2026 Summer Writing Institute

Join us for a professional development session co-presented by . This professional development session will include brand-new creative writing exercises designed to spark stimulating conversations with a focus on making new connections and learning from one another.

If you have attended any of our previous writing institutes, this workshop is an entirely new session that will ignite your passion for writing and get you excited to get in front of the classroom again. Just like remixing a song, we want to help shake up your curriculum for a fresh way to connect with students.

You’ll engage with materials from the museum’s latest temporary exhibit, American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, the museum’s largest special exhibit and program series to date. You’ll learn how to better integrate the museum’s many online resources, remixing them within your own writing curriculum. In fact, you’re encouraged to bring your curriculum with you to swap ideas with your peers and make notes on how to refresh it!

This is a day for educators to feel seen, heard, and valued. What challenges are you facing as an educator in 2026? Chances are good you’re not alone. Is AI the enemy, or is it not enough classroom time to devote to writing instruction? We’ll talk about ways to integrate writing instruction in your classroom and share ideas to strengthen everyone’s curriculum and instruction.

Lunch will be provided. Please inform us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions during the checkout process.

Illinois Teachers will earn 6 CPDUs. If you are a teacher at a CIS partner school and would like to attend, please reach out to your CIS specialist for more details.

For any questions, reach out to the AWM Education Team at [email protected].

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