The Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield, an affiliate of the National Writing Project, is dedicated to improving students’ writing abilities by strengthening the teaching and learning of writing, providing professional development programs for classroom teachers, and expanding the professional roles of teachers.

Using the model of teachers teaching teachers, CWP-Fairfield has trained more than 350 teachers, kindergarten through college. In addition, CWP-Fairfield offers a rich assortment of programs including nationally-recognized speakers on reading, writing, and learning issues,  Young Writers Institutes, and Writers Retreats.

The Connecticut Writing Project was designated a Center for Excellence by the Connecticut State Legislature in 1986 and shares with other Writing Project sites the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s evaluation as the “best large-scale effort to improve composition instruction now in operation in this country.”

Who are we?

• We are more than 350 teacher/consultants, from kindergarten through college. including teachers of math, science, history, English, and language arts.
• We are committed to improving student writing abilities by improving the teaching and learning of writing.
• We provide professional development programs for classroom teachers and school administrators.
• We provide opportunities to expand the professional roles of teachers.
• We believe that teachers are key to educational reform.
• We operate on a teachers-teaching-teachers model. Successful writing teachers attend the Invitational Summer Institutes at their local universities. During the school year these teachers provide workshops for other teachers in the schools.
• We know that writing deserves constant attention, from kindergarten through university.
  We are committed to the idea that exemplary teachers of writing are themselves writers.

What do we do?

• We hold invitational Summer Institutes.
• We offer other Institutes designed to accommodate different interests and schedules.
• We provide workshops and in-service programs in 49 districts throughout the state of Connecticut.
• We hold seminars on writing issues with speakers such as Toby Fulwiler, Barry Lane, Ralph Fletcher and Robert Probst.
• We hold retreats for writers.
• We offer outreach programs in writing for local non-profit organizations.
• We offer a Young Writers Institute for students in grades 6 through 12.
• We serve on the boards of professional organizations and committees of the Connecticut State Department of Education.