CPD For Teachers

Integrating Your Writing Life into the Classroom

This teachers seminar, offered in conjunction with the Chesapeake Writers’ Conference, is an MSDE-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course (EDUC 790) that provides two graduate-level credits from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. These credits can be applied towards CPD requirements in Maryland and other states (participants are encouraged to confirm applicability with their state/district certification boards).

The Overview

Course Title:  EDUC 790: Graduate Topics in Education Studies: Teachers’ Seminar at The Chesapeake Writers’ Conference.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Participants must also register for the Chesapeake Writers’ Conference to take this course.

This seminar offers a unique opportunity for teachers to:

• Earn graduate credit: Receive two graduate-level credits from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
• Connect with fellow educators: Meet daily with other teachers to explore how to bring your writing experience into your teaching.
• Invigorate your teaching: Develop concrete strategies for incorporating creative writing exercises and assignments into your curriculum.
• Enhance student engagement: Learn to use your enthusiasm for writing to inspire and motivate your students.
• Deepen your own writing practice: Participate in a genre-specific workshop (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction) alongside other conference attendees.
• Refine your project: Whether you’re working on a novel, a poetry collection, or another project, you’ll have the time and space to make progress.
  

The seminar combines the immersive experience of a traditional writers’ conference with focused discussions on pedagogy. Each day, you’ll:

• Attend your chosen genre workshop.
• Meet with the seminar group to discuss readings, workshop experiences, and classroom applications.
  

Coursework includes:

• Conference Journal: A detailed journal reflecting on conference events (panels, readings, craft talks, lectures, workshops, and seminar sessions) focusing on their relevance to your teaching and writing. Key question: “What did you find useful—for teaching and/or writing?”
• Instructional Methods/Plans: Five short summaries outlining new instructional approaches or methods for incorporating creative writing into your lesson plans (formal composition, language analysis, or literary analysis). These summaries should explain how the activities will engage students and can be paired with full lesson plans or detailed descriptions.

Enrollment in the seminar is limited to 13 participants and is separate from general conference registration. Participants will register for the graduate course EDUC 790 and, upon completion, receive two graduate credits from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. An additional course fee applies, which is excluded from any discount.