1. Implementing the Calkins’ Writing Units of Study Amy Oak, Literacy and Early Childhood Consultant Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Muskegon, MI

2. Our Agenda Welcome and Introductions K-W History and overview of the Units Structure of the Units Writing Invitation Implementation Process What’s working Next Steps

3. Why focus on Writing? MEAP Scores in the County –Lower than reading scores –Few districts were on par with the state or above Districts requested support

4. Teacher’s College, Columbia University Premier national think tank on the teaching of writing Test scores in NYC Created Units of Study for Writing

12. Mini-lesson structure Connection Teaching Active Engagement Link Writing and Conferring Share

13. MAISD Professional Development 06-07 Pilot 07-08 Phase I –250 K-6 general & special education teachers –Ten Districts –Ten half day sessions with each grade level –Initial work with middle school staff Optional after school sessions –Lake Michigan Writing Project Assessment –Teaching Grammar

14. On-going Professional Development Summer 08 –Homegrown Institute –LMWP –Writing Through the Units 08-09 School year –New group of 1 st year with Units 230 –Returning/year two teachers –Conferring Class –Grammar Class –Middle School teachers

15. Results Embraced at many levels –Curriculum Directors –Principals –Teachers –Students –Parents and Grandparents

20. Data and Feedback Schools who do quarterly writing prompts have reported great improvement in quality and quantity of student writing compared to last year in classes where teachers are implementing the Units of Study.

21. Quotes from Teachers Special education students are producing! Students are transferring their writing into other subjects Partnering is working, they are actually helping each other revise. I have a classroom of authors, they love writing! K

22. Plans for 2009-20010 Summer 09 –Writing Through the Units –Book studies Continued Support 09-10 –After school monthly meetings –Repeat topic specific classes –Leadership strand –May have small group of teachers in their first year.

23. Next Steps What are your next steps? Reading Workshop Pilot aoak@muskegonisd.org