Inclusive Writing and Reading Pedagogies – A Community of Practice for Faculty

The inclusive writing and reading pedagogies community of practice is designed for all WashU instructors who are interested in supporting students’ deep engagement with text. While some of us have extensive professional training in writing and reading pedagogies, many of us have picked things up through trial and error. Our students similarly come from a broad range of backgrounds in terms of their first languages, the varieties of English they are most familiar with, their access to AP courses, COVID-related disruptions, and more. This variation in students’ experiences with writing and reading can be a boon but can also pose challenges in how to support all students. The community of practice brings together instructors to explore and share resources and perspectives on topics such as scaffolding reading assignments, equitable grading of writing, supporting ESL learners, and more. The group will gather for 90 minutes each month. 

The list of topics below is tentative, and is subject to change based on the interests of the participants: 

• Embedding writing support into courses with limited time/resources 
• Teaching discipline-specific conventions in writing and reading 
• College Writing and Writing Intensive courses – differences and similarities in approaches 
• Thoughtful engagement with genAI in writing- and reading-based courses 
• Scaffolding assignments for close and deep reading 
• Targeted writing feedback to engage students in revisions 
• Anti-racist approaches to English variants 
• Teaching ESL learners in writing- or reading-heavy courses 
• Learning differences, accommodations, and access re: writing and reading 

If you’d like to participate, read on for more information and fill out the brief interest form below by September 6. We’ll be in touch about scheduling our meetings soon after that. 

 

FAQ

What’s a community of practice? 

Quite simply, a community of practice (CooP, often abbreviated CoP) is a group of people who “share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner 2015). What this means is that our group will be collaborative, sustained, and constructive. Depending on a given month’s topic (which we’ll decide on together!), you might do more listening or more talking, but we’ll work together knowing we all have things to learn and things to teach. The facilitator will provide resources, activities, and questions to get us started, and we’ll also have some writing specialists contribute, but the shape of the conversation can and should evolve based on the group’s interests. If you’d like to facilitate a session, you’re very welcome to, but it’s not required. 

What do I gain from participating? 

Models, insights, and feedback: Since we’ll have participants from multiple departments and units, you’ll gain valuable models and ideas for how to engage students in learning through reading and writing. The group will include experts in writing pedagogies across campus who will contribute their insights into topics such as ESL, AI, and writing across the curriculum. During our meetings, you’ll also have opportunities to revise and receive feedback on elements of your courses.  

Professional development documentation and support: Participants who attend at least six meetings in 2024–2025 will receive a certificate of achievement that can be included in your teaching portfolio. If the CooP inspires you to start working on a related research project or a publication, the Center for Teaching and Learning can provide one-on-one consultations to support this work. 

Community, kudos, and treats: Communities of practice tend to, well, cultivate communities – you’re likely to connect with instructors with whom you’ll want to stay in touch with and collaborate in the future. Courtesy of the Center for Teaching and Learning and the College of Arts & Sciences, we’ll also provide a celebratory meal at the end of the year and delicious snacks to power our meetings. 

What are the format and requirements? 

We’ll meet in person for 90 minutes each month September 2024 until May 2025. The organizers will work hard to find a time that works for as many people interested in participating as possible, but we might have to pick a time that works for most. We’ll have brief pre-readings or other materials that will help us have fruitful discussions. There’s no requirement to participate in all the meetings, but a community of practice works best if we meet often enough to form an actually community. 

Registration