School of Humanities
Live Oak Writing Project
What Do We Do at LOWP?
Live Oak contracts with local school districts to provide staff development programs tailored to the specific needs of each school. Among our success stories are Pass Christian Elementary School and North Bay Elementary School, Bay St. Louis. Programs are reasonably priced and planned to cover at least one year's work.
The project provides a model for ongoing professional development that builds independent local programs. Since writing is a skill that is complex, the project models research-based strategies to help students grow as readers, writers, and learners. Programs cross all grade levels and all disciplines.
Our research shows that in order for sustained learning to occur, staff development providers must make long-term investments in the work of a district. We strive to help teachers in all disciplines understand the importance of infusing their instruction with writing.
In addition to Professional Development presented in school districts, Live Oak Writing Project also offers open programs to teachers in general.
All sessions are presented by Teacher Consultants affiliated with Live Oak Writing
Project.
These TCs have been trained in effective instructional practices through their participation
in the Invitational Summer Institutes held each June on the Long Beach campus of The
University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- Ask your child to describe things to you using details so that you can imagine the item in your It might be fun to draw what he is describing and then reverse the roles‐‐you describe, he draws.
- Allow your child to choose a small composition notebook to use as a This should be private space, not something you look at and correct. Encourage her to write down interesting words she sees or hears, descriptions of interesting things she sees as she plays or travels, dialogue she overhears. Ask her to combine drawing with writing. Occasionally ask if she has something in her journal that she would like to share. After you hear her read, do not suggest improvements. Just say, "Thank you."
- Suggest
that
your
child
write
to relatives
who
live
in
other
towns
or
Don't
require
long
letters;
allow
him
to
write
short
notes.
Remember
that
grandparents
love
anything
a
grandchild
writes.
Write stories Use pictures from the Internet, or even better, take your own. Photograph unusual things and then create unusual stories to match. - Read, read, read!
- Learn new words If you choose the words together and then practice using them throughout the week, the words will be fully integrated into your child's vocabulary. Only choose one or two words per week. Involve the entire family for even more fun.
- Allow your child to talk, and spend time really listening to Part of being fluid with language involves being able to express ideas in speaking and writing. Wait just a few minutes before insisting that he play the quiet game.
Meet the Directors and Staff
Dr. Rebecca Powell | Director
The National Writing Project, which is the parent group for Live Oak Writing Project, is built on the philosophy of teachers teaching teachers. Leadership is shared with both university faculty and public school faculty. After teachers are trained in each summer's Invitational Summer Institute, they are encouraged to become active in the leadership of the site.
Dr. Rebecca Powell, Director
Vickie Feazelle, M.Ed. | Co-Director
Feazelle joined Live Oak Writing Project in 2008. She has been an integral part of
the development of site work and blends her experience from Hancock County Middle
School with her work with teachers in Summer Institute. Vickie is currently a trainer
for the Mississippi Department of Education and Writing Project Collaboration. This
is a three-year series of Common Core State Standards training presented at USM's
Long Beach campus.
Staff
The Teacher Consultant (TC) Council is the advisory group for Live Oak Writing Project. Each person who is a co-director or committee chair/co-chair serves on the council. This group is the heart of all LOWP work, serving on a voluntary basis to see that work is done in accordance with the philosophy of National Writing Project.
About LOWPHistoryMary Kay Deen and Dr. Frances Weiler began their affiliation with The National Writing Project as fellows of The South Mississippi Writing Project, housed on the Hattiesburg campus. Dr. Jeanne Ezell, then director of SMWP, asked the two ladies to facilitate a satellite summer institute on the Gulf Park campus. Within two years, Mary Kay and Frances had recruited enough participants that it seemed appropriate to ask The National Writing Project's permission to create a new site. In the fall of 2001, Elaine moved to The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast and agreed to take on the role of site director. Together, the three ladies completed the work of writing a funding proposal, garnering support from university stakeholders, and naming the organization: The Live Oak Writing Project.
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