Balanced Literacy Writing Tooele County School District

Writing: “if we could institute only one change to make students more college ready, it should be to increase the amount and quality of writing* students are expected to produce.” --David Conley, College Knowledge

Modeled Writing develops concepts about print develops writing strategies think aloud supports reading development provides a model for a variety of writing styles produces text that students can read independently teacher controls “the pen”

Interactive Writing provides opportunities to plan and construct text increases spelling knowledge and phonological skills and strategies produces written language resources in the classroom connecting reading to writing teacher shares “the pen” WITH students

Strategic Comprehensive Reading & Writing (Interactive Editing) Cross Curricular: a model for reading comprehension and summarizing important information in writing. Writing instruction in both form and content. Using the reading of text as a model to cooperatively write new products for various purposes. A way to teach students different writing types and styles.

Guided Writing/Writing Workshop models brainstorming of ideas provides students with guidance while learning the writing process provides an audience for the written word whole group and small group mini-lessons individual conferences (teacher/student and student/student) students writing WITH SUPPORT of teacher

Independent Writing strengthens text sequence develops an understanding of multiple uses of writing supports reading development develops writing strategies writing for purpose and audience process writing and writing on demand individual writing BY students

Writing: What you won’t see… Students being assigned a writing piece, to complete at home or in a short period of time, and then the teacher marking up the paper with red pen, providing a grade without opportunity and feedback for improvement. Teachers dictating narrow writing prompts as the sole source of writing assignments. Teachers teaching to a whole class for long periods of time. Writing lessons where students don’t have an opportunity to write. Teachers working at their desk, as students are working at theirs.

Reading and Writing Assessments Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) Fluency Running Records (Reading Street: Fresh Reads, Read Naturally) DIBELS Benchmark Assessment & Progress Monitoring Reading Conferences Guided Reading Observation Notes Comprehension Assessments Quick Writes (formative) Writing Workshop Conference/Observation Notes Writing on Demand (summative) Writing Process Project/Finished Works Spelling (application) Literature Circle Task Sheets/Notes/Checklists