Promising Young Writers Program Advisory Committee

Function: To advise staff on the nature, policies, and procedures regarding the NCTE Promising Young Writer Awards, including the following issues: to develop a specific plan for involving more public schools in the awards, especially those with large non-white populations and to prepare a written set of recommendations for the Executive Committee regarding the following: revision of the structure of the award to mitigate the negative effects of competition on student identity and learning; consideration and development of diversified awards: that recognize development of English Language Learners in writing in their first language as well as English composition; that recognize remarkable improvement or growth in writing; that recognize multi-modal composition (digital or non-digital); and that recognize remarkable risk-taking with the process of writing, instead of the exclusive focus on the final draft; and consideration of revising the Promising Young Writer Awards procedure, to eliminate the test-like, single-draft, timed essay as part of the award criteria, since recent developments in high-stakes assessment already privilege those who write quickly.

What major actions or projects have been completed by your group since July 1, 2005?

We met as a group at NCTE in November 2005 in Pittsburgh. Jim Johnston presided over the meeting as chair.

The Committee was given a new charge by NCTE Executive Committee’s Presidential Team. According to the Consent Agenda Item 7.A.2 (dated 11/16/05), Kia Jane Richmond was recommended as chair of a newly reconstituted PYW Advisory Committee. The new charge includes advising staff on the nature, policies, procedures, etc. with the PYW awards, including development of a specific plan for involving more public schools in the awards, especially those with large non-white populations. Additionally, the committee is charged with preparing a written set of recommendations for the Executive Committee regarding the revised structure of the award to mitigate the negative effects of competition on student identity and learning; consideration and development of diversified awards; consideration of revision to the PYW procedure to eliminate the test-like, single-draft, timed essay as part of the awards

At the Saturday morning meeting at NCTE, we discussed proposed topics for the 2007 Promising Young Writers program. We are currently finalizing the topic for the 2007 PYW program (via email) and will have a decision to share by the end of July 2006:

What projects, initiatives, or studies are “in progress” at this time?

We are looking into ways that state affiliates of NCTE can help promote the Promising Young Writers program, publicly acknowledge student winners and their teachers, and increase diversity among participants. Ideas include emailing all NCTE members who work with middle school students, coordinating efforts with the committee in charge of NCTE’s 11th grade Achievement Awards (at state and national levels), and working with the Teachers for the Dream or other diversity-oriented committees/programs within NCTE.

At the meeting, Kia Jane Richmond shared with committee members how the Michigan Council of Teachers of English published the names of winners in the annual conference program. Another committee member talked about a state affiliate that invites teachers and winners to lunch each year. The new Chair will try to email all state coordinators with suggestions and to discover what types of recruitment and publication are happening in the various states. 

Plans for the November 2006 meeting of the PYW Advisory Committee include looking at diversity issues, publication issues, and the impromptu writing sample requirement.

PYW Advisory Committee members include Kia Jane Richmond, Matthew Kilian McCurrie, Leah Zuidema, Connie Hauer, Judy Wallis, Dianne Sievers, and Shannon Collins.

Kia Jane Richmond, Chair