The Connecticut Writing Project (CWP)

The CWP-Storrs, one of the oldest sites of the National Writing Project, was established at the University of Connecticut in 1982. Since 1986, the site has benefited from funding from the Aetna Endowed Chair of Writing. Through its annual Invitational Summer Institute, the CWP offers opportunities for professional growth to teachers in all disciplines who recognize the worth of using writing as a means of learning any subject matter. Improving writing skills enhances thinking skills, leading to higher levels of achievement in all areas. In addition, the CWP offers professional development services to schools and school districts, as well as a variety of opportunities for students to publish their writing.

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In Memoriam

Dr. Jason Courtmanche  –  April 15, 1969  –  November 27, 2024

Hawthorne is quoted as saying, “I have not lived, but only dreamed about living.”  That can never be said about Jason. He lived his life to the fullest, savoring every moment, every person, and every word.  Life is not fair.  Jason had so many more students left to inspire and far too many more books to read and words to write.  No matter how long Jason had lived, it would never have been long enough, but he did live, and he lived well.  We, all the people upon whom he had an impact, will remember him—with deep love and respect—always.  Click here for a full Jason Courtmanche – In Memoriam piece.

 

 

Upcoming Event: Jason Courtmanche Memorial Writing Marathon

Upcoming Event: Jason Courtmanche Memorial Writing Marathon

The Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs invites you to join us for a writing marathon to honor the life and legacy of Jason Courtmanche, who served as CWP Director from 2007–2024.

For more information and access to links, click on the above image.

Welcome to Dr. Danielle Pieratti, the New Connecticut Writing Project Director!

We are pleased to announce that poet, translator, and educator Danielle Pieratti will take on the directorship of the Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs for the 2025-26 academic year.  Danielle taught at South Windsor High School from 2012-2022 and has worked with Jason Courtmanche and other CWP leaders to run Writing Retreats and Saturday Writing Workshops for the CWP from 2014 to the present.  She completed her PhD in the UConn English Department in March of 2025. Additionally, Danielle has an MFA from Columbia University and an MS in Secondary Education from SUNY Albany.

The 2025-26 Connecticut Scholastic Writing Contest

Scholastic Art & Writing Contest

Letters About Literature 2024-25 Finalists and Winners – click on the link below

LAL 2024-25

Letters About Literature Student Writing Contest 2025-26

Click on this link for information about submitting to the 2025-26 Letters About Literature Student Writing Contest for grades 4 through 12:  https://education.uconn.edu/letters-about-literature-contest/

Support CWP!

The Equity and Social Justice Reading Group

ESJ RG flier

Connecticut Student Writers Recognition Night at Jorgensen Auditorium, May 15, 2025

On May 15, 2025, the Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs celebrated our student writers with our Connecticut Student Writers Magazine Recognition Night, an annual event that invites students and teachers recognized by our yearly student writing contest to a celebratory reading of student work at UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Thirteen student speakers from grades K-12 read their winning writing pieces from the stage. 

This year, with over 750 in attendance, we welcomed keynote speaker Alicia D. Williams, a highly acclaimed author known for her poignant and impactful middle grade novels and picture books. Williams is the author of Mid-Air, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. She is also widely recognized for her Newbery Honor-winning novel, Genesis Begins Again, which also received Kirkus Prize honors, was a William C. Morris Award finalist, and for which she won the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award for New Talent. In addition to her novels, Alicia D. Williams has penned several beloved picture books, including Jump at the Sun, Nani and the Lion, and The Talk, the latter of which was a Coretta Scott King Honor book. You can view Alicia’s keynote for another of our recent CWP Scholastic Art & Writing virtual celebrations here.

We are delighted to share that, as part of our CWP-Storrs network, you will be able to order Alicia’s books at a 20% discount using a special code at checkout, with free shipping on orders of $40 or more for a limited time. This discounted book offer is available from 8/14-8/20/25.  Click here to order:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/alicia-d-williams.  Click here for the full terms and conditions: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/alicia-d-williams#terms

The 2025 CT Student Writers magazines (CSW 2025 Elementary Volume and CSW 2025 Secondary, No. 2) are stored electronically as PDFs and are available for download from our CWP CT Student Writers webpage.  The lists of all Gold, Silver, Honorable Mention and Teacher Awardees are in the back of each volume.

Teacher-Writer magazine Fall 2024 is available for download – click on the cover below:

Teacher-Writer Chapbook

RSS The Write Space

  • Where did I go? September 14, 2024
    Some of you know but many of you probably do not. I am on medical leave with cancer, so I have not been posting here. However, if you enjoy my writing and are interesting in following my journey, you can read my daily posts here: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/6718471c-5f44-36cd-9793-70a91a950d52?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web&utm_content=copylink_leftmenu_php
    Jason Courtmanche
  • How do you see yourself contributing? November 16, 2023
      I’ve had a few very interesting interactions with young students lately. Just yesterday I was interviewed by a first-year student from my colleague Inda’s class, and it turns out he lives in Madison and had my cousin Brian for math at the middle school and my former student Josh Young twice for English, sophomore […]
    Jason Courtmanche

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