ACTION RESEARCH & COMPOSITION WRITING Academy Avenue Primary School Weymouth, MA

Description of the Action Research Project The Group – Principals – Teachers – Experienced Academic Researcher

Description of the Action Research Project Project Goals – Use MCAS long composition rubric and anchor papers to focus teacher expectations Identifying elements of success Determining what was missing Becoming proficient scorers – Improve areas of weaknesses – Identify successful teaching strategies

Development of the Project Analysis of Student Work – Scoring Identified a sample group: 9 students with different abilities from different classes Met as a group to analyze progress – Read and scored compositions individually – Shared scores with the group – Identified a pattern of weakness – Set goals

Development of the Project Planning Instruction – Shared ideas for addressing group goals – Developed materials and strategies – Shared successful materials and strategies

Benefits of the Project Improved long composition scores Creating a record of successful interventions – Knowing what works Creating and sharing teaching materials that address our needs

How We Teach Composition Writing Whole Class Instruction

What we have taken from Action Research Series of 4 practice prompts Scoring according to the state’s 6/4 rubric Tracking a sample group of students Making students aware of the scoring rubric Making students aware of what each score means

Basic Expectations for Long Composition Six complete paragraphs – Introduction and conclusion paragraphs – Four body paragraphs with well chosen supporting details A composition that clearly answers the question and stays on topic

Expectations for Pre-Writing Four-Square graphic representing the four body paragraphs – Structure – Color Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs – “Hook, clues, and closing” or suspense technique – Restate, support, and add a feeling

Writers’ Workshop Approach One hour per week Grouping according to strengths/weaknesses Addressing patterns of weakness Use of previous compositions as teaching tools

Examples of Writers’ Workshop Tools Developing the 6-paragraph structure – Writer’s Toolbox Color-code paragraph parts Focus on improving one part

Examples of Writers’ Workshop Tools Addressing mechanical errors and weaknesses – John Collins approach: Focus Correction Areas “Spelling Suspects” Improving topic development – Adding an anecdote to spice up a dull paragraph

How We Teach Composition Writing One-on-One Instruction

Conferencing – Structure – Rubrics and goals Editing Strategies – Reading Aloud – Directed Editing – Making Substitutions

Teacher Research & Composition Writing Academy Avenue School Weymouth, MA Anne Lane Megan LaRose Michael O’Halloran