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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.
Annual Write Out Event 2026
Save the date! The RCWP is hosting our annual Write Out event on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9am – 3pm at Bessey Hall on MSU’s campus.
This year’s Write Out includes a Red Cedar River Talk and Tour with Eric Tans from the MSU Library, a teaching demo from Population Education, and a chance to learn more about Spartan Writing Camp opportunities for teaching, mentoring, and learning.
Plus, lunch is provided! See you there!
Save the Date for Spartan Writing Camp 2027
Similar to last year, we will host a third week of writing camp and a half day neurodivergent friendly camp for rising 3rd to 5th graders. All camps are located on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University. Dates for Summer 2027 are June 14–17, June 21–24, and June 28-July 1. Be on the lookout for more information soon!
RCWP Receives Grant for Community Work Through National Writing Project’s “Building a More Perfect Union” Program
RCWP was recently featured in this article by the National Writing Project (NWP), which awarded 38 grants in spring of 2022 to humanities organizations across the U.S through its Building a More Perfect Union program.
Click the link to learn more about the program, other grant recipients, and RCWP’s collaborative work with the Capital Area District Libraries.