IWP will hold a Saturday Scribbles session on Saturday, April 18th, from 10 am - 11:30 am!

Enjoy writing and fellowship by joining teachers in an informal, fun virtual setting. During these sessions, we write, we share, and we support each other in this important work of teaching literacy.

May 2, 2026 at Von Stuben High School.

Every spring, IWP holds a day-long Saturday festival of writing for students grades K-12, accompanied by parents and teachers. All participants engage in real-world writing, including family stories, soap-box speeches on social issues, news feature stories, and poetry. In May of 2025, over 80 participants in the Palooza had the opportunity to learn more about creative writing, sharing stories, and learning from others’ experiences.

We are fortunate to have Dr. Tina Curry as this year’s keynote speaker! Tina currently works as lead instructional coach at Fernwood Elementary School in Chicago. She has been an invited presenter for IWP, AERA, LRA, NCTE, and IRC as well as a featured guest on Coaching Conversations Podcast with Jim Knight. Dr. Curry is a longtime teacher leader in the Illinois Writing Project.

Shannon and Michael Edler