Photo Opportunity:  Fayetteville author Donald Harington will speak to the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project Summer Invitational Institute for public school teachers.

When:  Thursday, July 21, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where:  Peabody Hall, room 106. Peabody Hall is located in the Old Main lawn area, the second building to the west of Carnall Hall, which is on the corner of Maple Street and Arkansas Avenue. Parking is available along Arkansas and Maple Avenues.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Noted Fayetteville author Donald Harington, a UA Distinguished Professor in art, will share lessons from his rich writing experience with participants in the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project Summer Invitational Institute. Sponsored by the UA College of Education and Health Professions, the institute offers educators new strategies for teaching writing in the classroom.

Lead by Samuel Totten, professor in curriculum and instruction, and Anne Lane, a writing project graduate, the institute accepted seven teachers from high schools and junior high schools in Bentonville, Fayetteville and Fort Smith, as well as a mentor-teacher with the college’s A+ arts integration program.

“By the end of the month-long institute, the teachers will have gained new insights into the latest research in the field, new teaching strategies and a group of colleagues they will continue to work with,” Totten said.

Totten noted that a report released recently by the National Commission on Writing estimated that poor writing skills cost states millions of dollars each year and called for more congressional funding for the National Writing Project.