Expository Reading & Writing Curriculum

Expository writing flier with details in post

Register by September 16 for the Expository Reading & Writing Curriculum intro workshop series & certification. This is a free professional development opportunity for high school teachers. The ERWC course is an A-G approved college preparatory, rhetoric-based English Language Arts course. ERWC curriculum is available for grades 6-12 and works to develop academic literacy, and specifically proficiency in rhetorical and analytical reading, writing, and thinking. The ERWC is an integrated reading, writing, and oral communication curriculum that uses an inquiry-based, rhetorical approach. It is designed to develop the strategies, abilities, and habits of mind of fluent academic readers and writers through rhetorical analysis of compelling issues and diverse texts. The curriculum promotes transfer of skills to new situations and increases student agency by building deep conceptual understandings that transform how students read, write, listen, speak, and think.

ERWC curriculum includes high interest topics such as immigration, mental illness and social media and explores these topics through a wide range of texts including news articles, disciplinary reading, and book length works (e.g. Othello, The Distance Between Us, The Things They Carried). ERWC uses an inquiry-based approach that supports students in becoming flexible, adaptive, reflective thinkers and communicators as well as integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) concepts to ensure equity for all types of learners. Students are empowered to express themselves through academic discourse and extensive writing.

MCOE has created an information padlet for you to see the many benefits of ERWC for your students and reasons why you should become certified in ERWC.

The online training sessions we are offering in Fall 2022 are facilitated by Amy Conley (Cal Poly Humboldt Education Department and Redwood Writing Project Teacher Consultant) and Nicolette Amann (Cal Poly Humboldt English Department and Redwood Writing Project Director).

Synchronous Sessions

  • September 20th, 2022 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm
  • October 4th, 2022 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm
  • November 15th, 2022 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm
  • November 29th, 2022 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Asynchronous and synchronous participation via Canvas is required. Participants must complete 80% of the asynchronous activities on Canvas and attend the four synchronous meetings on Zoom to complete their certification. Although synchronous time is scheduled, most of the work will be asynchronous. Please make the necessary arrangements to ensure your full participation. Participants who complete the certification requirements will be eligible to purchase 2.0 units of credit from Cal Poly Humboldt’s Office of Extended Education. We hope you will consider joining the ERWC online workshop series this fall. Please contact Sunny Shiner, sdshiner@mcoe.us with any questions or follow up needs.

Registration for this workshop closes on September 16, 2022 at 8:00 am. Register here.