Writing

This is from a P.D. that Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Bibbs, and I did in 2016. Although this says K-2, it's applicable to all grades:

From the State Department - SC Ready - What's expected of my students?

**WRITING RESOURCES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION**
THIS IS FOR ALL GRADES!!!! TAKE ADVANTAGE!!!!!!!

SC READY BLUEPRINT - WHY WRITING IS IMPORTANT. TAKE A LOOK AT THE POINTS! AND REMEMBER - TDA (TDQ) WILL BE ON THE ENGLISH I EOC AS WELL!

This is proof that we don't only need to do the normal "writing process" and that paragraph writing is a thing of the past. Our writing needs to be integrated with our reading. The kids need to be writing about what they read IN EVERY SUBJECT. The types of writing found in the units above are not the only writing that students need in order to be successful. 

Here are some helpful websites from the Department of Education on Inquiry and Writing:

INQUIRY:

Elementary

Middle

High

WRITING:

Elementary

Middle

High

A Word of Caution: There are many writing "programs" out there which claim to be all-inclusive for teaching the students what they need to be successful on the state writing test. Don't get me wrong, they all have good components. However, as with anything in education, you need to combine these wonderful programs together and modify them to meet the needs of your students. You can't do this with a script. Also, we cannot guarantee that the writing test we gave last year is the same writing test we will give this year. South Carolina likes to jump and change things at the last possible moment. I would hate to "teach to a test" so to speak and then find out in February that the students will be tested a completely different way than we have been teaching since August.

It is best to see what needs to be taught according to the standards and use the strategies from the programs that you think will best fit the needs of the students.

I've got to add it in here because I've been approached about these several times:

Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop:

This program has many good components for informational writing. HOWEVER: I caution you to NOT use this to start your writing workshop as it does not teach the actual writing process and how to answer a question. It teaches "writing workshop" which is a good thing and does try to teach the writing process, but usually not what's used above 2nd grade. The benefit to using it is that, especially for new teachers, there are scripted lessons. Once you are more confident in your writing instruction, you will be able to modify the program to fit the needs of your students. One benefit of the narrative writing unit is that it does help you get to know your students as writers. They are writing about themselves and their lives, so it can be a bonding experience. Just don't use it too long because the actual writing process will be lost on them and they'll flunk the state test. Please don't ask me to order it. You don't want to see the resulting look on my face. I can't help it, it's PTSD from being in the classroom. LOL. You will need a pretty good argument for me to lobby for you to get this program.

Here is a quick handout of something I made to use with the informational writing unit:

Write from the beginning/Thinking Maps:

This is the program that was being used when I first started teaching. It's also called "Thinking Maps." The graphic organizers are great to use for either reading or writing. My previous school saw great results modifying this program for our writing and then we were told we were changing....because.....umm....they said so. LOL
The problem with this program is that it is so structured and routine that it's hard for the students to remember to add their voice into the writing. However, since the writing test looks like it's going to be evidence writing (unless it's changed...AGAIN...), voice is not as important as structure.

See what this teacher created about it:

An overview:

Examples of Thinking Maps:

Posters with question stems and key words:

"6 traits" Writing:

I only used bits and pieces of this program in my personal classroom instruction, but what I used I absolutely loved. IT DOES NEED TO BE "BEEFED UP" TO BE WORTH THE MONEY THOUGH. I always said I would love to see more of it incorporated in a classroom to see how it affected student writing. Again, not to be used as a PROGRAM, but a supplement to a curriculum. ;)

Here is an overview:

Introduction Video:

Here are some teaching ideas and recommended books:

"The Trait Crate" - It has been my goal to buy one of these, but the problem is that they are by grade level. Gets expensive....