Assumptions

• Schools and universities must work together as equal partners.
• Successful teachers of writing and reading come together during university Summer Invitational Institutes
  and work together to develop quality inservice programs.
• Successful practicing teachers have a credibility no outside consultant can match, making them the best
  teachers of other teachers.
• Summer Invitational Institutes involve teachers from all levels of instruction, because student writing
  develops overtime.
• Summer Invitational Institutes involve teachers from across the disciplines because writing and reading
  are fundamental to learning in all content areas.
• The process of writing can be understood best by engaging in that process first hand, hence teachers
  of writing must also write.
• Real change in classroom practice happens over time; effective staff development programs are
  on-going and systematic.
• What is known about the teaching of writing and reading comes not only from research but from the
  practice of those who teach writing and reading.
• The National Writing Project recognizes that there is no single “right” approach to the teaching
  of writing, and is open to new ideas and research.