Goals for the DayReview the lenses and 5 Processes

Focus: Process #2 Composing Text

Get started on Final Project

College Credit

Share your reflection with someone you don’t normally work with…Choose a partner to share your paper with--

either the reflection of what you read or your try-out strategy.

Person A will read, Person B will respond. Then Person B will read their paper and Person A will respond.

Pair to Quads

What is the #1 Predictor of Student Success?

I Have Who Has….

Please Do NowWrite 7 lines –Compare a traditional classroom to a student-centered classroom.

Writing – Are we doing the write stuff?

For you consideration…Most students don’t have models for writing

at home.

Why is it important for students to write?

How much should they write? How often? About what?

What are your concerns about students’ writing…

What are we doing right, to encourage them to be writers?

What are we doing wrong, that inhibits their development as writers?

What does writing look like in your classroom?

What do students write about?

When do they write/how often?

How do they write?

Who reads it?

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Students need…Opportunities to write in many environments – the more they write the better they learn, they need 9-12 opportunities/day – this is more important than length of writing!

Need to compose with paper/pencil – composing at a keyboard is a separate skill

A purpose beyond a grade – by grade 9, both boys and girls have a negative attitude about writing

Choice in topic and form

Opportunities to experiment with voice and audience (RAFT)

Consistent structure or framework – see it, say it, write it

Appropriate, contextual instruction

Purposeful feedback (within 1-2 days)

They must make the revisions – we must resist overgrading!

Some Interesting FactsLess than 2% of HS students will major in

English in college.

Less than 1% of HS students will enroll in journalism or professional writing related majors in college.

Elmore and Abelman, “When Opportunity Knocks…” CPRE, 1999.

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Some Interesting FactsWriting is identified as #2 on the list of

academic predictors for college success.

Professors cite the lack of habit, voice, passion, and completeness as the most pronounced deficiencies in college freshmen.

Higher Education Research Institute, “Report on Academic Readiness,” 2008

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Some Interesting FactsWriting skills are identified as a core

requirement of more than 95% of the 25 top paying jobs in America.

Writing skills are identified as a core component of 75% of the top job opportunities for HS graduates entering the job market .

Sauter, “High Skills, High Pay…” ACT Information Brief, 2007

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What Stands Out for You?What are the implications of this research for

elementary and middle school educators?

Does this challenge any long-held beliefs?

Please discuss.

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Why is Writing So Important?Promotes critical thinking skills

Promotes learning: Connections to prior knowledge Comprehension Deeper understanding Retention

Promotes vocabulary development

Promotes effective communication skills

Promotes effective assessment – “a window to learning”

Brown, Collins, Duguids, The Culture of Learning, 1999

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What Will Make a Difference?Habit

Fluency

Authenticity

Variety

Focused Practice

Feedback

Writing Next, Carnegie Commission, 2007.

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Why The Collins Writing Program?Provides a structure consistent with the

recommendations of the Writing Next Report.

Consistent with NAEP’s recommendations regarding improving writing achievement:Frequent, informal writing opportunities to think,

explore, and observe.Frequent writing in all content areas.Opportunities to write in a variety of formats.Focused, consistent feedback.Contextual teaching of writing skills.

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How Does Collins Do It? Structure: Five Types of Writing

◦ Type One: Capture Ideas

◦ Type Two: Writing to Learn

◦ Type Three: Focused Practice

◦ Type Four: Finished Product

◦ Type Five: Publishable Work

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How Does Collins Do It? Content: Creating Great Assignments

◦ Assignment◦ Writer’s Role◦ Audience◦ Purpose◦ Format◦ Focus Correction Areas (FCAs)◦ Process

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How Does Collins Do It? Consistency: Developing Focus Correction

Areas Vertical Articulation 12-K

Organization: Writing Folders

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Collins’ WritingType 1 –

Use to capture ideasNo right or wrongNo revision/one draftBest if done 8 to 10 times a dayAccountable for length and staying on topic onlyMay need to be “timed”Benefits:

Builds habit Uses language Rewards success

Collins’ WritingType 2◦ Purpose of writing to learn◦ Responses are an explanation that helps cement

understanding◦ Best if done 4 to 6 times per day◦ Accountable for content only◦ Usually are soft-timed◦ Evaluate with 4 point scale◦ Benefits:

Improves quality of learning while providing opportunities to write

They can self correct

Let’s try a Type Two Writing…Describe one of the processes of learning

from Plainer Truths and write 2 ways you have connected it to your teaching.

Collins’ WritingType 3◦ Edit for FCAs – Focused Correction Areas◦ This type is the most authentic academic

writing experience◦ Best preparation for testing situations◦ Pick 3 FCAs at most and keep those until

mastery is evident◦ Model first and be prepared to differentiate◦ Can be done in class or for homework◦ Benefits:

Has the most impact on writing Requires less time on your part for grading

Let’s try a Type 3…Cocktail Party

• Each participant gets a napkin.

• Round 1—Talk about a book you have read or a movie you have recently seen.

• Round 2—Tell about a favorite holiday memory.

• Round 3—Tell about a school memory.

Collins’ 4 and 5

Type 4 – Type 3 writing and has been read out loud and critiqued by another (2 drafts)

Type 5 – Publishable work based on multiple drafts; represents real-world standards

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE…Work in 2 groups.

Count off by 2’s

Group 1—Read It, Group 2—See It

Chart your noticings about the text/illustrations

Big Ideas/Wrap-UpComplexity of Teaching

Assignment—2 Wiki responses/try-out , Plainer Truths, Bulkpack article

Kathy Genzano will be back for the next session

Study Table—Nov. 21; Bring materials to work on your

your project.