Getting Ready for STAAR Writing English I EOC Writing

Not just any writing…

But STAAR Writing!

TEA Online Resources Assessed curriculum* Blueprints* Released Test Questions* Writing and English I, II, III* Dictionary/Thesaurus policies*

TEA Online Resources, continued Rubrics* Test design schematics* Question and answer document (FAQs) Much more

Assessed Curriculum Readiness Standards Essential for success in the current grade/course Important for preparedness for the next grade/course Support college and career readiness Necessitate in-depth instruction Address broad and deep ideas

Assessed Curriculum Supporting Standards Introduced in the current grade or course, emphasized in a subsequent year Reinforced in the current grade or course, emphasized in a previous year Play a role in preparing students for the next grade or course, but not a central role Address more narrowly defined ideas

STAAR Writing Online “Look Fors” Blueprint – reporting categories, number of standards, number of questions Test Design Schematics – information about genres assessed, field test items Released Test Questions– some questions and answers (full STAAR test not released until 2014)

STAAR Writing (also Reading) Resources for English I, II, III Dictionary Policy – available for all students - one for every better: one for every best: one for each Thesaurus – allowed either as part of dictionary or separate, available for all students - one for every

Most Significant Differences STAAR/TAKS  Rigor of items has been increased (assessing skills at a greater depth and level of cognitive complexity)  Total number of test items increased for most grades, subjects, and courses  Four-hour time limit on STAAR as opposed to TAKS which was untimed

Part of Four Hours bathroom breaks water breaks snack breaks short physical/mental breaks

Not Part of Four Hours Lunch Emergency situations Consolidation/movement to another area Medical breaks to nurse

Revising and Editing  English I 15 revision multiple choice questions 15 editing multiple choice questions Field test revision and editing items imbedded

STAAR Written Composition  Students will write two one-page compositions  Additional field test composition in Grade 7 and English EOCs  26 lines maximum  Different types of writing

STAAR Written Composition  English I−literary story and expository essay

STAAR Written Composition  English II−expository and persuasive (2013)  English III−persuasive and analytical (2014)

STAAR Written Composition  Essays will be weighted equally  No “gatekeeper” (automatic fail of writing test for a 1)

STAAR Writing Prompts  Literary, expository, persuasive, and analytical prompts contain a stimulus and are scaffolded:  Read  Think  Write  Be Sure to

STAAR Writing Prompts  READ  Sometimes a statement (There are people in our lives who are special to us. Sometimes this person is a teacher or coach, a parent, a brother or sister, or even a friend.)  Sometimes a quote ( A famous businessman once said, “Players win games; teams win championships.”)  Sometimes an image

STAAR Writing Prompts  THINK (Sometimes it’s hard to make a decision because there are so many choices.)  The synopsis or quotation generalized and reworded  Clarification of READ  Idea starters

STAAR Writing Prompts  Write  An even more focused rewording  Often called the “charge”  Be Sure to –  Reminder bullets, appear in rubrics (different rubric for each type of writing)

STAAR Writing - What the field tests revealed…  Score Point 3 or 4 Papers * Good form/purpose match * Introduction and conclusion short/effective * No wasted words * Well crafted * Narrow and deep focus * Specific use of language and appropriate tone for purpose * Clear beginning, middle and end * Strong conventions

STAAR Writing - What the field tests revealed…  Score Point 1 or 2 Papers * Wrong form/purpose * Meaningless introduction and/or conclusion * Wasted space (repetition, wordiness, meandering, extraneous details of examples) * Poorly crafted * General/vague use of language or inappropriate tone for purpose * Weak conventions

What do Maurice Sendak, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner have in common?

They never made their point in 26 lines! o However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done! o Texas students will be expected to complete each composition in 26 lines or less.

We don’t want the 26 line limit to create “Blah” sentences. He walked through the door.

“Explode the moment” sentences, although wonderful, likely won’t fit. He grasped the cold doorknob and turned it slowly to the right. He pushed the door inward. The hinges squeaked and cold air rushed past the opening door. The room was dark. His eyes darted to the right. Nothing. He pushed the door open a little farther, and slowly moved his right foot into the room. His shoe creaked a bit as it hit the polished hardwood floor.

Precise and concise is what we need on the STAAR. He crept through the door, hoping to be as quiet as a mouse.

Keys to Success for Students Being able to contrast “Explode the Moment” writing with precise and concise writing Being able to identify examples and non- examples of concise and precise writing in reading passages and their own writing

Next Step: Practice STAAR Writing Skills By providing purposeful, thoughtful assignments – based on the assessed TEKS and Student Expectations Guiding students through the process from modeling to independent practice Allowing our students to showcase their writing talents (revising, editing, and writing compositions)

Composition/Writing/Literary Texts English I 14A: write an engaging story with a well-developed conflict and resolution, interesting and believable characters, and a range of literary strategies (e.g., dialogue, suspense) and devices to enhance the plot.  Mini-lessons on areas of need, with independent use of the strategies the goal

Teacher-Made Rubric Literary Text 1234 Engaging story Well –developed conflict and resolution Interesting believable characters Range of literary strategies Devices to enhance plot

Composition/Writing/Expository Texts English I 15A: write an essay of sufficient length that includes: (i) effective introductory and concluding paragraphs and a variety of sentence structures; (ii) rhetorical devices, and transitions between paragraphs; (iii) a controlling idea or thesis; (iv) an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context; (v) relevant information and valid inferences.  Mini lessons on areas of need, with independent use of the strategies the goal

Teacher-Made Rubric Expository Texts 1234 Essay of sufficient length Effective introductory and concluding paragraphs Variety of sentence structures Rhetorical devices Transitions between paragraphs Controlling idea or thesis Organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context Relevant information Valid inferences

TEA Scoring of Written Compositions 4 page rubric to score students STAAR writing compositions – one page per score point Each genre has a separate rubric Familiarize yourself with these

Questions? Contact Information: Beverly Richard Curriculum and Instructional Specialist