The Eastern Illinois Writing Project has received a federal grant of $46,000 from the National Writing Project.

This money will go towards funding the summer institutes and expanding the project on campus.

Robin Murray, English professor, said the National Writing Project is based on two ideals.

The best teachers of writing are writers, and the best teachers are teachers themselves.

“The mission of the National Writing Project is to improve the teaching of writing and improve learning in the nation’s schools,” Murray said.

This is the second year the Eastern Illinois Writing Project has received this grant, and they will now continue to apply every year.

“We will complete a continuing funding application each year, receive suggestions for improving our site from an evaluator and incorporate more and more programming for teachers as we become more established,” Murray said.

The $46,000 will be spent in many areas of the organization.

Two co-directors and a grad-assistant will be hired to help with the different aspects of the project, including technology in the classroom and an in-service coordinator.

Stipends for teachers, presenters, coaches and technology liaisons for the Summer Institute programs will be paid for.

They also plan to fund programs to address writing and reading at schools in Illinois for the ISAT and the PSAE.

The grant will also pay for teachers’ travel to attend National Writing Project conferences, Murray said.

Murray said the Eastern Illinois Project follows the principles of National Writing Project.

She added the project holds principles that writing should be taught, and not just assigned, at every grade level.

“Teachers at every level, from kindergarten through college, are the agents of reform; universities and schools are ideal partners for investing in that reform through professional development,” Murray said

The first workshop of the summer institute is Developing Smartboard Lessons for kindergarten through high school teachers on June 15.

It will take place at Moulton Middle School in Shelbyville from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Three more workshops will be held June 16-18 at the Tarble Arts Center from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

These workshops will focus on how to prepare students for writing on the ISAT for the expository, persuasive and narrative essays.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or at kzyskowski@eiu.edu.