Students who write well increase their learning across academic content areas (Bangert-Drowns, Hurley, & Wilkinson, 2004). The workplace today and in the future requires greater writing skills (Trilling & Fadel, 2009). Learning to write more skillfully increases reading skills (Graham & Perin, 2007; Graham & Herbert, 2010). The Common Core Writing Academy has distilled the research down to NINE best practices for teaching writing. We can show you how to use each one effectively with your students! The Research is clear

It is what Authors Use. It is the basis for the Common Core Writing Standards. 6-Traits is NOT a writing curriculum! While authors don’t always use the process in the same order and they often revise and edit MANY times, they ALWAYS use this process when they produce their writing. One does not usually complete the cycle of writing in one day. The Common Core recognizes the need to complete short and long range writing pieces utilizing the writing process. We often hear this statement from teachers: “Oh the 6- traits, we use that to teach writing.” However, the traits are designed to help teachers ASSESS writing – to find skill deficits to address during the writing workshop.

Great Writing Instruction Includes ample opportunities for student collaboration… Skills practiced lead to independent learners. Students take ownership of their OWN writing as they analyze peer writing. Collaboration accelerates writing skill acquisition. Many teachers avoid using response groups because they don’t understand the value of them. 7 Student response groups are ALWAYS part of an effective writing workshop.

Grammar does not fit in isolation. Grammar MUST be taught within the context of students’ own writing. Analyze patterns of need in YOUR CLASS and address those needs. If you teach grammar in isolation, in a prescribed sequence that your core program suggests, your students won’t get it. As simple as that. If it is not what they need right now, then... they don’t need it right now. Grammar fits-- in context. My ______ th graders can’t... We hear this all the time. Just fill in your grade level above, and you’ve probably said it. We know teachers are teaching grammar so why doesn’t it stick?

Writing is a tool for learning content--not just showing what was learned-- in all disciplines. Think short-range writing, like: bell work prompts, journals, learning logs and exit slips. Students who write well increase their learning across academic content areas (Bangert-Drowns, Hurley, & Wilkinson, 2004). Also think long-range writing, like: effective technical writing in science, research writing in social studies/history, argument writing in all content areas. You don’t have to be a writing teacher to include excellent writing strategies in your content area classroom! But I Teach _____, I am not a Writing Teacher!

3 rd grade5 th Grade7 th GradeYikes! We can help! Students must use keyboarding skills to produce and publish writing. 3 rd -12 th grade students must answer computer-based questions that call for typed answers in ELA AND in Math. Students must demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting. Students must use technology to gather relevant information from print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and publish writing that links to or cites sources. But wait, I can barely get students to write a sentence on paper, let alone on a computer!!!! Don’t worry; we are here to help. We will show you, step by step, how to make this type of writing possible for your students.

Common Core Writing Academy Who we are: We are writing teachers ourselves, first and foremost! We are based out of New Mexico, yet we are a virtual company, and our consultants live across the US. We provide excellent staff development. That is ALL we do, and we do it well. We don’t sell books, programs or materials. Common Core Writing Academy was founded in response to the great need many teachers have to learn to teach writing effectively in their own classrooms. We are a group of professional school leaders and teachers with extensive experience teaching writing at all levels.

Common Core Writing Academy How we help: Simply put, we help your student writing ROCK! We help teachers, coaches, and school leaders plan, deliver, and assess writing instruction to meet the Common Core State Standards. We will show you how to meet the Common Core Writing Standards using the nine evidence-based best practices. We know that many teachers are afraid to teach writing because they are unsure of their own writing skills. We help YOU become a better writer also.. We help schools efficiently implement the Common Core State Standards via writing instruction.