Certificate in the Teaching of Writing
Purpose
Students desiring to add a Certificate in the Teaching of Writing to their professional preparation would complete the requirements below.
Program Outcomes
Educational Objectives
To enable students to:
- Develop expertise in the teaching of writing and use of writing to learn across content areas, in reflective teaching and inquiry, and in teacher leadership
Professional Objectives
To enable students to:
- Obtain a certificate of professional preparation that confirms expertise in the teaching of writing, the use of writing to learn across content areas, reflective teaching and inquiry and teacher leadership
- Serve their school or district as a leader in literacy teaching and learning
Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the Certificate in the Teaching of Writing program must hold an approved bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have teaching experience. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:
- Graduate Teaching and Leading application form and application fee, and application form submitted to the Oregon Writing Project Collaborative.
Transfer Credit
Upon approval by the department and the Oregon Writing Project Collaborative, up to 3 hours of Graduate level credit is allowed toward the Certificate in the Teaching of Writing from approved National Writing Project Institutes at accredited graduate schools. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Students should consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.
Residence Requirements
Of the 15 hours required for the Certificate in the Teaching of Writing program, a minimum of 12 hours must be taken in resident study at George Fox University. All work leading to the Certificate must be completed within seven years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires approval of the Graduate Teaching and Leading (GTL) Faculty and the Oregon Writing Project Collaborative. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee and Oregon Writing Project Collaborative action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.
Course Requirements
The Certificate in the Teaching of Writing program is generally 2 years in length with 15 semester hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation.
Graduation Requirements
In order to complete the Certificate in the Teaching of Writing, students must:
- Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 15 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Achieve no grade lower than a B in all core courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
Course Requirements
Complete the following:
This course provides a forum for collaborative inquiry where teachers write in a variety of genres, study current theory and research in the teaching of writing and use of writing to learn, and share their study of a selected area of classroom practice. The theory and practice of writing are examined through individual demonstration/inquiry, reading and discussion of current research, and writing and sharing in writing response groups. Participants develop their leadership potential for a variety of roles, including reform efforts that support the education of Oregon's diverse student population. Issues of teaching diverse student populations, writing to learn, and using technology to strengthen teaching and learning provide a lens for teacher inquiry. Participants must apply and successfully complete EDWR 505 and EDWR 515 for admission into the Certificate program. The Institute consists of two courses for a combined 4 semester credits.
This course provides a forum for collaborative inquiry where teachers write in a variety of genres, study current theory and research in the teaching of writing and use of writing to learn, and share their study of a selected area of classroom practice. The theory and practice of writing are examined through individual demonstration/inquiry, reading and discussion of current research, and writing and sharing in writing response groups. Participants develop their leadership potential for a variety of roles, including reform efforts that support the education of Oregon's diverse student population. Issues of teaching diverse student populations, writing to learn, and using technology to strengthen teaching and learning provide a lens for teacher inquiry. Participants must apply and successfully complete EDWR 505 and EDWR 515 for admission into the Certificate program. The Institute consists of two courses for a combined 4 semester credits. Prerequisite: EDWR 505..
In this course, teachers will study the nature of inquiry and develop a question that has arisen out of their classroom practice: a problem, an issue, or a nagging concern. Teachers will also explore the work of other teacher researchers in the National Writing Project Network. This inquiry-centered approach will allow teachers to prepare for conducting research in their own classrooms by developing their questions, planning their methodology, understanding ways to gather and analyze data from student writing, and planning strategies for using new insights in their teaching practice. Prerequisite: EDWR 505, Institute in the Teaching of Writing I.
This course focuses on using inquiry to advance practice in the teaching of writing with a focus on three major themes: supporting the writing development of diverse learners, using writing to learn across content areas, and using technology to support literacy development. Participants will implement and present an Inquiry project that includes a close analysis of student learning data. Prerequisites: OWPC Institute in the Teaching of Writing, and EDWR 505 and EDWR 515, Inquiry into the Teaching of Writing I and II.
Participants will study and discuss what it means to be a teacher leader, develop effective coaching practices, strengthen their presentation skills, and design workshops and/or conference presentations based on their advanced inquiry project and/or an area of expertise. The course includes a practicum experience for students to apply and analyze emerging leadership skills. Prerequisite: EDWR 530.
This course supports teachers in writing for publication. Participants will analyze requirements and style of multiple professional publications to inform their own writing/publication efforts. Participants will create a draft for publication intended to disseminate learning from their advanced inquiry project or other area of expertise. This course includes a three-day writing retreat followed by a series of Saturday sessions. Prerequisites: EDWR 540, Professional Leadership in the Teaching of Writing.