Write On!Write On!

Young America Works Public Charter Young America Works Public Charter Vocational High SchoolVocational High School

August 27, 2008August 27, 2008

Kevin SimpsonKevin Simpson KDSL - Know.Do.Serve.Learn KDSL - Know.Do.Serve.Learn

KDSL07@hotmail.comKDSL07@hotmail.comkdsl.wordpress.comkdsl.wordpress.com

Quick write – 3 minutesQuick write – 3 minutes

What makes a piece of writing great?What makes a piece of writing great?

What types of writing tasks do you use What types of writing tasks do you use

in your classroom?in your classroom?

Partner SharePartner Share

• “• “In order to improve, students need meaningfulIn order to improve, students need meaningfulopportunities to put developing skills to use.” (Shanahan, opportunities to put developing skills to use.” (Shanahan,

2004)2004)

• “• “Most research today supports the view that writing isMost research today supports the view that writing isrecursive, that it does not proceed linearly but insteadrecursive, that it does not proceed linearly but insteadcycles and recycles through sub processes (planning,cycles and recycles through sub processes (planning,drafting, evaluating, revising).” drafting, evaluating, revising).” (NWP & Nagin, 2003, p.25)(NWP & Nagin, 2003, p.25)

• “• “Numerous studies have shown that writing led toNumerous studies have shown that writing led toimproved reading achievement, reading led to betterimproved reading achievement, reading led to betterwriting, and combined instruction led to improvement inwriting, and combined instruction led to improvement inboth reading and writing.” (Shanahan, 1991, p. 258)both reading and writing.” (Shanahan, 1991, p. 258)

Only 1/3 of the students are proficient writersOnly 1/3 of the students are proficient writers––Students need to write moreStudents need to write more––Students need to become fluent writersStudents need to become fluent writers

90/90/90 schools require written responses90/90/90 schools require written responses––Use short paragraph assignments Use short paragraph assignments -Frequent writing in a variety of subjects-Frequent writing in a variety of subjects-Nonfiction writing-Nonfiction writing

““More than 90% of mid-career professionals recently More than 90% of mid-career professionals recently cited the need to write effectively as a skill of great cited the need to write effectively as a skill of great

importance in their day-to-day work.”importance in their day-to-day work.”National Commission on WritingNational Commission on Writing, 2003, 2003

Why Write More?Why Write More?

• • Writing should be an integral part of content Writing should be an integral part of content instruction, not an add-on.instruction, not an add-on.

• • Writing skills/processes may be introduced in Writing skills/processes may be introduced in English/language arts but should be English/language arts but should be reinforced in all content classes.reinforced in all content classes.

• • Writing is an effective tool to assess student Writing is an effective tool to assess student comprehension in any subject.comprehension in any subject.

• • Students who write clearly, think clearly.Students who write clearly, think clearly.

• • Power WritingPower Writing

• Write Why!Write Why!

• Interactive NotebookInteractive Notebook

Many more ideas are in your packetMany more ideas are in your packet

Writing StrategiesWriting Strategies

A fluency activity requiring students to A fluency activity requiring students to

write as many words as they can on write as many words as they can on

topic as fast as they can. topic as fast as they can.

Topic: Topic:

2008 Presidential Race2008 Presidential Race

Power Writing Power Writing

In Write Why! the teacher provides the In Write Why! the teacher provides the

student with content or a question and student with content or a question and

answer and the student has to explain answer and the student has to explain

or justify why the answer is correct. or justify why the answer is correct.

a + 5 = 10a + 5 = 10

a = 5a = 5

Write Why!Write Why!

Write Why!Write Why!

Interactive Student Interactive Student NotebooksNotebooks allow allow students to:students to:

Record Record information about information about a subject in an a subject in an engaging wayengaging way

Use several types Use several types of writing and of writing and innovativeinnovative graphic graphic techniques to techniques to record themrecord them

Interactive NotebooksInteractive NotebooksInteractive Notebooks Interactive Notebooks

Help Students Help Students

Develop graphical Develop graphical thinking skillsthinking skills

Use their critical-Use their critical-thinking skills to thinking skills to organize informationorganize information

Ponder questions Ponder questions

And express high level And express high level concepts in different concepts in different formatsformats

Resulting in..Resulting in..More creative, More creative,

independent thinkersindependent thinkers

Each lesson centers around three key elements:

•Preview Assignments (RAP)

•Graphically Organized Reading Notes (WOW)

•Processing Assignments (WIO)

Interactive NotebooksInteractive Notebooksprovide a cohesive structure and serve as an

organizational anchor for multiple intelligence activities

Purposes for LookingPurposes for Looking

There are a range of purposes for looking at There are a range of purposes for looking at

student work. These purposes include: student work. These purposes include:

professional development; professional development;

accountability (determining the effectiveness of accountability (determining the effectiveness of curriculum and instruction); curriculum and instruction);

setting standards; and setting standards; and

reflecting on student learning and development.reflecting on student learning and development.

http://www.lasw.org/welcome.htmlhttp://www.lasw.org/welcome.html

Looking at Student Work - LASWLooking at Student Work - LASW

In a small group, examine the student task andIn a small group, examine the student task and

scoring guide. Then select one piece of studentscoring guide. Then select one piece of student

writing and discuss…writing and discuss…

What does the student know? How do you know?What does the student know? How do you know?

What instruction or experiences do you think led What instruction or experiences do you think led to this student response?to this student response?

What feedback would you give this student?What feedback would you give this student?

What would be the next steps for instruction?What would be the next steps for instruction?

Record your responses on the graphic organizer.Record your responses on the graphic organizer.

LASW Discussion QuestionsLASW Discussion Questions

Table Talk Table Talk

What did I hear or do that affirmed What did I hear or do that affirmed my current teaching practices?my current teaching practices?

How can I begin to incorporate these How can I begin to incorporate these writing strategies into my teaching?writing strategies into my teaching?

I plan to use…with my learners this I plan to use…with my learners this year.year.

A “Write On” QuoteA “Write On” Quote

““Those who write have tremendous Those who write have tremendous

intellectual advantages over intellectual advantages over

those who don’t.”those who don’t.”

Mike Schmoker, Mike Schmoker, Results NowResults Now