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Welcome to the Red Cedar Writing Project!
Red Cedar Writing Project (RCWP) is Michigan State University’s site of the National Writing Project. The cornerstone of the project is a four-week Summer Institute (SI) in which teachers focus on becoming more effective writers, teachers of writing, and teacher leaders. At the conclusion of the Summer Institute, teachers earn the internationally recognized credential, National Writing Project Teacher-Consultant (TC).
Each year, in addition to the Summer Institute, RCWP offers open institutes for teachers who are not connected with the network, as well as a multitude of summer youth programs and professional development opportunities for school districts.
Red Cedar Writing Project TCs act as leaders in our site’s work through opportunities to develop in-service for their own schools and other districts, as well as state and national organizations. RCWP teachers also join one another in a variety of continuity events designed to sustain them as writers, researchers, leaders, and teachers of writing.
The National Writing Project (NWP)
For over 30 years, the National Writing Project (NWP) has championed a “teachers teaching teachers” model of professional development learning communities. During Summer Institutes (SI) at more than 200 universities in every state of the nation, teachers reshape their own identities as writers by demonstrating and interrogating best practices in approaches to writing and teaching writing. Participants engage in writing groups, identify questions they have related to teaching writing, and emerge in reading that expands their understanding of their students, contexts, and pedagogies.
RCWP At a Glance: October 2025
Here’s what you need to know about RCWP this month!
October 4: MiWCA Fall Conference 2025
The Michigan Writing Center Association (MiWCA) fall conference, “Bridging Gaps: Agency, Equity, and Partnership in Tutoring and Teaching,” is on Saturday, October 4 at Northern Michigan University. Click here for access to the conference program.
Members of our RCWP team will be presenting during the following sessions:
- 10:30 – 11:20: “Community Writing Centers as Sites for Agency, Equity, and Creative Partnerships: ‘Moving at the Speed of Trust,'” Panel — Jill Reglin with Grace Pregent & Rachael Whitehouse (Room 1317)
- 11:30 – 12:20: “Why Climate Literacy Is Everyone’s Job,” Workshop — Trixie Smith (Room 1319)
October 12: Write Out with the MSU Writing Center at the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL)
Join us for an opportunity to write outside, with a specific focus on nature journaling and birding!
Event timeline:
- 1:30 – 2:00pm: Gathering, event discussion, journal pick-up
- 2:00 – 2:50pm: Outdoor writing
- 3:00 – 3:30pm: Optional sharing, apple cider and donuts
Save the Date: 2025 Spartan Writing Camps!
This summer, the RCWP plans to hold Spartan Writing Camps from June 16th- 19th and from June 23rd- 26th, 2025. If you’re the parent or guardian of a future camper, hold these dates in your calendar and head to our SWC webpage for enrollment information!