ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the development of teachers through their participation in a professional development community in the United States: the Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) of the National Writing Project. Typically, the ISI focuses its professional development efforts on veteran educators as they negotiate sound writing pedagogy and become teacher-leaders in their communities. According to recent studies teacher attrition greatly outpaces teacher preparation. The NWP is a professional development network in the United States that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. The mission of the National Writing Project (NWP) is to improve student achievement by improving the teaching of writing and learning in the nation's schools. As a professional development model, national research studies confirm significant gains in writing performance among students of teachers who have participated in NWP programs. The NWP sites share a national program model, adhering to a set of shared principles and practices for teachers' professional development.
