You might not expect to see a health teacher sitting in on a professional development session about literacy. But at Milford High School, that’s exactly what’s happening. This year, teachers from all disciplines—including math, science, and even health—are taking part in the Writing Across the Day, a professional development initiative rooted in Miami University's Ohio Writing Project (OWP), which helps teachers find meaningful ways to use literacy skills to connect concepts and promote learning. The program was initiated by Dr. Arnold, who wanted to address writing across the curriculum and sought assistance from Betsy Woods to bring the initiative to life.
The ninth-grade community at Milford High School has become the district’s starting point for this innovative approach, with teachers engaging in two sessions focused on integrating writing into their classrooms. The goal? To help students not just write better but think better—whether they’re analyzing a novel in English, interpreting data in science, or explaining the impact of exercise in health class.
“This program has been incredibly beneficial for our teachers,” said Dan Yeager, Associate Principal of the ninth-grade community. “It’s exciting to see them collaborate across disciplines and discover new ways to engage students through writing.”
The Milford initiative, guided by OWP, allows educators to explore writing as a means of critical thinking and problem-solving. Instead of seeing writing as a final product, teachers are using it as a process—helping students articulate their ideas, refine their reasoning, and engage more deeply with the material.
“I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this to Milford,” Yeager added. “I look forward to seeing this program expand across our high school and for more of our teachers to have the opportunity to take part in such meaningful professional development.”
The Ohio Writing Project, based at Miami University, has been training K-12 educators for over 40 years, emphasizing that writing is a powerful learning tool across disciplines. Milford’s adoption of OWP marks an important step in aligning instruction with research-based best practices and ensuring students develop the communication and analytical skills they’ll need beyond high school.
Milford Schools plans to expand this initiative every year, gradually including additional grade levels until the entire high school is benefiting from the Ohio Writing Project’s approach. By embedding writing into every subject, Milford is preparing students not only for academic success but also for critical thinking and problem-solving in the real world.