Today’s Outcomes

Gain shared knowledge of the “In Common” Collection of K-5 student writing samples

Use the “In Common” writing samples to highlight developmental progression in the writing standards

Understand the ways in which writing can be used to build deep understanding of key concepts in a variety of content areas

Recall various resources available for teachers continuing to implement ELA Standards

What is Common? A Common Core Implementation Resource for Writing Instruction

August 26th, District Day

Mary Blocher - Presenter

What is “In Common”?

The Vermont Writing Collaborative and Student Achievement Partners worked in a joint project to create an instructional resource for teachers by teachers.

In Common is a collection of K-12 student writing samples gathered from classrooms around the country

Organized in three types of writing; argument/opinion, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing.

Sections subdivided into “On-Demand Writing” and “Range of Writing”

“ON DEMAND WRITING SECTIONS”

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Contain pieces written in response to a uniform text-based prompt

K-5 and 6-12 clusters were developed to create a set of similar, grade-specific prompts within the clusters. The question that focuses the writing remains the same across the grade levels in these clusters

Using one topic for grades K-5 and one for 6-12 results in a unified set of student pieces

These pieces highlight developmental spectrum described in the ELA standards

“RANGE OF WRITING SECTIONS”

Contain a variety of pieces spanning k-12, in each writing type specified by the Writing standards 1-3

Provide examples of writing for “a range of discipline-specific tasks, purpose, and audiences”, over booth extended and shorter time frames

Designed to illustrate a breadth of student writing aligned to the standards, and to spark ideas about how writing can be integrated throughout the curriculum

What Can my Students Learn by Writing?

Protocol:

1.Begin by choosing a student piece of writing that interests you.

2.Read the piece, focusing on the content expressed as well as the way the piece was written.

3.With a partner, discuss each question on the What Can My Students Learn by Writing? Recording Sheet. Capture your thinking on the sheet as you work.

4.Jot any questions you have on the back of the sheet.

5.Repeat this process with another piece of your choice if time.

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Activity Reflection

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The purpose of this activity is to understand how reading and writing can be used to build a knowledge base in science, social studies, literature and other areas.

To demonstrate the role of deep understanding in effective writing.

To generate ideas about how CCSS aligned writing can be used to guide students in making sense of information and experiences.

This same protocol can be applied to a standard. To fully understand it, you can ask similar questions to “unpack” the student objectives and skills necessary to be successful.

ELA Standard Example

Key Ideas and Details (RL 3.3) Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and

myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

Questions: What “Big Idea” or “Ideas” are present?

What kind of texts and experiences might be used to build the knowledge and understanding needed to be successful?

ELA Resources Re-Visited

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Basal Alignment Project through Achieve the Core

CC aligned lessons for many published curriculums 3rd-6th.

http://achievethecore.org/page/696/search-for-lessons-to-use-with-basal-readers-upper-elementary-list-pg

ELA Resources Re-Visited Cont.

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CCSS ELA grade level units through Engage NY K-2 Units are Core Knowledge

3-112 Units created by NYSED

https://www.engageny.org/common-core-curriculum

Available District Resources Cont. Digital Library Resources

An on-line collection of instructional and professional learning resources contributed by educators for educators.

http://wa.portal.airast.org/test-administrators/

Available District Resources Cont.

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Adopted Science MMH Science at a Closer Look Materials

K-5 North Kitsap Science Kit Materials

Discovery Education

Library Science Collection

• Brain Pop

• Pebble Go

• Power of Knowledge

Science A-Z

• Multiple Texts & Videos, Leveled Texts, Debate Packets

GLAD through science and social studies

Wrapping it Up

Thank you for your participation

ELA teacher resources found on District website under “Learning” and “For Staff” Under English Language Arts