Writing Essentials

Table of Contents

One: The Essential Writing Life

1. Simplify the Teaching of Writing

    Why Writing Essentials?
    Teach What's Essential
    12 Writing Essentials for All Grades

2.Change the Status of Kids in the Classroom

   Change the Status of Kids in the Classroom
   Start with a Story
   See What Writers Do Well
   Make Enjoyment Central to Teaching Writing-Let the Fun Begin

3.Share Your Writing Life

    Change the School Culture of Low Expectations
    Nurture and Nudge
    Rely on an Optimal Learning Model
    Focus on the Writer First

Two: Teaching Essentials

4.Raise Your Expectations

   Change the School Culture of Low Expectations
   Nurture and Nudge
   Rely on an Optimal Learning Model
   Focus on the Writer First

5.Do More Shared Writing

    Apply Principles of Instruction and Learning
    Implement Shared Writing
    A Framework for a Shared Writing Lesson
    Teaching Tips to Go Along with Shared Writing
    Use Shared Writing to Do Important Word Work
    Observe Shared Writing in Action
    Tried and True Ideas for Shared Writing

6.Capitalize on the Reading-Writing Connection

   Link Writing with Reading
   Ensure Students Read Quality Materials
   Examine Written Responses to Reading
   Use Writing to Improve Comprehension
   Lesson Snapshot: Summary Writing

Three: The Essential Writing Day

7.Be Efficient and Integrate Basic Skills

    Start with Meaning and Keep It Whole
    Include Audience in All Writing
    Teach Explicitly and Tell Students Why
    Take Advantage of the "Efficiency of Context"
    TEACHING BEYOND THE STANDARDS
    Teach Useful Minilessons
    A Sampling of Common Minilessons
    Teach Students to Care About Revision
    Focus on Editing After Students Can Produce Quality Writing
    Teach Spelling Well
    Use Word Walls and Other Resources Effectively
    Provide High-Quality Instruction to Writers Who Struggle
    Proven Strategies for Writers Who Struggle-and All Writers

8.Organize for Daily Writing

   Broaden Your Definition ofWriting Workshop
   Find Time for Daily Writing
   Set Up the Environment for Success
   Provide More Choice Within Meaningful Structure
   Teach Sensible Planning Strategies
   Make Excellent Management a Priority
   Put Genre Study in Perspective
   A Framework for Teaching Writing Genres
   Write and Publish More Short Pieces
   Do More Publishing

9.Conference with Students

    Know What a Writing Conference Is
    Depend on Whole-Class Share
    Tips for Successful Whole-Class Shares and Conferences
    Use a Variety of Other Conferences
    Simplify Writing Conferences
    Put the Writer First
    Begin with Content Conferences
    What to Focus on in a Content Conference
    End with Editing Conferences
    What to Focus on in an Editing Conference
    Hand Over More Responsibility to Students
    Use Language that Signals Students to Take More Responsibility

10.Make Assessment Count

   Become More Knowledgeable About Assessment
   Put Rubrics in Perspective
   Put High-Stakes Testing in Perspective
   Put a Schoolwide Assessment Policy into Practice
   Work Toward Student Self-Assessment

Four: Advocacy is Also Essential

11.Build on Best Practice and Research

    Advocate for Excellence
    Be Knowledgeable About Relevant Research
    Some Key Research Findings
    Take Responsibility for Becoming an Effective Writing Teacher
    Adopt Practices of Highly Effective Teachers
    Develop a Schoolwide Vision
    Teach Kids to Be Courageous as Writers
    Use High Achievement to Promote Best Practice Teaching

12.Make Every Minute Count

   Connect Your Home and School Lives
   Secrets of Good Writers
   Conserve Your Energy
   Important Timesavers
   My Best Advice
   Live Your Life
   Conclusion: Write Your Own Ending

Five: Teaching in Action: Lesson Essentials

Five-Day Lesson Plan

  • Secrets of Second Graders-Narrative Writing Lesson
  • Heart Poems-Poetry Writing Lesson
  • Procedural Writing-Informational Writing Lesson
  • Hero Writing-Lesson
  • Persuasive Writing-Lesson

Teaching Points: Conference Video Clips

Appendices

  1.  
    1. Examining Beliefs AboutWriting

      Communications to Parents

    2. Letter to Parents About Raising Expectations (Grade 1)
    3. Suggestions for Parents

      Writing Forms

    4. Understanding Nonfiction
    5. Writing History
    6. Poetry Writing Rubric
    7. Word Work Sentence Worksheet
    8. Writing Strengths/Next Steps
    9. Writing Rubric

      Editing Expectations

    10. Grade 2, Editing Expectations
    11. Grade 4, Editing Expectations
    12. Genre Characteristics
    13. Favorite Poetry Books
    14. Weekly Professional Conversation Guidelines
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