Virginia Writing Project Demonstrates Teaching Excellence for Virginia Department of Education

This summer, the Virginia Department of Education invited Teacher Consultants of the Virginia Writing Project to present at the K-12 English Language Arts Standards of Learning Institutes. These professional development institutes from the state focused on the major changes made between the 2002 K-12 English Language Arts SOL and the newly-adopted 2010 K-12 English Language Arts SOL. The Institutes offered a general session and four concurrent breakout sessions with an elementary or secondary focus which highlighted strands in the 2010 English Standards of Learning:  writing, reading nonfiction, research, and media literacy. NVWP TCs Jim Davis and Nick Maneno presented at the Hospitality House in Fredericksburg on July 26; NVWP Co-Director and Professional Development Coordinator Kim Sloan and TC Kelly Worland presented at The National Conference Center in Leesburg on August 7. The NVWP and the other sites of the Virginia Writing Project received this thanks from Tracy Fair Robertson, English Coordinator, Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction, for our commitment to writing and learning in Virginia schools:

August 21, 2012

Colleagues:

I would like to express my deep appreciation for your cooperation in identifying elementary and secondary writing presenters for the English Standards of Learning (SOL) Institutes in July-August 2012. Your collaboration was paramount in making the Institutes so successful. More than 1,100 educators in 121 public school divisions from across the Commonwealth benefited from attending the Institutes.

Each one of the Virginia Writing Project Teacher Consultants offered strategies for incorporating writing into every class and modeled the teacher as a writer. Counting on outstanding educators like you is critical as we begin the first academic year of full implementation of the 2010 English Standards of Learning. Your commitment to improving and enhancing literacy instruction in Virginia is notable. Virginia teachers will continue to benefit from your expertise and dedication to writing instruction.

On behalf of the Virginia Department of Education and the teachers of Virginia, I thank you for your commitment to quality English Language Arts instruction for all students in Virginia.

Warmest regards,

Tracy

Tracy Fair Robertson
English Coordinator
Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction
Virginia Department of Education
101 N. 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219