1. English SOL Institute Secondary Writing Strand
Hope Cloud, Appalachian Writing Project, Wise County Public Schools
Strategies for Teaching the New Standards

2. Secondary Writing Key Points in Secondary Writing
Writing revolves around mode, purpose, audience, and process
Provide students opportunities to practice writing on demand, for shorter time frames, and over extended periods of time
Each grade level has a composing/revision standard and an editing/grammar standard

3. Secondary Writing Key Points in Secondary Writing
Teaching writing is an expectation of every grade, not only “tested” grades
Provide students with opportunities to compose using computers
Self- and peer-editing opportunities for students are essential

4. Secondary Writing Key Points in Secondary Writing
6-8 writing emphasis is expository and persuasive writing
9-12 writing emphasis is argumentative, persuasive, and analytical writing
9-12 writing should produce a sound argument, address counterclaims, provide sound reasoning, and come to a just conclusion

5. Strategies for Teaching Writing
1. Scaffolded Writing
1a: Sentence Pyramids
1b: Handy Guide to Writing
2. Using Technology
2a: SmartArt Graphic Organizers
2b: Interactive Online Graphic Organizers
2c: Composing Online (VDOE website)

6. Strategy 1: Scaffolded Writing Instruction
Scaffolded instruction is based on the work of Vygotsky, who proposed that “with an adult’s assistance, children could accomplish tasks that they ordinarily could not perform independently.”
“Scaffolding is a process in which students are given support until they can apply new skills and strategies independently.”
Larkin, Martha. "Using Scaffolded Instruction to Optimize Learning ." Council for Exceptional Children. (2002): Web. 11 Jun <

7. Harry Wong on Structure
Students risk failure because of the lack of structure.
The greater the structure of a lesson and the more precise the directions on what is to be accomplished, the higher the achievement rate.
Wong, Harry K. and Rosemary T. The First Days of School. Harry K Wong Publications, 2001.

8. 1a: Sentence Pyramids Basic sentence Add a prepositional phrase
Add adjectives and adverbs
Add sentence variety (compound sentence, complex sentence, etc.)
Add figurative language
*See slide 18 for explanation and example

9. 1b: Handy Guide to Writing
Cloud, Hope. "A Handy Guide to Writing Paragraphs." Let's Write: Strategies for Teaching Writing. Appalachian Writing Project.

10. Strategy 2: Using Technology to Plan and Draft Writing
Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and EOC SOL writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online. Teachers need to provide opportunities for students at all grade levels to plan, compose, revise, edit, and publish writing using computers.
Virginia Department of Education. English SOL Resources <

11. Why Use Technology?
A report from the National Writing Project and the College Board found that the use of Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, podcasts, wikis, and comics-creating software can heighten students’ engagement and enhance their writing and thinking skills in all grade levels and across all subjects.
Prabhu, Maya T. "Technology a key tool in writing instruction." eSchool News. July 18. (2010). <

12. 2a: SmartArt Graphic Organizers
SmartArt is a tool found in Microsoft Office documents.

13. Prompt: In what ways has technology improved our lives?
Click here
improving communication
cell phones are used for texting, facebook, and other social networks
web cams, skype, face time, ovoo are used to talk to friends and family who live far away
instant access to news events via cell phones, computers, tv, etc.
providing entertainment
X-box 360, Wii, PS3, ds, and other gaming devices
online comedy videos, graphics
netflix, youtube, streaming videos
creating jobs
creating more advanced equipment, computers, (need computer technologists to assist with ever-changing technology)
computer programmers are needed to keep up with technology
work from home or continue education at home online

14. 2b: Interactive Online Graphic Organizers
82% of teens feel that additional in-class writing time would improve their writing abilities
78% of students polled feel that teachers using computer-based writing tools would improve their writing abilities
Click here
Lenhart, Amanda. "Writing, Technology, and Teens.“ Pew Research Center, 24 Apr Web Mar <
*See slide 20 for explanation and example

15. 2c: Drafting Online (VDOE)
The VDOE website has an extensive list of online writing resources to help teachers better prepare students for the implementation of online direct writing testing. TestNav (online writing practice tool)
Click here
Virginia Department of Education. English SOL Resources < index.shtml>.
*See slide 21 for example

16. A Final Word…
The principal goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done.        - Jean Piaget, Swiss cognitive psychologist

17. Works Cited
Cloud, Hope. "A Handy Guide to Writing Paragraphs." Let's Write: 30 Strategies for Teaching Writing. Appalachian Writing Project.
Larkin, Martha. "Using Scaffolded Instruction to Optimize Learning ." Council for Exceptional Children. (2002): Web. 11 Jun <
Lenhart, Amanda. "Writing, Technology, and Teens.“ Pew Research Center, 24 Apr Web Mar <
"Persuasion Map." Read, Write, Think. International Reading Association, Web. 11 Jun < >.
Prabhu, Maya T. "Technology a key tool in writing instruction." eSchool News. July 18. (2010). Web <
Virginia Department of Education. English SOL Resources < index.shtml>.
Wong, Harry K. and Rosemary T. The First Days of School. Harry K. Wong Publications, 2001.

18. Example of Sentence Pyramid
The teacher sat. (Basic sentence) The teacher sat at her desk. (Add prepositional phrase) The tired, weary teacher sat quietly at her desk. (Add adjectives and adverb) The tired, weary teacher sat quietly at her desk, but the stack of ungraded papers remained. (Add sentence variety – in this example, a compound sentence) The tired, weary teacher sat quietly at her desk, but the stack of ungraded papers remained and stared her in the eyes / like an animal seeking its prey. (Add figurative language – in this example, personification and simile)

19. Interactive Graphic Organizer
Lenhart, Amanda. "Writing, Technology, and Teens.“ Pew Research Center, 24 Apr Web Mar <

20. Drafting Online (VDOE)
Virginia Department of Education. English SOL Resources < index.shtml>.

21. Hope Cloud hcloud@wise.k12.va.us
Contact Information
Hope Cloud

22. Disclaimer
Reference within this presentation to any specific commercial or non-commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Virginia Department of Education.