Indiana educators to sharpen focus on writing instruction

Organizers have set four goals for the invitation-only summit, sponsored by the Purdue College of Education in conjunction with the Corporation for Educational Technology. They include:

• Convening educators from across Indiana to share information about the state of writing instruction from preschool through high school.

• Defining core beliefs about writing instruction.

• Developing a plan of action for influencing policy at the state level.

• Using information from education, business and community leaders to define the needs of educators as both writers and teachers of writing.

Purdue College of Education Dean George Hynd will provide opening remarks at 8:30 a.m., after which Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed will address summit participants. Carol D'Amico, Ivy Tech Community College executive vice president, also will speak.

Sarah Mahurt, Purdue associate professor of literacy and language and Literacy Collaborative director, said educators and community leaders have identified a need for more focus on writing instruction at all levels.

"Communicating effectively through the written word is essential regardless of anyone's anticipated career path," Mahurt said. "We want to ignite a spark for writing across the state and develop a strong network of educators who work to improve writing and writing instruction."

Participants also will interact in small groups to identify needs and recommendations related to writing. Poster sessions will be available to provide professional development materials on writing instruction.

Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Source: Sarah Mahurt, (765) 496-3981, mahurt@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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