The Buzzards Bay Writing Project

a National Writing Project site

The Buzzards Bay Writing Project (BBWP) is a nonprofit K-16 professional development provider that serves teachers at all grade levels. The mission of BBWP is to promote exemplary instruction in writing for every classroom and in all disciplines.

As a designated site of the National Writing Project, the Buzzards Bay Writing Project is authorized under No Child Left Behind Funding, Title II, Part C as a provider of standards-aligned professional development for teachers and administrators. Click here for more specific information about NCLB funding categories, under which educational districts can find eligible funding for BBWP programs.

BBWP is part of the Massachusetts Writing Project (MWP), a statewide network of National Writing Projects.

Invitational Summer Institute

The 2008 Invitational Summer Institute took place in Fairhaven in July 2008. Check out the Application (pdf) and photo gallery for more information.

Teacher as Writer/Writing Retreats

SeaQuestered will take place November 7-9, 2008.

*Sign up now to enjoy SeaQuestered at last year's price ($285)*
(Payment must be postmarked on or before September 5. See the new SeaQuestered flyer (pdf) for more information).

Photo at left is from SeaQuestered 2007, courtesy of Ann Forcier. Other SeaQuestered photos can be found here.

Nantucket Soundings, a retreat for writing teachers and their friends, took place February 16-19, 2008. Thinking about attending next year? Check out the Nantucket page for photos and writings from this year's event.

Children's Summer Writing Camp

The Buzzards Bay Writing Project's first-ever summer writing camp for students entering grades 5 - 9 in the fall of 2008 took place in July in Swansea, Massachusetts. Students who attended the camp participated in a variety of writing experiences and genres including poetry, prose, fiction, and nonfiction. Flyer (pdf) and photo gallery.

Professional Development Programs

The Buzzards Bay Writing Project offers professional development programs for teachers based on research, shared practice, and continuous reflection on their teaching. All offerings are hands-on, interactive seminars that engage the teachers as learners, and can take place on site in your district. PDPs for all participants meeting program and attendance requirements are offered through UMass Dartmouth.

5th Annual Spring Conference

Writing Lessons from the Classroom took place March 29 at Keith Middle School in New Bedford, featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Katie Wood Ray and numerous workshops for elementary, middle, and high school teachers.

For more information about BBWP, contact Director Kathryn Dunlap at kcdunlap@comcast.net or Janet Michaud at jmichaud@umassd.edu

Center for University, School and Community Partnerships

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
200 Mill Road, Suite 150C
Fairhaven, MA 02719

Phone: (774) 929-3002; Fax: (508) 990-1206

bbwp@umassd.edu