1. ACTION RESEARCH & COMPOSITION WRITING Academy Avenue Primary School Weymouth, MA

2. Description of the Action Research Project The Group – Principals – Teachers – Experienced Academic Researcher

3. Description of the Action Research Project Project Goals – Use MCAS long composition rubric and anchor papers to focus teacher expectations Identifying elements of success Determining what was missing Becoming proficient scorers – Improve areas of weaknesses – Identify successful teaching strategies

4. Development of the Project Analysis of Student Work – Scoring Identified a sample group: 9 students with different abilities from different classes Met as a group to analyze progress – Read and scored compositions individually – Shared scores with the group – Identified a pattern of weakness – Set goals

5. Development of the Project Planning Instruction – Shared ideas for addressing group goals – Developed materials and strategies – Shared successful materials and strategies

6. Benefits of the Project Improved long composition scores Creating a record of successful interventions – Knowing what works Creating and sharing teaching materials that address our needs

7. How We Teach Composition Writing Whole Class Instruction

8. What we have taken from Action Research Series of 4 practice prompts Scoring according to the state’s 6/4 rubric Tracking a sample group of students Making students aware of the scoring rubric Making students aware of what each score means

9. Basic Expectations for Long Composition Six complete paragraphs – Introduction and conclusion paragraphs – Four body paragraphs with well chosen supporting details A composition that clearly answers the question and stays on topic

10. Expectations for Pre-Writing Four-Square graphic representing the four body paragraphs – Structure – Color Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs – “Hook, clues, and closing” or suspense technique – Restate, support, and add a feeling

11. Writers’ Workshop Approach One hour per week Grouping according to strengths/weaknesses Addressing patterns of weakness Use of previous compositions as teaching tools

12. Examples of Writers’ Workshop Tools Developing the 6-paragraph structure – Writer’s Toolbox Color-code paragraph parts Focus on improving one part

13. Examples of Writers’ Workshop Tools Addressing mechanical errors and weaknesses – John Collins approach: Focus Correction Areas “Spelling Suspects” Improving topic development – Adding an anecdote to spice up a dull paragraph

14. How We Teach Composition Writing One-on-One Instruction

15. Conferencing – Structure – Rubrics and goals Editing Strategies – Reading Aloud – Directed Editing – Making Substitutions

16. Teacher Research & Composition Writing Academy Avenue School Weymouth, MA Anne Lane Megan LaRose Michael O’Halloran