What do schools, sourdough bread, and yogurt all have in common? Culture! Anyone who has dabbled in making homemade sourdough bread or yogurt knows that feeding and tending the starter is essential to a delicious end product. In the same way, school administrators are keepers of the school culture. As AI encroaches on all areas of education, administrators worry students will lose the ability to write. At IEW we share this concern. As a school administrator myself, I want to encourage and empower administrators: You can make a difference! Here are some ways administrators can create and support a thriving writing culture in their schools.
To promote a culture of writing, the first step is to educate your teachers in IEW methodology. Our highest level of support is live, on-site workshops where an implementation coach comes to your school and works with your teachers. Alternatively, we offer virtual training sessions during the summer. Information about these two options can be found here. A third option is to purchase the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® seminar (TWSS) for the teachers to watch as a group; all teachers need their own copy of the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style Seminar Workbook. Connect with our Schools Department for help selecting the training option that works best for your school. In addition, our team can help you select an IEW curriculum that is best for your school. Next, encourage your teachers to become accredited as Trained IEW Instructors. To do this, they complete the accreditation application and fee. They then submit the practicum assignments unit by unit that accompany the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar and work with a Master IEW Instructor to ensure complete understanding of the Structure and Style methodology. Including social studies teachers, science teachers, and teachers of any subject that includes writing in the training strengthens the writing culture further as it creates a common lexicon for writing assignments across all subjects. No matter what, the Schools Department is always here to answer questions and provide guidance.
Once a writing culture has been established, an administrator can do several things to support continued growth throughout the school community. When teachers have learned the methodology, encourage them to develop their proficiency by participating in IEW’s annual educators’ retreats, attend webinars, listen to our weekly podcast, and read the weekly blog posts. The best way to learn about these opportunities is to subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter for schools. Provide them with a subscription to Magnum Opus Magazine, which features high-quality student work, and Strengthening Structure: Models for Teaching EW Structural Units, which provides clear descriptions, model charts, and exemplars for IEW's nine structural units and is designed to support effective instruction of each unit. Encourage them to maintain contact with the Schools Department for guidance and suggestions.
A positive school writing culture includes the students and parents. Educating parents about the philosophy behind the methodology equips them to better assist their students with their assignments at home, especially as their editor. These two articles by Andrew Pudewa “Back to Basics?” and “Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing” provide parents with useful information about what IEW is about. On the student side, provide activities that encourage them to write well, maybe even get them excited about it. Placing copies of Magnum Opus Magazine around the classroom for them to peruse allows them to see other students’ writing in print and desire to submit their own writing. Additionally, if your school has a newsletter, feature student writing in it. Both parents and students will enjoy this. Finally, encourage students to enter the annual IEW Writing Contest or host a writing contest of your own. Continuing to feed the culture of writing keeps it strong, healthy, and growing.
Administrators are critical to cultivating a positive writing culture in their schools. By equipping their teachers with training, materials, and support, educating parents, and inspiring students, we are together growing as confident and competent communicators and thinkers.
by Deanne Smith
