Introducing the Writing Standards in Action Project

1. Introducing the Writing Standards in Action Project 5th Annual Curriculum and Instruction Summit November 13-14, 2012 Bill Amorosi, Consultant to the Project, Former Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator, Saugus Public Schools Dave Buchanan, Curriculum Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Michele Sodergren, Writing Coordinator K- 12, Chelsea Public Schools

2. Contact Information Bill Amorosi billamorosi@gmail.com Dave Buchanan dbuchanan@doe.mass.edu Michele Sodergren sodergrenm@chelseaschools.com Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Goals for this Session • Why writing? • Introduction to WSA • Fundamentals of reviewing student writing • Suggested use in the classroom Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. “I don’t know what I think until I readwhat I write.” -Flannery O’Connor

5. Why Writing? • 90-90-90 Research - non-fiction writing/collaborative scoring Norfolk, VA, Milwaukee, WI, Lake Villa, Ill, others • Others - Brockton HS – writing-all subjects, collaborative scoring, common requirements Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Writing to Read Carnegie Report – Writing to Read Reading comprehension improves when students- 1. Write about what they read • Response to Text • Write Summaries • Write Notes • Answer/Create Questions 2. Learn Writing Skills and Processes • Process of Writing, Text Structures for Writing, Paragraph or Sentence Construction Skills • Sentence Construction Skills • Spelling Skills 3. Write Often Graham, S., and Hebert, M. A. (2010). Writing to Read Graham, S (2011)– Writing and Writing Instruction Improve Reading –webinar April 21, 2011

7. ELA/Literacy - New Points of Focus • PK-5 Balance – Info/Literary Text • 6-12 Disciplinary Literacy • Text Complexity • Reading - Seeking Evidence • Writing – Using Evidence • Academic language Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

8. PARCC Content Framework Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9. Why WSA? • Concerns nationally Crayola Curriculum Many teachers ill-prepared to teach writing 1/3- 1/2 HS grads not prepared for college writing • Concerns in MA 5 P Essay Cross-disciplinary writing? Over-reliance on program – formulaic writing Schmoker, (2008) Graham, Kiuhara, Hawken (2009)Teaching Writing to High School Students: A National Survey Achieve Inc 2005, cited in Graham, S and Perin, D. Writing Next p. 8 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

10. We know what works • Modelsand . . . . • Strategies - explicit instruction • Summarizing –explicit instruction • Collaborative writing • Clear specific goals –purpose and criteria for review, models • Word processing • Sentence combining – more effective than grammar • Prewriting • Inquiry – list details from observations, evaluate data • Process Writing –real audiences, write a lot, and get timely personalized instruction, revision • Writing in the content areas Graham, S and Perin, D. (2007). Writing Next

11. What does good student writing at this grade level look like?The answer lies in the writing itself.

12. WSA – Getting there

16. WSA - What you will find Real student writing How selected Marked/unmarked samples Each sample includes- • Background info • Title/text type and purpose/grade/standards • Highlights • Instructional practices • Assignment/audience/time/process/materials • Standards-based commentary

17. Lessons Learned Frequent practice Topic - prompt vs. student choice Real interest and knowledge Time Focus – on aspect of topic Reviewing writing – standard is in the work Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

18. Join in !

19. Student Writing Resources Writing Standards in Action Project http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/wsa/ Appendix C (and A,B) http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/commoncore/?section=supplementary Other Resources 2011 Frameworks and crosswalks are http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/commoncore PD and curriculum alignment resources http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/commoncore/