Welcome to Writing Workshop! An Integrated Approach to Writing 1. Please sign in on the “Sign in Sheet” next to your student’s name. 2. Fill in seats closest to the front screen 3. Take a look around the room

Mrs. Melita 8th Grade-Team 8I Writing Workshop

This I Believe … I believe in hard work I believe that writing is a process I believe in varying levels of success I believe that students hold the key to their own success Self advocacy I believe in taking risks But most importantly…I believe in your student

How can you best help your student? Praise hard work, not just “good grades” Encourage independence Cultivate an appreciation for reading and writing Promote self-advocacy and a growth mindset Know what is going on… Sign up for Remind messages Gain Access to Google Classroom Visit and read comments on PowerSchool Use PowerSchool “wisely”

Feedback Studies have shown that the best feedback is timely feedback. Majority of teacher feedback comes during the writing process. It will be verbal, written, a scale of check/check plus/check minus, comments on drafts, minute-meetings, small group lessons, before or after school, etc.. “Final” feedback comes in the form of the rubric and “Feedback Log”

Points Breakdown Total Points- MWA typically comes near the end of each marking period and has a major impact on their grade. Grades WILL fluctuate. Writing Assignments (minor and major) make up about 30% - 50% of each marking period. The remaining points come from classroom, check points, brainstorming, pre-writing, revisions, peer conference, classwork, etc. - Though this course is aimed at assessing student writing, there are other ways to earn points beyond just the writing assignments.

Revision Opportunity Optional revision for all individual MAJOR WRITING assignments with less than a 75% Specific requirements need to be met in order for the revision to be accepted The two scores will be averaged up to a 75%

My two cents on extra credit First cent: I do not believe in the end of the marking period is-there-anything-I-can-do-to-raise-my-grade-before-report-cards grovel. If I did, what message would this send to your student? Second cent: I do, however, believe in recognizing work that goes above and beyond assignment requirements OR when a student shows vast improvement in a past area of weakness. Now, what message does this send to your student?

Passion Project Requirements: 20% time for a Passion Project One day a week Low Risk / High Reward Requirements: Chose something you want to do Use time wisely; Be engaged Include a writing/speaking component

Extra Help I am here to help your student succeed. Students are encouraged to seek help if they are struggling or need extended time. If students feel they need more reinforcement, all they need to do is ask – in advance and in person!

Parent/Teacher Relationship Communication is the key to success! Contact Info: mmelita@spfk12.org *Best way to contact* Conference requests through counseling.

Once sentence letter … Dear Parents and Guardians, Though I am not an “easy teacher” and I have high expectations for each of my students, there is nothing I want more than for each of them to succeed; they need only want it for themselves half as badly as I want it for them. Sincerely, Mrs. Melita

THANK YOU for coming!!

STAR Students Taking Academic Responsibility Time for students to get extra help from available teachers (as well as peers) Time to make up missed work Time for independent study Time for learning how to use social media in a positive way and to leave a positive digital footprint

Integrated Writing Tasks Ethics Editorial Research Change - Narrative (time period research) Global Awareness Magazines Writer’s Notebook Inspiration Word and Pages PowerPoint and Keynote iMovie Garage Band Identity Informative Creative Narrative Perspectives Explanatory Power Persuasive/Speech

Individual Proofreading List A collection of all of my “major” comments on Major Writing Assignments (MWAs)

Writing Lab Grading Important Points: Take Two Re-Do Final Grade -Total Points - PowerSchool - MWA typically come near the end of the marking period. Take Two Re-Do - Optional “Re-do” for any MAJOR writing assignment (100pt assignments), for any student who scores less than a 75%. Due a week after the original is returned Scores averaged together UP to a 75% Student must: meet with me to discuss plans for revision, highlight ALL revisions and write a blurb that explains their revisions and reasoning or else it will not be accepted. Class Work/ “Late Work” - Any class work (worksheets, drafting, editing, etc.) that is not finished in class becomes “homework”. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the unfinished work outside of class AND turn it in the next day at the beginning of the period to be considered “on time”. *** Time sensitive late-work will not be accepted for points (i.e.check points, work needed for class that day, peer conferences). Non time-sensitive late-work can earn up to half-credit based on quality of work and timeliness of turning it in. There will be 10% deducted for each day any mini or major writing piece is turned in late.