Farmington Elementary

1. Farmington Elementary Writing Instruction KASC Conference September 29, 2008 Denise Whitaker, Principal Cassie Orr, Fourth Grade Teacher

2. Our School • Pre-school – Sixth Grades • 300 students • Two homerooms of each grade level • 50% Free/Reduced Lunch • First, second, & third grades – Science & Soc. Studies • Fourth, Fifth & Sixth – each teacher has two subjects • One Reading & Writing teacher for fourth & sixth graders • .5 P.E. and .5 Arts & Humanities • K-4 teachers are .2 Title I • After School Tutoring ESS – bus transportation

3. Reading Instruction • Core reading with whole group • Reading groups – K-4 ~ School Scheduled • Fifth Grade has small class size • Sixth Grade has reading & writing teacher • Focus on five parts of reading • Increase in non-fiction reading • Multiple choice and open response at all levels

4. Writing InstructionPortfolios – School Focus • Wildcat writing folders – K-6 • Writing every day – journals • Pieces at each level • Typing, word processing and correcting • Sharing their work with real audiences • EVERY teacher is responsible for fourth grade portfolios

5. Writing InstructionPortfolios – Fourth Grade • Schedule for the year First nine weeks – Feature Article Second nine weeks – Short Story Third nine weeks – Reflective Letter • Love for writing must come first • Fifth Graders share and provide examples • Paragraphs, Sentences, Vocabulary • Each piece - Graphic Organizers • Revision with portfolio buddies

6. Writing InstructionOn-Demand • Whole school initiatives • Real audiences • Purpose and Audience analysis • Examples & Exposure • Outline SPAM, five paragraphs, eight sentences • Modeling & Practice • Students write their own