highlights Narrative Writing Strategies

 Saturday, November 5, 2022 9 a.m. to Noon via Zoom 
More than 50 educators from throughout Ohio attended the 5th Annual Kernels of Wisdom Workshop held online Saturday, November 5. Presented by the National Writing Project at Kent State University and Power of the Pen, Kernels of Wisdom focuses on effective and engaging teaching of narrative writing.

The keynote speakers, Power of the Pen coaches Jenn Sauvey and Beth Toerner of Wyoming Middle School, discussed ways to guide students in developing characters that readers care deeply about. TCs Jeff Harr, Jean Kanzinger, and Tammy Sullivan led breakout sessions on writing a gripping climax, using description effectively, and working with younger writers.The morning also included a Power of the Pen track related to coaching and judging.

Participants shared their enthusiasm on a Padlet:
  • "I feel excited to write with my students! They will love using phobias to inspire story ideas. I also can't wait to use the NY Times photos in some of my lessons."
  • "I'm excited to rework my current narrative writing unit to include craft moves as revision steps!"
  • "Keynote Gold! Thanks to the keynote speakers for a wonderful session packed with ideas and generous resources. I'm eager to share the craft exercises as I use picture books as well and it will be a great fit for my students!"
  • "I need to write more with my students. I had so much fun writing creatively today during the sessions, and I realized that I haven't stretched those muscles in a while!"​

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Workshops
NWP-KSU offers workshops in the teaching of writing. 2021 events will include a Write Where You Are workshop at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and a Kernels of Wisdom narrative writing workshop at Kent State University.

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Book Clubs
The Wandering Book Club meets in the Akron-Cleveland area throughout the school year.

Mahoning Valley Book Club meets year-round at the border of Boardman and Canfield.


Programs for Schools


Educator In-Service: Reading and Writing Workshops

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NWP-KSU will custom design professional development packages based on your organization's goals and needs. These sessions help teachers work toward student improvement in writing and reading across the content areas, which leads to student success on state-required tests. We specifically have in-services designed to help teachers meet Ohio's Learning Standards.

In operation since 1997, NWP-KSU in-service programs have consistently received excellent ratings and results in classrooms and school districts throughout Ohio. We can provide whole-school, department and/or grade-level sessions, as well as classroom demos and book studies.
The following workshops and programs can be customized to meet individual schools' needs:
• Writing Craft

• Content Area Literacy

• Close Reading Strategies

• Revision and Editing
• Technology and Writing

• Multi-Genre Research

• Working with Rubrics

• Developing Listening and Speaking Skills
• Using Research

• Writing/Reading Workshop

• Informational Writing

• Argumentative Writing
• Narrative Writing

• Response to Literature

• Evaluating and Assessing Student Work

• Text Complexity
Thirty teachers is the maximum for an in-service.

On-site custom service: $250 per hour
One-half day (3 hours): $650
Full day (6 hours): $1,250
Mileage may be an additional charge, depending on distance covered for the duration of the in-service.
Contact us to schedule an in-service program.
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