Gate City Writes facilitates opportunities for teachers to write and teach writing alongside K-12 students in the form of professional development. In addition, GCW supports young writers (grades 3-12) as they draft and publish a text using digital media during a summer camp. Recently, in collaboration with Guilford County Schools, GCW launched a special section of the camp called Community Voices, provided free to immigrant and refugee children who are learning English.
What is the project’s goal?
The project’s goal is to connect research in writing education to classroom practice by engaging K-12 educators and students with university faculty in a collaborative writing community, including community partners and authors.
What is the innovation?
Gate City Writes believes in opening opportunities for experiential learning related to writing and teaching writing, exploring how digital and social media can be used as a tool for writing and teaching writing, and fostering the creative entitlement of K-12 students and educators.
What has been the impact?
- Each year, the camp serves approximately 175 young writers in grades 3-12 and provides free professional development to 10-15 teachers. In addition, approximately 40 immigrant and refugee teens are served annually through its Community Voices program.
- GCW facilitates a city-wide National Day of Writing every October 20th. In 2018, students throughout the country wrote several versions of a longest story ever with a first line written by a local author.
