Strategies for Successful Writing Instruction

Date Writing Instruction Teach Writing~ DO NOT Assign It!Teach Writing~ DO NOT Assign It! Teaching writing is an expectation of EVERY grade, not only tested gradesTeaching writing is an expectation of EVERY grade, not only tested grades Each grade has 2 Writing Standards:Each grade has 2 Writing Standards: Composing & RevisingComposing & Revising EditingEditing Emphasize expository, persuasive, & analytical writingEmphasize expository, persuasive, & analytical writing Teach Writing~ DO NOT Assign It!Teach Writing~ DO NOT Assign It! Teaching writing is an expectation of EVERY grade, not only tested gradesTeaching writing is an expectation of EVERY grade, not only tested grades Each grade has 2 Writing Standards:Each grade has 2 Writing Standards: Composing & RevisingComposing & Revising EditingEditing Emphasize expository, persuasive, & analytical writingEmphasize expository, persuasive, & analytical writing

Date Writing Instruction Focus on purpose and audienceFocus on purpose and audience Provide opportunities for students to change voice and audienceProvide opportunities for students to change voice and audience Teach peer revision/editingTeach peer revision/editing Putting students in groups is NOT teaching peer editingPutting students in groups is NOT teaching peer editing Do incorporate writing into every lessonDo incorporate writing into every lesson Do use writing portfoliosDo use writing portfolios Do conference with studentsDo conference with students Don’t grade every writing assignmentDon’t grade every writing assignment Don’t correct every U/M error in student papersDon’t correct every U/M error in student papers Focus on purpose and audienceFocus on purpose and audience Provide opportunities for students to change voice and audienceProvide opportunities for students to change voice and audience Teach peer revision/editingTeach peer revision/editing Putting students in groups is NOT teaching peer editingPutting students in groups is NOT teaching peer editing Do incorporate writing into every lessonDo incorporate writing into every lesson Do use writing portfoliosDo use writing portfolios Do conference with studentsDo conference with students Don’t grade every writing assignmentDon’t grade every writing assignment Don’t correct every U/M error in student papersDon’t correct every U/M error in student papers

Date SOL Writing Cut Scores

Date SOL Pass Rates

Date Writing SOL Pass Rates

Date SOL Writing Blueprints

Date SOL Instruction Resources

Date Online Writing Web Page Online Writing Web Page Online Writing Web Page Online Writing Web Page

Date Writing Process Downloadable Writing Process graphic

Date Online Writing Practice Tool Typing Tools Progress Bar Current Line Location Typing Tools

Date Writing Prompts Released Writing Prompts Released Writing Prompts Released Writing Prompts Released

Date Writing Rubrics Writing Rubrics

Date Scoring with the SOL Writing Rubric Only the EOC rubric is mode-specific Only the EOC rubric is mode-specific All student papers are read by two readers; their scores are added togetherAll student papers are read by two readers; their scores are added together Composing/Written Expression score counts twice = 2/3Composing/Written Expression score counts twice = 2/3 Usage/Mechanics score counts once = 1/3Usage/Mechanics score counts once = 1/3 If judges scores are more than 1 point apart, papers are read by a thirdIf judges scores are more than 1 point apart, papers are read by a third judge Only the EOC rubric is mode-specific Only the EOC rubric is mode-specific All student papers are read by two readers; their scores are added togetherAll student papers are read by two readers; their scores are added together Composing/Written Expression score counts twice = 2/3Composing/Written Expression score counts twice = 2/3 Usage/Mechanics score counts once = 1/3Usage/Mechanics score counts once = 1/3 If judges scores are more than 1 point apart, papers are read by a thirdIf judges scores are more than 1 point apart, papers are read by a third judge

Date Prepare for SOL Writing Tests Prepare for SOL Writing Tests

Date Instructional Writing Checklists Instructional Writing Checklists Available for grade 5, 8 and EOC.

Date Instruction Anchor Sets

Date SOL Progression Charts Writing, Grammar, Reading, Research

Date Understand Scoring Scheduled to be online in early fall 2013

Date Understand Scoring

Date Writing Instruction

Date Writing to Learn The reading journal The reading journal Generic and focused summaries Generic and focused summaries Annotations Response papers Response papers Synthesis papers Synthesis papers Discussion starter Discussion starter Focused discussion Focused discussion Learning log Learning log Analyzing the process Analyzing the process Problem statement Problem statement Solving real problems Solving real problems Pre-test warm-ups Pre-test warm-ups Letters What counts as a fact? What counts as a fact? Believing and doubting Believing and doubting The reading journal The reading journal Generic and focused summaries Generic and focused summaries Annotations Response papers Response papers Synthesis papers Synthesis papers Discussion starter Discussion starter Focused discussion Focused discussion Learning log Learning log Analyzing the process Analyzing the process Problem statement Problem statement Solving real problems Solving real problems Pre-test warm-ups Pre-test warm-ups Letters What counts as a fact? What counts as a fact? Believing and doubting Believing and doubting Analysis of events Analysis of events Project notebooks Project notebooks Writing journal Writing journal Freewriting & Focused Freewriting Entry Slips/Exit Slips Reader-Response Writing Sentence/Passage Springboard Writing Definitions to Empower the Student Student-Formulated Questions Summary Group Writing Activities Microthemes Answer the Question! Clarification/Review Letters Freewriting & Focused Freewriting Entry Slips/Exit Slips Reader-Response Writing Sentence/Passage Springboard Writing Definitions to Empower the Student Student-Formulated Questions Summary Group Writing Activities Microthemes Answer the Question! Clarification/Review Letters The National Writing Project topic/teaching_writing

Date Use of Content Texts Use of Content Texts Use content text books to create :Use content text books to create : nonfiction paired passagesnonfiction paired passages reading comprehension questionsreading comprehension questions vocabulary questionsvocabulary questions usage/mechanics questionsusage/mechanics questions constructed response questionsconstructed response questions Create TEI “thinking- enhanced questions”Create TEI “thinking- enhanced questions”

Date Persuasive Writing The National Writing Project

Date SOL K-12 English Institutes Fall 2013 Registration link – Supt’s Memo #155-13Registration link – Supt’s Memo #155-13Supt’s Memo #155-13Supt’s Memo # Institutes4 Institutes Dates and locations:Dates and locations: October 3 - WythevilleOctober 3 - Wytheville October 8 – PortsmouthOctober 8 – Portsmouth October 14 – DullesOctober 14 – Dulles October 29 – CharlottesvilleOctober 29 – Charlottesville Registration is open to allRegistration is open to all Registration link – Supt’s Memo #155-13Registration link – Supt’s Memo #155-13Supt’s Memo #155-13Supt’s Memo # Institutes4 Institutes Dates and locations:Dates and locations: October 3 - WythevilleOctober 3 - Wytheville October 8 – PortsmouthOctober 8 – Portsmouth October 14 – DullesOctober 14 – Dulles October 29 – CharlottesvilleOctober 29 – Charlottesville Registration is open to allRegistration is open to all

Date Contact Information Virginia Department of Education Tracy Fair Robertson English Coordinator Thomas Santangelo Elementary English Specialist Assessment Office