Principal’s Mid-Year Writing Report Johanna Pscodna Keicher Elementary Michigan Center

What is Your Goal? School Improvement Goal: All students will be proficient on the MEAP Writing assessment by the year All Keicher Elementary staff members will improve ALL student’s revision skills and understanding in the writing process strand so that: *67% of All 4th grade students show proficiency on the 2011 MEAP Writing Test. *90% of All 7th grade students show proficiency on the 2011 MEAP Writing Test.

Objective #1 EDITING AND PROOFREADING **Teachers will provide a consistent set of editing and proofreading marks among grade levels. 1. Collect and compile assortments of editing and proofreading marks. Decide on common list of editing and proofreading marks. 2.Create and print bookmark/insert for each student including a list of consistent editing and proofreading marks. Distribute bookmark/insert to each student. 3.Teachers will give students a provided quarterly (5-question) assessment based on revision skills.

Evidence of Action Steps Teachers met and agreed to common proofreading marks. Bookmarks were created, printed and distributed to each student. **Example! Teachers developed and assessed students quarterly on revision skills.

Is It Working? Objective #1 Editing and Proofreading Is the objective implemented to the expected level based on the plan? 1.YES!!! 100% teacher participation 2. This work is being included into instruction as observed in walk-throughs and being assessed twice each trimester. Are the students making progress based on the original goal? Graphs coming up…. Work in progress!!!!

Objective #2 “MC Mighty Mentors” Teachers will pair older students with younger students 3 & 5, 4 & 6, to play the role of writing mentors, in that they will provide feedback, revision and editing ideas, as well as support for younger mentees.

Evidence of Action Steps 1.Team coordinated a schedule for students to mentor. *First week in each month 2.Teacher paired students with mentors. 3.Teachers created guidelines for writing conferences. *Example

Is It Working? Objective #2 “Mighty Mentors” Is the objective implemented to the expected level based on the plan? 1.YES!!! 2. This work is being included into instruction as observed in walk-throughs and being assessed twice during trimesters. Are the students making progress based on the original goal? Yes, based on data collected and reviewed. Work in progress!!!!

Need 6 th gr.

Objective #3 Align the Writing Curriculum **Teachers will align the writing curriculum so that writing instruction is consistent across grade levels and is based on content expectations. Team will create a curriculum calendar that contains the main writing projects for each grade level, based on the G.L.C.E’s.

Evidence of Action Steps Teachers met on August 23 and developed a 3-6 th grade Writing Curriculum Calendar. *Example

Is It Working? Objective #3 Align the Writing Curriculum Is the objective implemented to the expected level based on the plan? 1.YES!!! 2.This is being assessed on a pre-, mid- and post basis through common writing assessments. Are the students making progress based on the original goal? Yes, see graphs to come. Work in progress!!!!

Objective #4 COMMON WRITING ASSESSMENT ** Teachers will use a common rubric among grades three through six as a student revision tool, teachers guide for instruction, and an assessment tool. 1. Distribute MEAP Writing Rubric too teachers and students. 2. As a Fall pre-assessment, students will create a written response to a provided writing prompt. Pre-Assessment scored at Grade Level Meetings. 3. As a Mid assessment, students will create a written response to a provided writing prompt. Assessment scored at Grade Level Meetings in Feb. 4. As a Spring post-assessment, students will take the CWCA written response test.

Evidence of Action Steps Teachers distributed MEAP Writing Rubric to teachers at a Sept. staff meeting and modeled how to use the rubric. In turn the teachers took the same process back to their students so they were able to self-assess using the MEAP rubric for revising purposes. As a Fall pre-assessment, students created a written response in September. Students scored their own papers using the rubric. The papers were then scored by two teachers at their grade level meeting. As a mid year assessment, students created a written response in January. Students scored their own papers using the rubric. The papers were then scored by two teachers at their grade level meeting in Feb. Scores were recorded, student discussion and revision took place. As a Spring post-assessment, students will take the CWCA written response test.

Is It Working? Objective #4 Common Writing Assessement Is the objective implemented to the expected level based on the plan? 1.YES!!! 2. This is being assessed on a pre-, mid-, post test assessment basis. Are the students making progress based on the original goal? Yes, see graphs. Work in progress!!!!

Objective #5 “Write On Days” Teachers will develop and implement mini-lessons designed to enhance student understanding of the following writing concepts; audience, purpose, and word choice. “Write On Days”

Evidence of Action Steps 1.Team created and distributed plans for six- mini lessons. (two for audience, two for purpose, and two for word choice. 2.Team implemented activities on Oct. 6, Nov. 10, Jan. 12, March 9, April and May 11 th Question assessments have been developed and given to students twice per trimester.

Is It Working? Objective #5 “Write On Days” Is the objective implemented to the expected level based on the plan? 1.YES!!! 2. This work has been discussed at an elementary content area meeting and schedule has been distributed. 3.Ongoing conversations occur between teachers. Are the students making progress based on the original goal? Yes, graphs show improvement Work in progress!!!!

What’s Next? Continue to follow School Improvement calendar and instructional strategies. Continue to review data at team common planning time and at Staff Meetings. Graphs are displayed in staff lounge for staff to view. *After March 1 st PD, I will be moving them to hallway for students to see.