ELA BucketWriters’ Workshop

Linda EarleTammy GuarnoRenee McFalls

Bonnie McSpaddenSue Straub

Our Journey

2

Goal: To provide NSCSD students with writing instruction designed to lift the level of student writing to meet literacy expectations as outlined by the CCSS.

Scope

3

Tasks:• Create and offer ongoing professional

development for K-8 teachers about the Units of Study writing program.

• Professional development opportunities

include…

What have we been doing?

Whole day

Workshop

with 30

colleaguesIntroductory

workshop to launch Writers’ Workshop

for K-4

Leveled

Workshops

for all

teachers

K-4

Intro Workshop

for 5th

grade

teachers

Week Long Summer Institute at the TCRWP in

NYC

Iron out the Bends workshops for K-5.

Intro workshop

for 6th, 7th,

8th

Principals

Meeting

presentationsTwo Coaches

sent to NYC

for literacy

coach classes

Sticky NotesUp to 9 Reminder Type Messages

Book club

with 10+

teachers.PLC with

First grade teachers

to discuss student work.

Many

Collaborati

ve work

sessions at

Paneras

Facilitated

a grade

level workshop

on writing.

Webpage resource.

Video

Taped a

mini-lesson for

others to

view for

learning.Bus Trip to

NYC for all

day workshops

free at

Teachers

College

WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE BUCKET WORK?

Impact

6

How did educators benefit from the work?  

• In-house professional development from turn-key facilitators

• Professional development is tailored to the specific needs of teachers as identified by workshop evaluations

• Collaboration around the topics of conferencing, launching of the writers’ workshop, and assessing student work

• Professional development needs are met immediately and planned according to needs

• There have been several additional “spin offs” of our work to support teachers

WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE BUCKET WORK?

Impact

7

How were student outcomes impacted?

Increased training of teachers in the area of writing

Writing is now taught as a subject and supported by our district goals

Students display more stamina and interest in writing.

Students are making connections between reading and writing, as readers and authors.

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Triumphs and Challenges• Collaboration and

Collegiality

• Connections with teachers • Writing stamina with

students increased

• Students enjoying writing

• Students level of writing lifted

• Push back from some staff, program is mandatory

• Many teachers struggle to feel comfortable teaching writing

• Manual difficult to manage for some

Where we’re going…

• Differentiated levels of support for teachers

• Reoccurring support model with refreshers

• Delving deeper into components• Linking reading and writing