Our History...

Facts About NIWP (1981- Present): The Northwest Inland Writing Project was created to improve teachers' writing, improve the teaching of writing and improve student writing, and to empower teachers to become professional leaders through continuity programs and in-service work. Yearly, the NIWP receives substantial financial support from the National Writing Project, the University of Idaho's College of Education, the Department of English though the Grace Nixon Endowment, and school districts in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Target Service Area: Includes Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington. NIWP serves many districts and accepts applications from outlying areas.

Goals: Over the 25+ year history of the project, and, after careful and close examination of exemplary classroom practices and research, expert teachers have agreed that certain strategies can improve the teaching of writing. Some examples:

Present writing as a process.
Have students write for different purposes and audiences.
Promote writing as a way to learn.
Emphasize correctness as part of the process of writing
Create a culture of learners and writers
Be a practicing writer as well as a teacher of writing.